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: $647 in Meknes versus $917 in Rabat.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $986 in Meknes versus $1,616 in Rabat.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,324 in Meknes versus $2,315 in Rabat.

Living in Meknes costs roughly 29% less than in Rabat, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Meknes 51% lower, Rabat 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.25 MAD 20.97

$4.78 MAD 44.55

-52.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.70 MAD 118

$48.90 MAD 456

-74.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.35 MAD 49.91

$6.51 MAD 60.7

-17.82%

Cappuccino

$1.31 MAD 12.18

$2.04 MAD 18.99

-35.78%

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

$0.75 MAD 6.97

$0.62 MAD 5.81

20.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 MAD 4.45

$0.37 MAD 3.49

29.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.37 MAD 31.44

$5.38 MAD 50.2

-37.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.08 MAD 38.05

$4.20 MAD 39.12

-2.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.81 MAD 7.53

$0.83 MAD 7.73

-2.41%

White Bread (500g)

$0.32 MAD 2.96

$0.48 MAD 4.46

-33.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.30 MAD 12.09

$1.97 MAD 18.34

-34.01%

Eggs

$1.91 MAD 17.85

$1.94 MAD 18.11

-1.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.96 MAD 102

$12.88 MAD 120

-14.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.51 MAD 42.02

$7.00 MAD 65.3

-35.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.45 MAD 88.1

$11.74 MAD 109

-19.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.38 MAD 12.85

$1.59 MAD 14.79

-13.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.25 MAD 11.66

$1.38 MAD 12.87

-9.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.90 MAD 8.42

$0.81 MAD 7.56

11.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.66 MAD 6.14

$0.82 MAD 7.61

-19.51%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 MAD 6.69

$0.69 MAD 6.40

4.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.76 MAD 7.05

$0.71 MAD 6.62

7.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 MAD 4.30

$0.43 MAD 4.00

6.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MAD 5.34

$0.59 MAD 5.52

-3.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.38 MAD 40.88

$4.38 MAD 40.85

Wine (Bottle)

$11.26 MAD 105

$8.00 MAD 74.6

40.75%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.82 MAD 26.32

$2.70 MAD 25.19

4.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 MAD 24.82

$2.43 MAD 22.62

9.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 MAD 4.25

$0.54 MAD 4.99

-14.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.53 MAD 154

$27.81 MAD 259

-40.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.39 MAD 3.66

$0.56 MAD 5.24

-30.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.52 MAD 4.86

$0.87 MAD 8.15

-40.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.45 MAD 41.52

$4.32 MAD 40.26

3.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.49 MAD 13.87

$1.54 MAD 14.37

-3.25%

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

$36.8K MAD 342.8K

$37.4K MAD 348.7K

-1.69%

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

$29.0K MAD 270.7K

$29.6K MAD 276.4K

-2.07%

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

$37.82 MAD 353

$41.72 MAD 389

-9.35%

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

$10.76 MAD 100

$11.17 MAD 104

-3.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.00 MAD 317

$40.95 MAD 382

-16.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.36 MAD 227

$29.78 MAD 278

-18.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.34 MAD 180

$28.35 MAD 264

-31.78%

Cinema Ticket

$4.42 MAD 41.23

$6.55 MAD 61.0

-32.52%

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

$154 MAD 1,434

$157 MAD 1,468

-2.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,668 MAD 15.6K

$6,433 MAD 60.0K

-74.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.92 MAD 428

$52.6 MAD 490

-12.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.74 MAD 380

$47.84 MAD 446

-14.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.6 MAD 528

$107 MAD 996

-47.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.3 MAD 506

$99.9 MAD 931

-45.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$270 MAD 2,515

$457 MAD 4,259

-40.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$169 MAD 1,578

$268 MAD 2,500

-36.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$420 MAD 3,913

$1,122 MAD 10.5K

-62.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$278 MAD 2,589

$721 MAD 6,723

-61.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$981 MAD 9,144

$2,046 MAD 19.1K

-52.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$612 MAD 5,702

$1,204 MAD 11.2K

-49.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$485 MAD 4,524

$725 MAD 6,763

-33.10%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Rabat: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $270 in Meknes and $457 in Rabat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rabat pays 49% 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: $13.00 in Meknes vs $49.00 in Rabat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $208 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 42% 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 49% 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: $270 in Meknes versus $457 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 $13.00 versus $49.00 in Rabat. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $647 per month in Meknes versus $917 in Rabat – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Meknes gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 42% less than in Rabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.