Cost of Living Comparison Between Essaouira and Rabat Cost of Living Comparison Between Essaouira and Rabat

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $837 per month in Essaouira vs $911 in Rabat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,254 per month in Essaouira vs $1,576 in Rabat, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,671 per month in Essaouira vs $2,240 in Rabat, rent included.

Essaouira is about 8% cheaper than Rabat, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Essaouira and Rabat are more affordable than the global median – Essaouira 37% lower, Rabat 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.36 MAD 40.68

$4.73 MAD 44.09

-7.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.14 MAD 234

$48.72 MAD 454

-48.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.97 MAD 46.37

$6.67 MAD 62.2

-25.49%

Cappuccino

$1.76 MAD 16.37

$2.04 MAD 19.02

-13.73%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 MAD 4.26

$0.63 MAD 5.86

-26.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 MAD 2.41

$0.41 MAD 3.78

-36.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.79 MAD 35.36

$5.63 MAD 52.5

-32.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 MAD 34.69

$4.17 MAD 38.93

-10.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 MAD 7.87

$0.86 MAD 8.06

-2.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.49 MAD 4.57

$0.47 MAD 4.36

4.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 MAD 15.43

$1.87 MAD 17.43

-11.76%

Eggs

$1.81 MAD 16.90

$1.92 MAD 17.94

-5.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.24 MAD 86.1

$12.96 MAD 121

-28.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.29 MAD 49.31

$7.15 MAD 66.7

-26.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.42 MAD 107

$11.93 MAD 111

-4.27%

Apples (1kg)

$1.42 MAD 13.21

$1.55 MAD 14.42

-8.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.22 MAD 11.42

$1.44 MAD 13.40

-15.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.72 MAD 6.69

$0.82 MAD 7.67

-12.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 MAD 8.22

$0.79 MAD 7.37

11.39%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 MAD 6.52

$0.72 MAD 6.68

-2.78%

Onion (1kg)

$0.91 MAD 8.48

$0.70 MAD 6.49

30.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 MAD 3.66

$0.42 MAD 3.95

-7.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 MAD 4.97

$0.64 MAD 5.92

-17.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.15 MAD 38.66

$4.39 MAD 40.92

-5.47%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.45 MAD 60.1

$7.66 MAD 71.4

-15.80%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 MAD 18.03

$2.71 MAD 25.29

-28.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 MAD 20.52

$2.45 MAD 22.83

-10.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.87 MAD 8.11

$0.53 MAD 4.93

64.15%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.46 MAD 154

$27.66 MAD 258

-40.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.63 MAD 5.92

$0.53 MAD 4.92

18.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 MAD 4.43

$0.88 MAD 8.23

-45.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.98 MAD 83.8

$4.33 MAD 40.34

107.39%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.58 MAD 14.70

$1.52 MAD 14.22

3.95%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$37.2K MAD 346.5K

$37.3K MAD 348.0K

-0.44%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.1K MAD 196.4K

$29.6K MAD 276.0K

-28.86%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$27.86 MAD 260

$41.99 MAD 392

-33.65%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$13.90 MAD 130

$10.87 MAD 101

27.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.94 MAD 261

$39.97 MAD 373

-30.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.61 MAD 202

$30.61 MAD 285

-29.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.76 MAD 212

$28.43 MAD 265

-19.94%

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 MAD 62.0

$6.49 MAD 60.5

2.47%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$75.3 MAD 702

$160 MAD 1,490

-52.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,956 MAD 18.2K

$6,628 MAD 61.8K

-70.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.88 MAD 288

$53.7 MAD 501

-42.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.68 MAD 370

$49.14 MAD 458

-19.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$49.28 MAD 460

$109 MAD 1,015

-54.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$44.34 MAD 413

$98.0 MAD 914

-54.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$388 MAD 3,617

$459 MAD 4,279

-15.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 MAD 3,229

$259 MAD 2,414

33.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$813 MAD 7,584

$1,120 MAD 10.4K

-27.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 MAD 5,209

$746 MAD 6,955

-25.10%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,090 MAD 19.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,204 MAD 11.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$268 MAD 2,498

$739 MAD 6,891

-63.74%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.5

4.81

14.35%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Essaouira: July 12, 2026

Last update for Rabat: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $388 in Essaouira versus $459 in Rabat. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 176% higher in Rabat, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Essaouira versus $49.00 in Rabat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $176 vs $209 – making Essaouira the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Essaouira vs Rabat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Rabat is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,256 per month in Essaouira and $1,366 in Rabat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Essaouira, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% more in Rabat, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Essaouira and $49.00 in Rabat. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Essaouira, where all-in costs run around $837, than in Rabat at $911. In Essaouira it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rabat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Essaouira – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Essaouira. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rabat makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.