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: $869 in Rabat versus $651 in El Jadida.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,515 in Rabat versus $967 in El Jadida.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,161 in Rabat versus $1,282 in El Jadida.

Living in Rabat is roughly 33% more expensive than in El Jadida, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rabat 37% lower, El Jadida 53% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.21 MAD 39.60
$2.87 MAD 27.01
46.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$43.15 MAD 406
$21.20 MAD 199
103.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.38 MAD 69.4
$6.21 MAD 58.4
18.84%
Cappuccino
$1.93 MAD 18.12
$1.59 MAD 14.96
21.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 MAD 6.01
$0.47 MAD 4.43
36.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 MAD 3.25
$0.29 MAD 2.68
20.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.35 MAD 50.3
$2.79 MAD 26.24
91.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 MAD 30.95
$2.63 MAD 24.67
25.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.85 MAD 8.03
$0.96 MAD 9.01
-11.46%
White Bread (500g)
$0.68 MAD 6.40
$0.42 MAD 3.92
61.90%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.89 MAD 17.73
$1.97 MAD 18.53
-4.06%
Eggs
$1.98 MAD 18.65
$1.94 MAD 18.19
2.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.90 MAD 112
$6.56 MAD 61.6
81.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.68 MAD 62.7
$4.20 MAD 39.49
59.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.45 MAD 117
$8.20 MAD 77.0
51.83%
Apples (1kg)
$1.71 MAD 16.05
$1.59 MAD 14.94
7.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 MAD 13.73
$1.47 MAD 13.84
-0.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.88 MAD 8.23
$0.72 MAD 6.74
22.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.92 MAD 8.61
$0.67 MAD 6.32
37.31%
Potato (1kg)
$0.75 MAD 7.07
$0.69 MAD 6.46
8.70%
Onion (1kg)
$0.77 MAD 7.20
$0.48 MAD 4.48
60.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.42 MAD 3.92
$0.33 MAD 3.14
27.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 MAD 5.54
$0.54 MAD 5.07
9.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23 MAD 39.71
$3.98 MAD 37.44
6.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.84 MAD 73.7
$4.15 MAD 38.99
88.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.68 MAD 25.18
$2.61 MAD 24.52
2.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69 MAD 25.24
$3.02 MAD 28.42
-10.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MAD 5.19
$0.47 MAD 4.38
17.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$26.52 MAD 249
$17.20 MAD 162
54.19%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.72 MAD 6.74
$1.08 MAD 10.17
-33.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.90 MAD 8.44
$1.09 MAD 10.25
-17.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.15 MAD 39.00
$5.46 MAD 51.3
-23.99%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.57 MAD 14.80
$1.56 MAD 14.65
0.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6K MAD 324.7K
$34.9K MAD 327.8K
-0.95%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K MAD 295.8K
$31.2K MAD 293.1K
0.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.38 MAD 333
$29.29 MAD 275
20.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.58 MAD 99.4
$10.52 MAD 98.9
0.57%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.25 MAD 312
$32.46 MAD 305
2.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.18 MAD 284
$29.84 MAD 280
1.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.55 MAD 259
$12.61 MAD 118
118.48%
Cinema Ticket
$6.52 MAD 61.3
$6.58 MAD 61.8
-0.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$186 MAD 1,745
$116 MAD 1,086
60.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,068 MAD 66.4K
$3,239 MAD 30.4K
118.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.3 MAD 473
$28.85 MAD 271
74.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.47 MAD 418
$37.71 MAD 354
17.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.4 MAD 878
$66.7 MAD 627
40.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.0 MAD 648
$74.0 MAD 695
-6.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$519 MAD 4,877
$211 MAD 1,987
145.46%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$278 MAD 2,609
$173 MAD 1,624
60.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,114 MAD 10.5K
$369 MAD 3,465
201.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$674 MAD 6,329
$237 MAD 2,227
184.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,018 MAD 19.0K
$1,570 MAD 14.8K
28.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,187 MAD 11.2K
$818 MAD 7,688
45.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rabat
El Jadida
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$749 MAD 7,036
$482 MAD 4,530
55.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.52
5.5
-17.82%

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

Last update for Rabat: September 7, 2026

Last update for El Jadida: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $519 in Rabat and $211 in El Jadida. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rabat pays 55% 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: $43.00 in Rabat vs $21.00 in El Jadida for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $156 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 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 55% 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: $519 in Rabat versus $211 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 34% 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 $21.00 versus $43.00 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 in El Jadida?
At $651 in El Jadida versus $869 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 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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