Cost of Living Comparison Between Marrakech and Rabat Cost of Living Comparison Between Marrakech and Rabat

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $878 per month in Marrakech vs $901 in Rabat, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,387 per month in Marrakech vs $1,611 in Rabat, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,896 per month in Marrakech vs $2,321 in Rabat, rent included.

Marrakech is about 2% cheaper than Rabat, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Marrakech and Rabat are more affordable than the global median – Marrakech 34% lower, Rabat 33% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marrakech
Rabat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.60 MAD 42.58
$4.63 MAD 42.81
-0.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.52 MAD 310
$49.57 MAD 458
-32.38%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.28 MAD 67.4
$6.53 MAD 60.4
11.49%
Cappuccino
$2.45 MAD 22.71
$2.07 MAD 19.19
18.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23 MAD 11.33
$0.62 MAD 5.71
98.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 MAD 5.11
$0.40 MAD 3.70
37.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.42 MAD 50.2
$5.37 MAD 49.63
0.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.23 MAD 57.7
$4.12 MAD 38.14
51.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marrakech
Rabat
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.96 MAD 8.84
$0.83 MAD 7.69
15.66%
White Bread (500g)
$0.58 MAD 5.37
$0.51 MAD 4.69
13.73%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.78 MAD 16.48
$1.97 MAD 18.25
-9.64%
Eggs
$2.08 MAD 19.26
$1.91 MAD 17.68
8.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.52 MAD 88.1
$13.19 MAD 122
-27.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.18 MAD 57.2
$6.79 MAD 62.8
-8.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.20 MAD 104
$12.04 MAD 111
-6.98%
Apples (1kg)
$1.52 MAD 14.06
$1.61 MAD 14.87
-5.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 MAD 12.72
$1.44 MAD 13.36
-4.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.97 MAD 8.95
$0.78 MAD 7.17
24.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.84 MAD 7.81
$0.87 MAD 8.06
-3.45%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 MAD 7.00
$0.71 MAD 6.60
7.04%
Onion (1kg)
$0.74 MAD 6.81
$0.66 MAD 6.11
12.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.40 MAD 3.67
$0.42 MAD 3.90
-4.76%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 MAD 5.41
$0.64 MAD 5.92
-9.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.30 MAD 39.77
$4.21 MAD 38.97
2.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.29 MAD 76.7
$7.85 MAD 72.6
5.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.61 MAD 24.15
$2.74 MAD 25.31
-4.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.96 MAD 27.35
$2.53 MAD 23.37
17.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Marrakech
Rabat
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.46 MAD 4.21
$0.52 MAD 4.85
-11.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.01 MAD 102
$27.14 MAD 251
-59.43%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.02 MAD 9.46
$0.57 MAD 5.25
78.95%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.48 MAD 4.46
$0.88 MAD 8.13
-45.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.61 MAD 51.9
$4.33 MAD 40.07
29.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MAD 14.21
$1.59 MAD 14.74
-3.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K MAD 338.0K
$36.9K MAD 341.4K
-0.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8K MAD 275.9K
$29.7K MAD 275.2K
0.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marrakech
Rabat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$32.83 MAD 304
$41.27 MAD 382
-20.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.93 MAD 101
$11.06 MAD 102
-1.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.33 MAD 419
$39.37 MAD 364
15.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marrakech
Rabat
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.36 MAD 225
$30.55 MAD 283
-20.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$32.62 MAD 302
$28.95 MAD 268
12.68%
Cinema Ticket
$6.52 MAD 60.3
$6.39 MAD 59.1
2.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marrakech
Rabat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$112 MAD 1,040
$155 MAD 1,437
-27.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,249 MAD 57.8K
$6,445 MAD 59.6K
-3.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marrakech
Rabat
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.39 MAD 392
$53.0 MAD 490
-20.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.8 MAD 470
$47.82 MAD 442
6.21%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$110 MAD 1,019
$109 MAD 1,007
1.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$104 MAD 965
$96.8 MAD 895
7.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marrakech
Rabat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$439 MAD 4,064
$460 MAD 4,252
-4.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$278 MAD 2,570
$266 MAD 2,464
4.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$766 MAD 7,081
$1,119 MAD 10.4K
-31.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$439 MAD 4,064
$731 MAD 6,759
-39.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,873 MAD 17.3K
$1,946 MAD 18.0K
-3.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$979 MAD 9,055
$1,097 MAD 10.1K
-10.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marrakech
Rabat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$509 MAD 4,708
$747 MAD 6,912
-31.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.75
4.81
-1.25%

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

Last update for Marrakech: April 26, 2026

Last update for Rabat: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $439 in Marrakech versus $460 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 47% 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 $34.00 in Marrakech versus $50.0 in Rabat. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $210 – making Marrakech 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
Marrakech vs Rabat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rabat cheaper than Marrakech?
Yes – Rabat is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,317 per month in Marrakech and $1,351 in Rabat. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Marrakech, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $112 per month in Marrakech and $155 in Rabat. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Marrakech and Rabat?
Groceries cost about 7% more in Rabat, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Marrakech or Rabat?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Marrakech, where all-in costs run around $878, than in Rabat at $901. In Marrakech it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rabat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Marrakech or Rabat more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Marrakech – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Marrakech or Rabat?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Marrakech. 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.

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