Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabat and Athens

For one person, living is cheaper in Rabat: $834 a month against $1,806 in Athens, rent and utilities included – about $11,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Rabat
🇲🇦 Morocco
$834
/mo nomad
Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,806
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rabat and in Athens

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Rabat and in Athens actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $834 in Rabat versus $1,806 in Athens.

  • Rabat $834
  • Athens $1,806

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,433 in Rabat versus $2,731 in Athens.

  • Rabat $1,433
  • Athens $2,731

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,031 in Rabat versus $3,656 in Athens.

  • Rabat $2,031
  • Athens $3,656

Living in Rabat costs roughly 54% less than in Athens, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Rabat is 38% below, Athens is 35% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rabat
Athens
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.27 MAD 42.37
$16.66 €14.85
-74.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.69 MAD 404
$66.2 €59.0
-38.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.91 MAD 68.6
$11.06 €9.86
-37.52%
Cappuccino
$1.92 MAD 19.00
$4.14 €3.69
-53.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 MAD 5.58
$2.80 €2.50
-80.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 MAD 3.49
$0.57 €0.51
-38.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.07 MAD 50.2
$5.64 €5.03
-10.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 MAD 30.65
$5.46 €4.86
-43.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rabat
Athens
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 MAD 8.53
$1.96 €1.74
-56.12%
White Bread (500g)
$0.65 MAD 6.41
$1.41 €1.25
-53.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 MAD 18.94
$2.83 €2.53
-32.51%
Eggs
$1.84 MAD 18.28
$5.04 €4.49
-63.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.01 MAD 109
$15.35 €13.68
-28.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.63 MAD 65.8
$10.34 €9.22
-35.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.99 MAD 119
$18.97 €16.92
-36.79%
Apples (1kg)
$1.59 MAD 15.78
$2.17 €1.93
-26.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 MAD 13.44
$1.91 €1.70
-28.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.83 MAD 8.23
$1.38 €1.23
-39.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.88 MAD 8.74
$2.20 €1.96
-60.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 MAD 7.06
$1.10 €0.98
-35.45%
Onion (1kg)
$0.79 MAD 7.80
$1.13 €1.00
-30.09%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.39 MAD 3.90
$1.10 €0.98
-64.55%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 MAD 5.76
$0.83 €0.74
-30.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 MAD 40.64
$5.60 €4.99
-26.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.14 MAD 70.9
$10.19 €9.08
-29.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62 MAD 26.02
$2.18 €1.95
20.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MAD 25.90
$2.45 €2.18
6.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Rabat
Athens
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.49 MAD 4.86
$1.38 €1.23
-64.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.98 MAD 248
$30.87 €27.52
-19.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.72 MAD 7.13
$4.37 €3.90
-83.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 MAD 5.76
$1.04 €0.93
-44.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$17.11 €15.26
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 MAD 14.64
$2.31 €2.06
-35.93%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K MAD 299.3K
$28.0K €24.9K
7.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6K MAD 293.6K
$28.0K €25.0K
5.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rabat
Athens
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.22 MAD 349
$210 €187
-83.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 MAD 93.7
$26.70 €23.80
-64.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.23 MAD 330
$30.13 €26.86
10.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rabat
Athens
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.99 MAD 278
$54.6 €48.68
-48.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.54 MAD 233
$26.03 €23.21
-9.57%
Cinema Ticket
$5.97 MAD 59.2
$10.78 €9.61
-44.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rabat
Athens
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$180 MAD 1,786
$575 €513
-68.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,210 MAD 91.3K
$13.1K €11.7K
-29.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rabat
Athens
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.06 MAD 457
$93.2 €83.1
-50.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.15 MAD 388
$40.68 €36.27
-3.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.4 MAD 906
$104 €92.8
-12.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.9 MAD 644
$128 €114
-49.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rabat
Athens
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$521 MAD 5,171
$756 €674
-31.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$268 MAD 2,661
$652 €582
-58.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$956 MAD 9,485
$1,294 €1,153
-26.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$686 MAD 6,809
$1,163 €1,037
-40.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,967 MAD 19.5K
$4,008 €3,574
-50.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,136 MAD 11.3K
$3,452 €3,078
-67.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rabat
Athens
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$695 MAD 6,893
$1,243 €1,109
-44.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.52
4.48
0.89%

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

Last update for Rabat: October 3, 2026

Last update for Athens: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rabat
$268
Athens
$652 143% $384
Groceries & Markets
Rabat
$201
Athens
$315 56.6% $114
Eating Out
Rabat
$113
Athens
$269 138% $156
Clothing & Footwear
Rabat
$109
Athens
$165 51.7% $56
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rabat
$78
Athens
$267 242% $189
Sport & Entertainment
Rabat
$40
Athens
$76 90.7% $36
Getting Around
Rabat
$31
Athens
$46 50.3% $15

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $521 in Rabat and $756 in Athens. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Athens pays 79% 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: $41.00 in Rabat vs $66.0 in Athens for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $201 vs $315 per month, with Rabat cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇦 Rabat
🇬🇷 Athens
🕒 Local time
08:01 8:01 AM
10:01 10:01 AM
2 h ahead of Rabat
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
573,895 Capital
3,090,508 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to MAD – Moroccan Dirham Converter

Moroccan Dirham exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 9.92 MAD (1 MAD = 0.101 USD). 1 EUR = 11.12 MAD (100 MAD = 8.99 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.892 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rabat Athens 2,770 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Rabat
  • Athens

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Rabat vs Athens: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rabat or Athens?
Rabat wins on cost – living expenses run 117% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rabat the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Rabat or in Athens?
On paper, salaries run 79% lower in Athens. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Rabat compared to Athens?
Rent for a central apartment: $521 in Rabat versus $756 in Athens. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Rabat and in Athens?
Dining out is cheaper in Rabat – a meal for two runs $41.00 versus $66.0 in Athens. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Rabat compared to Athens?
All in, you'll spend $834 per month in Rabat versus $1,806 in Athens – a 117% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Rabat or in Athens?
At $834 in Rabat versus $1,806 in Athens, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Rabat but tight or insufficient in Athens. The gap between the two cities makes Rabat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rabat or Athens?
Both work as nomad bases, but Rabat delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $834 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Rabat hard to pass up.
How safe is Rabat compared to Athens?
Safety-wise, Rabat and Athens are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Rabat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 117% less than in Athens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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