Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabat and Buenos Aires

For one person, living is cheaper in Rabat: $834 a month against $1,685 in Buenos Aires, rent and utilities included – about $10,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Rabat
🇲🇦 Morocco
$834
/mo nomad
Buenos Aires
🇦🇷 Argentina
$1,685
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rabat and in Buenos Aires

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 Buenos Aires actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $834 in Rabat versus $1,685 in Buenos Aires.

  • Rabat $834
  • Buenos Aires $1,685

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,433 in Rabat versus $2,742 in Buenos Aires.

  • Rabat $1,433
  • Buenos Aires $2,742

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,031 in Rabat versus $3,799 in Buenos Aires.

  • Rabat $2,031
  • Buenos Aires $3,799

Living in Rabat costs roughly 51% less than in Buenos Aires, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Rabat is 38% below, Buenos Aires is 26% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rabat
Buenos Aires
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.27 MAD 42.37
$18.73 ARS 28.4K
-77.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.69 MAD 404
$64.5 ARS 97.7K
-36.90%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.91 MAD 68.6
$12.88 ARS 19.5K
-46.35%
Cappuccino
$1.92 MAD 19.00
$3.98 ARS 6,027
-51.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 MAD 5.58
$2.05 ARS 3,102
-72.68%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 MAD 3.49
$1.55 ARS 2,348
-77.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.07 MAD 50.2
$3.84 ARS 5,828
32.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09 MAD 30.65
$4.60 ARS 6,968
-32.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rabat
Buenos Aires
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 MAD 8.53
$1.44 ARS 2,180
-40.28%
White Bread (500g)
$0.65 MAD 6.41
$2.46 ARS 3,737
-73.58%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.91 MAD 18.94
$1.63 ARS 2,466
17.18%
Eggs
$1.84 MAD 18.28
$2.89 ARS 4,384
-36.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.01 MAD 109
$10.65 ARS 16.1K
3.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.63 MAD 65.8
$10.00 ARS 15.2K
-33.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.99 MAD 119
$13.74 ARS 20.8K
-12.74%
Apples (1kg)
$1.59 MAD 15.78
$2.75 ARS 4,165
-42.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 MAD 13.44
$2.18 ARS 3,299
-37.61%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.83 MAD 8.23
$1.45 ARS 2,204
-42.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.88 MAD 8.74
$1.99 ARS 3,012
-55.78%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 MAD 7.06
$1.24 ARS 1,884
-42.74%
Onion (1kg)
$0.79 MAD 7.80
$1.27 ARS 1,920
-37.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.39 MAD 3.90
$1.70 ARS 2,574
-77.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 MAD 5.76
$1.73 ARS 2,616
-66.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.10 MAD 40.64
$4.18 ARS 6,335
-1.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.14 MAD 70.9
$5.80 ARS 8,787
23.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.62 MAD 26.02
$2.09 ARS 3,162
25.36%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 MAD 25.90
$2.77 ARS 4,197
-5.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Rabat
Buenos Aires
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.49 MAD 4.86
$0.75 ARS 1,131
-34.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$24.98 MAD 248
$27.15 ARS 41.2K
-7.99%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.72 MAD 7.13
$1.62 ARS 2,450
-55.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.58 MAD 5.76
$0.98 ARS 1,480
-40.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$7.72 ARS 11.7K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.48 MAD 14.64
$1.36 ARS 2,057
8.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K MAD 299.3K
$28.0K ARS 42.5M
7.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6K MAD 293.6K
$34.5K ARS 52.3M
-14.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rabat
Buenos Aires
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.22 MAD 349
$216 ARS 326.8K
-83.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.44 MAD 93.7
$25.61 ARS 38.8K
-63.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.23 MAD 330
$31.36 ARS 47.5K
5.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rabat
Buenos Aires
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.99 MAD 278
$49.82 ARS 75.5K
-43.82%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.54 MAD 233
$17.06 ARS 25.9K
37.98%
Cinema Ticket
$5.97 MAD 59.2
$10.43 ARS 15.8K
-42.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rabat
Buenos Aires
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$180 MAD 1,786
$466 ARS 706.5K
-61.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,210 MAD 91.3K
$9,057 ARS 13.7M
1.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rabat
Buenos Aires
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.06 MAD 457
$122 ARS 185.1K
-62.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.15 MAD 388
$97.4 ARS 147.7K
-59.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.4 MAD 906
$117 ARS 177.3K
-21.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.9 MAD 644
$140 ARS 211.8K
-53.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rabat
Buenos Aires
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$521 MAD 5,171
$763 ARS 1.2M
-31.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$268 MAD 2,661
$505 ARS 765.8K
-46.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$956 MAD 9,485
$1,598 ARS 2.4M
-40.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$686 MAD 6,809
$1,185 ARS 1.8M
-42.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,967 MAD 19.5K
$2,678 ARS 4.1M
-26.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,136 MAD 11.3K
$1,858 ARS 2.8M
-38.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rabat
Buenos Aires
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$695 MAD 6,893
$954 ARS 1.4M
-27.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.52
57.25
-92.10%

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

Last update for Rabat: October 3, 2026

Last update for Buenos Aires: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rabat
$268
Buenos Aires
$505 88.3% $237
Groceries & Markets
Rabat
$201
Buenos Aires
$284 41.4% $83
Eating Out
Rabat
$113
Buenos Aires
$279 147% $166
Clothing & Footwear
Rabat
$109
Buenos Aires
$214 97.2% $106
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rabat
$78
Buenos Aires
$273 250% $195
Sport & Entertainment
Rabat
$40
Buenos Aires
$71 77% $31
Getting Around
Rabat
$31
Buenos Aires
$37 19.8% $6.1

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $521 in Rabat and $763 in Buenos Aires. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Buenos Aires pays 37% 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 $64.0 in Buenos Aires for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $201 vs $284 per month, with Rabat cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇦 Rabat
🇦🇷 Buenos Aires
🕒 Local time
05:00 5:00 AM
01:00 1:00 AM
4 h behind Rabat
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
573,895 Capital
2,891,082 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ARS, USD, EUR 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).

Argentine Peso exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1,516 ARS (10,000 ARS = 6.6 USD). 1 EUR = 1,700 ARS (10,000 ARS = 5.88 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rabat Buenos Aires 9,330 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Rabat
  • Buenos Aires

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 Buenos Aires: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Rabat and in Buenos Aires?
Rabat and Buenos Aires differ by about 102% in total monthly costs ($834 vs $1,685 including rent). Rabat is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 37% lower in Buenos Aires. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Rabat and in Buenos Aires?
Rent for a central apartment: $521 in Rabat versus $763 in Buenos Aires. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Rabat and Buenos Aires?
Childcare runs $180 in Rabat versus $466 in Buenos Aires. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 41% higher in Buenos Aires. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $834 in Rabat versus $1,685 in Buenos Aires, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Rabat but tight or insufficient in Buenos Aires. The gap between the two cities makes Rabat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Rabat and Buenos Aires?
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.
Is Rabat or Buenos Aires safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Rabat and Buenos Aires are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Rabat or Buenos Aires?
Expats usually find Rabat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 102% less than in Buenos Aires. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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