Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabat and El Jadida

For one person, living is cheaper in El Jadida: $613 a month against $921 in Rabat, rent and utilities included – about $3,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Rabat, Morocco
El Jadida, Morocco
Rabat
🇲🇦 Morocco
$921
/mo nomad
El Jadida
🇲🇦 Morocco
$613
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rabat and in El Jadida

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 El Jadida actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $921 in Rabat versus $613 in El Jadida.

  • Rabat $921
  • El Jadida $613

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,498 in Rabat versus $921 in El Jadida.

  • Rabat $1,498
  • El Jadida $921

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,074 in Rabat versus $1,230 in El Jadida.

  • Rabat $2,074
  • El Jadida $1,230

Living in Rabat is roughly 50% more expensive than in El Jadida, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rabat 32% lower, El Jadida 55% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.99 MAD 39.26
$2.74 MAD 26.95
45.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.46 MAD 408
$20.55 MAD 202
101.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.96 MAD 68.5
$5.97 MAD 58.8
16.58%
Cappuccino
$1.94 MAD 19.06
$1.51 MAD 14.85
28.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 MAD 5.25
$0.42 MAD 4.11
26.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 MAD 3.60
$0.30 MAD 2.97
23.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.19 MAD 51.1
$2.62 MAD 25.77
98.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 MAD 30.91
$2.51 MAD 24.70
25.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.90 MAD 8.85
$0.98 MAD 9.66
-8.16%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 MAD 5.94
$0.36 MAD 3.58
66.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 MAD 18.87
$1.96 MAD 19.32
-2.04%
Eggs
$1.86 MAD 18.26
$1.88 MAD 18.54
-1.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.16 MAD 110
$6.26 MAD 61.6
78.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.71 MAD 66.0
$4.02 MAD 39.59
66.92%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.08 MAD 119
$7.50 MAD 73.8
61.07%
Apples (1kg)
$1.55 MAD 15.28
$1.51 MAD 14.84
2.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 MAD 14.09
$1.41 MAD 13.83
1.42%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.81 MAD 7.97
$0.65 MAD 6.36
24.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.82 MAD 8.12
$0.64 MAD 6.27
28.12%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 MAD 7.07
$0.68 MAD 6.65
5.88%
Onion (1kg)
$0.75 MAD 7.37
$0.50 MAD 4.94
50.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.37 MAD 3.62
$0.30 MAD 2.92
23.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 MAD 6.23
$0.51 MAD 5.04
23.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06 MAD 39.98
$3.76 MAD 37.00
7.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.33 MAD 72.2
$3.97 MAD 39.04
84.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.56 MAD 25.23
$2.48 MAD 24.39
3.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 MAD 26.39
$2.83 MAD 27.82
-5.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MAD 5.42
$0.44 MAD 4.38
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.62 MAD 252
$15.98 MAD 157
60.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.73 MAD 7.17
$1.04 MAD 10.20
-29.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.77 MAD 7.60
$1.04 MAD 10.24
-25.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.13 MAD 40.68
$4.96 MAD 48.77
-16.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MAD 14.98
$1.48 MAD 14.60
2.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K MAD 296.8K
$33.7K MAD 331.9K
-10.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K MAD 315.8K
$29.7K MAD 292.8K
7.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.47 MAD 349
$28.15 MAD 277
26.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.21 MAD 100
$9.90 MAD 97.4
3.13%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51 MAD 330
$30.58 MAD 301
9.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.87 MAD 274
$27.51 MAD 271
1.31%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.11 MAD 237
$11.73 MAD 115
105.54%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 MAD 58.5
$6.25 MAD 61.5
-4.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$180 MAD 1,775
$111 MAD 1,093
62.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,261 MAD 91.1K
$3,097 MAD 30.5K
199.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.83 MAD 461
$26.67 MAD 263
75.59%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.60 MAD 400
$35.40 MAD 348
14.69%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.6 MAD 901
$64.3 MAD 633
42.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.0 MAD 649
$68.3 MAD 672
-3.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$572 MAD 5,625
$203 MAD 1,996
181.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$345 MAD 3,399
$165 MAD 1,628
108.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$987 MAD 9,712
$361 MAD 3,556
173.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$687 MAD 6,765
$226 MAD 2,221
204.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,126 MAD 20.9K
$1,544 MAD 15.2K
37.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,214 MAD 12.0K
$774 MAD 7,621
56.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$721 MAD 7,101
$460 MAD 4,523
56.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.55
5.5
-17.27%

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

Last update for Rabat: October 27, 2026

Last update for El Jadida: October 27, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rabat
$345
El Jadida
$165 52.1% $180
Groceries & Markets
Rabat
$203
El Jadida
$148 26.8% $54
Eating Out
Rabat
$112
El Jadida
$79 29.4% $33
Clothing & Footwear
Rabat
$110
El Jadida
$88 20.5% $23
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rabat
$79
El Jadida
$69 13.3% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Rabat
$40
El Jadida
$40 0.7% $0.3
Getting Around
Rabat
$32
El Jadida
$24 25.9% $8.4

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $572 in Rabat and $203 in El Jadida. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rabat pays 57% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $41 in Rabat vs $21 in El Jadida for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $148 per month, with El Jadida cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇦 Rabat
🇲🇦 El Jadida
🕒 Local time
04:02 4:02 AM
04:02 4:02 AM
Same time as Rabat
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
573,895 Capital
237,464
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MAD – Moroccan Dirham Converter

Moroccan Dirham exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 9.84 MAD (1 MAD = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 MAD (100 MAD = 9.13 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rabat El Jadida 180 km
From you
  • Rabat
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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 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 33% 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 in El Jadida?
Average pay runs 57% higher in Rabat, 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 compared to El Jadida?
Rent for a central apartment: $572 in Rabat versus $203 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 in El Jadida?
Supermarket bills run roughly 37% higher in Rabat. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Rabat and in El Jadida?
Dining out is cheaper in El Jadida – a meal for two runs $21 versus $41 in Rabat. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Rabat or in El Jadida?
At $613 in El Jadida versus $921 in Rabat, a $800 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 both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find El Jadida gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Rabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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