Cost of Living Comparison Between Meknes and Rabat Cost of Living Comparison Between Meknes and Rabat

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $731 in Meknes versus $874 in Rabat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,128 in Meknes versus $1,498 in Rabat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,525 in Meknes versus $2,123 in Rabat.

Living in Meknes costs roughly 16% less than in Rabat, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Meknes 47% lower, Rabat 36% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.25 MAD 30.81

$4.30 MAD 40.80

-24.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.66 MAD 149

$41.91 MAD 397

-62.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.38 MAD 60.6

$7.41 MAD 70.3

-13.90%

Cappuccino

$1.25 MAD 11.89

$1.89 MAD 17.95

-33.86%

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

$0.91 MAD 8.62

$0.63 MAD 5.96

44.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 MAD 4.00

$0.34 MAD 3.26

23.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.10 MAD 29.36

$5.27 MAD 49.94

-41.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.68 MAD 34.89

$3.13 MAD 29.70

17.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.84 MAD 7.97

$0.89 MAD 8.46

-5.62%

White Bread (500g)

$0.40 MAD 3.77

$0.63 MAD 5.94

-36.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 MAD 11.90

$1.85 MAD 17.54

-31.89%

Eggs

$1.86 MAD 17.68

$1.88 MAD 17.87

-1.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.28 MAD 145

$11.37 MAD 108

34.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.29 MAD 50.2

$6.61 MAD 62.6

-19.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.69 MAD 91.9

$12.29 MAD 117

-21.16%

Apples (1kg)

$1.31 MAD 12.40

$1.62 MAD 15.37

-19.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 MAD 11.68

$1.38 MAD 13.11

-10.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 MAD 6.33

$0.91 MAD 8.61

-26.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.60 MAD 5.66

$0.88 MAD 8.31

-31.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.56 MAD 5.32

$0.75 MAD 7.07

-25.33%

Onion (1kg)

$0.80 MAD 7.59

$0.75 MAD 7.12

6.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.47 MAD 4.50

$0.39 MAD 3.66

20.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 MAD 5.53

$0.64 MAD 6.03

-9.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.14 MAD 39.30

$4.24 MAD 40.23

-2.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.87 MAD 103

$7.77 MAD 73.7

39.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.33 MAD 31.59

$2.63 MAD 24.99

26.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 MAD 25.21

$2.66 MAD 25.25

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 MAD 4.13

$0.55 MAD 5.24

-21.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.13 MAD 153

$26.39 MAD 250

-38.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.73 MAD 6.91

$0.76 MAD 7.19

-3.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.54 MAD 5.15

$0.92 MAD 8.70

-41.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.15 MAD 39.37

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.43 MAD 13.55

$1.57 MAD 14.84

-8.92%

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

$34.8K MAD 330.4K

$35.0K MAD 331.5K

-0.33%

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

$31.2K MAD 296.0K

$32.4K MAD 307.1K

-3.60%

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

$31.36 MAD 297

$36.10 MAD 342

-13.13%

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

$9.65 MAD 91.5

$10.38 MAD 98.5

-7.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.69 MAD 329

$33.47 MAD 317

3.65%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.45 MAD 279

$30.19 MAD 286

-2.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$34.01 MAD 323

$27.93 MAD 265

21.77%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 MAD 39.35

$6.18 MAD 58.6

-32.85%

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

$127 MAD 1,201

$185 MAD 1,753

-31.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,130 MAD 67.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.2 MAD 637

$49.66 MAD 471

35.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.3 MAD 609

$44.43 MAD 421

44.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 MAD 982

$92.8 MAD 880

11.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.3 MAD 638

$68.0 MAD 645

-1.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$276 MAD 2,616

$508 MAD 4,818

-45.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$177 MAD 1,676

$284 MAD 2,692

-37.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$473 MAD 4,490

$1,109 MAD 10.5K

-57.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$295 MAD 2,794

$673 MAD 6,383

-56.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$982 MAD 9,308

$2,000 MAD 19.0K

-50.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$631 MAD 5,988

$1,155 MAD 11.0K

-45.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$479 MAD 4,543

$728 MAD 6,899

-34.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

4.52

-0.44%

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

Last update for Meknes: September 14, 2026

Last update for Rabat: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $276 in Meknes and $508 in Rabat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rabat pays 52% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $16.00 in Meknes vs $42.00 in Rabat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $206 per month, with Meknes cheaper across the board.

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

Meknes vs Rabat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Meknes wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Rabat. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Meknes the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 52% lower in Rabat. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $276 in Meknes versus $508 in Rabat. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Meknes – a meal for two runs $16.00 versus $42.00 in Rabat. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $731 per month in Meknes versus $874 in Rabat – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $731 in Meknes versus $874 in Rabat, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Meknes but tight or insufficient in Rabat. The gap between the two cities makes Meknes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Meknes and Rabat are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Meknes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Rabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.