Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabat and El Jadida Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabat and El Jadida

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $908 in Rabat versus $647 in El Jadida.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,593 in Rabat versus $978 in El Jadida.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,279 in Rabat versus $1,310 in El Jadida.

Living in Rabat is roughly 40% more expensive than El Jadida, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rabat 32% lower, El Jadida 52% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 MAD 42.54
$3.78 MAD 34.77
22.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.79 MAD 448
$19.61 MAD 180
148.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.80 MAD 62.5
$6.69 MAD 61.5
1.64%
Cappuccino
$1.96 MAD 18.04
$1.52 MAD 13.95
28.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 MAD 5.61
$0.46 MAD 4.24
32.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 MAD 3.48
$0.32 MAD 2.93
18.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.47 MAD 50.2
$2.83 MAD 26.03
93.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.21 MAD 38.67
$3.21 MAD 29.48
31.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 MAD 7.51
$0.84 MAD 7.75
-2.38%
White Bread (500g)
$0.48 MAD 4.40
$0.44 MAD 4.02
9.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 MAD 18.11
$1.76 MAD 16.21
11.93%
Eggs
$1.93 MAD 17.76
$1.78 MAD 16.38
8.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.17 MAD 121
$4.88 MAD 44.88
169.88%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.94 MAD 63.8
$3.87 MAD 35.53
79.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.92 MAD 110
$8.18 MAD 75.2
45.72%
Apples (1kg)
$1.61 MAD 14.83
$1.56 MAD 14.36
3.21%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MAD 12.68
$1.28 MAD 11.76
7.81%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.83 MAD 7.61
$0.72 MAD 6.58
15.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.81 MAD 7.44
$0.78 MAD 7.17
3.85%
Potato (1kg)
$0.68 MAD 6.25
$0.74 MAD 6.79
-8.11%
Onion (1kg)
$0.71 MAD 6.51
$0.50 MAD 4.61
42.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.40 MAD 3.64
$0.33 MAD 3.04
21.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 MAD 5.77
$0.57 MAD 5.20
10.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.39 MAD 40.35
$4.18 MAD 38.45
5.02%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.08 MAD 74.3
$4.47 MAD 41.04
80.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.70 MAD 24.85
$2.38 MAD 21.83
13.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 MAD 22.73
$2.93 MAD 26.96
-15.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MAD 5.23
$0.51 MAD 4.69
11.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.06 MAD 249
$26.35 MAD 242
2.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 MAD 5.27
$1.08 MAD 9.91
-47.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.83 MAD 7.63
$0.48 MAD 4.43
72.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 MAD 41.02
$3.33 MAD 30.60
33.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MAD 14.11
$1.51 MAD 13.91
1.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9K MAD 338.7K
$32.5K MAD 298.7K
13.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8K MAD 273.8K
$30.1K MAD 276.3K
-0.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.32 MAD 380
$32.07 MAD 295
28.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 MAD 103
$11.03 MAD 101
2.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.59 MAD 364
$32.95 MAD 303
20.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.30 MAD 278
$27.12 MAD 249
11.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.31 MAD 269
$17.45 MAD 160
67.97%
Cinema Ticket
$6.56 MAD 60.3
$6.59 MAD 60.6
-0.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$158 MAD 1,448
$88.7 MAD 815
77.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,396 MAD 58.8K
$2,576 MAD 23.7K
148.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.4 MAD 482
$40.67 MAD 374
28.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.76 MAD 448
$40.56 MAD 373
20.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 MAD 990
$68.4 MAD 628
57.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.1 MAD 892
$61.3 MAD 563
58.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$460 MAD 4,226
$223 MAD 2,052
105.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$269 MAD 2,471
$173 MAD 1,592
55.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,103 MAD 10.1K
$380 MAD 3,493
190.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$727 MAD 6,680
$242 MAD 2,225
200.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,105 MAD 19.3K
$1,660 MAD 15.3K
26.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,209 MAD 11.1K
$840 MAD 7,721
43.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$745 MAD 6,843
$486 MAD 4,463
53.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.81
5
-3.80%

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

Last update for Rabat: May 31, 2026

Last update for El Jadida: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $460 in Rabat and $223 in El Jadida. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rabat pays 53% 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: $49.00 in Rabat vs $20.00 in El Jadida for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $209 vs $146 per month, with El Jadida 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
Rabat vs El Jadida: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rabat or El Jadida?
El Jadida wins on cost – living expenses run 40% lower than in Rabat. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making El Jadida the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Rabat or El Jadida?
Rabat pays 53% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Rabat vs El Jadida?
Rent for a central apartment: $460 in Rabat versus $223 in El Jadida. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Rabat or El Jadida?
Supermarket bills run roughly 44% higher in Rabat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Rabat vs El Jadida?
Dining out is cheaper in El Jadida – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $49.00 in Rabat. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Rabat or El Jadida?
At $647 in El Jadida versus $908 in Rabat, a $1,000 budget is realistic in El Jadida but tight or insufficient in Rabat. The gap between the two cities makes El Jadida the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Rabat or El Jadida?
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.
How safe is Rabat compared to El Jadida?
Safety-wise, Rabat and El Jadida 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 El Jadida gentler on the wallet – expenses run 40% less than in Rabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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