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: $670 in Meknes versus $901 in Rabat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $984 in Meknes versus $1,611 in Rabat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,298 in Meknes versus $2,321 in Rabat.

Living in Meknes costs roughly 26% less than in Rabat, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Meknes 50% lower, Rabat 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.20 MAD 20.35

$4.63 MAD 42.81

-52.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.47 MAD 115

$49.57 MAD 458

-74.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 MAD 49.91

$6.53 MAD 60.4

-17.30%

Cappuccino

$1.27 MAD 11.76

$2.07 MAD 19.19

-38.65%

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

$0.69 MAD 6.38

$0.62 MAD 5.71

11.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MAD 4.14

$0.40 MAD 3.70

12.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.23 MAD 29.86

$5.37 MAD 49.63

-39.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.20 MAD 38.81

$4.12 MAD 38.14

1.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 MAD 8.01

$0.83 MAD 7.69

4.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.35 MAD 3.20

$0.51 MAD 4.69

-31.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 MAD 11.64

$1.97 MAD 18.25

-36.04%

Eggs

$1.91 MAD 17.67

$1.91 MAD 17.68

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.88 MAD 101

$13.19 MAD 122

-17.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.37 MAD 40.42

$6.79 MAD 62.8

-35.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.33 MAD 86.3

$12.04 MAD 111

-22.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.37 MAD 12.66

$1.61 MAD 14.87

-14.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.20 MAD 11.07

$1.44 MAD 13.36

-16.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.93 MAD 8.59

$0.78 MAD 7.17

19.23%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 MAD 6.17

$0.87 MAD 8.06

-22.99%

Potato (1kg)

$0.73 MAD 6.77

$0.71 MAD 6.60

2.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.74 MAD 6.83

$0.66 MAD 6.11

12.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.43 MAD 3.94

$0.42 MAD 3.90

2.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 MAD 5.77

$0.64 MAD 5.92

-3.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MAD 40.31

$4.21 MAD 38.97

3.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.55 MAD 107

$7.85 MAD 72.6

47.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.89 MAD 26.76

$2.74 MAD 25.31

5.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 MAD 24.72

$2.53 MAD 23.37

5.53%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 MAD 4.19

$0.52 MAD 4.85

-13.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.32 MAD 151

$27.14 MAD 251

-39.87%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.40 MAD 3.69

$0.57 MAD 5.25

-29.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 MAD 4.48

$0.88 MAD 8.13

-45.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.50 MAD 41.61

$4.33 MAD 40.07

3.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 MAD 14.18

$1.59 MAD 14.74

-3.77%

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

$37.0K MAD 341.9K

$36.9K MAD 341.4K

0.15%

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

$28.5K MAD 263.8K

$29.7K MAD 275.2K

-4.14%

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

$37.31 MAD 345

$41.27 MAD 382

-9.60%

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

$10.72 MAD 99.1

$11.06 MAD 102

-3.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.14 MAD 307

$39.37 MAD 364

-15.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.93 MAD 231

$30.55 MAD 283

-18.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.26 MAD 178

$28.95 MAD 268

-33.47%

Cinema Ticket

$4.38 MAD 40.51

$6.39 MAD 59.1

-31.46%

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

$150 MAD 1,384

$155 MAD 1,437

-3.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,643 MAD 15.2K

$6,445 MAD 59.6K

-74.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.32 MAD 428

$53.0 MAD 490

-12.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.60 MAD 366

$47.82 MAD 442

-17.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.2 MAD 529

$109 MAD 1,007

-47.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.1 MAD 500

$96.8 MAD 895

-44.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$274 MAD 2,532

$460 MAD 4,252

-40.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$171 MAD 1,579

$266 MAD 2,464

-35.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$416 MAD 3,845

$1,119 MAD 10.4K

-62.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$285 MAD 2,638

$731 MAD 6,759

-60.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$954 MAD 8,824

$1,946 MAD 18.0K

-50.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$646 MAD 5,976

$1,097 MAD 10.1K

-41.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$497 MAD 4,593

$747 MAD 6,912

-33.56%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

4.81

-6.44%

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

Last update for Meknes: April 26, 2026

Last update for Rabat: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $274 in Meknes and $460 in Rabat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rabat pays 51% 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: $12.00 in Meknes vs $50.0 in Rabat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $210 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 34% 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, Rabat earns 51% less. 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: $274 in Meknes versus $460 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 $12.00 versus $50.0 in Rabat. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $670 per month in Meknes versus $901 in Rabat – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $670 in Meknes versus $901 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 34% less than in Rabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.