Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabat and Essaouira Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabat and Essaouira

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $911 per month in Rabat vs $837 in Essaouira, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,576 per month in Rabat vs $1,254 in Essaouira, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,240 per month in Rabat vs $1,671 in Essaouira, rent included.

Rabat costs about 9% more than Essaouira, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Rabat and Essaouira are more affordable than the global median – Rabat 32% lower, Essaouira 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.73 MAD 44.09

$4.36 MAD 40.68

8.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.72 MAD 454

$25.14 MAD 234

93.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.67 MAD 62.2

$4.97 MAD 46.37

34.21%

Cappuccino

$2.04 MAD 19.02

$1.76 MAD 16.37

15.91%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 MAD 5.86

$0.46 MAD 4.26

36.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 MAD 3.78

$0.26 MAD 2.41

57.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.63 MAD 52.5

$3.79 MAD 35.36

48.55%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.17 MAD 38.93

$3.72 MAD 34.69

12.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.86 MAD 8.06

$0.84 MAD 7.87

2.38%

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 MAD 4.36

$0.49 MAD 4.57

-4.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 MAD 17.43

$1.65 MAD 15.43

13.33%

Eggs

$1.92 MAD 17.94

$1.81 MAD 16.90

6.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.96 MAD 121

$9.24 MAD 86.1

40.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.15 MAD 66.7

$5.29 MAD 49.31

35.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.93 MAD 111

$11.42 MAD 107

4.47%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 MAD 14.42

$1.42 MAD 13.21

9.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MAD 13.40

$1.22 MAD 11.42

18.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.82 MAD 7.67

$0.72 MAD 6.69

13.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 MAD 7.37

$0.88 MAD 8.22

-10.23%

Potato (1kg)

$0.72 MAD 6.68

$0.70 MAD 6.52

2.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.70 MAD 6.49

$0.91 MAD 8.48

-23.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 MAD 3.95

$0.39 MAD 3.66

7.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 MAD 5.92

$0.53 MAD 4.97

20.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.39 MAD 40.92

$4.15 MAD 38.66

5.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.66 MAD 71.4

$6.45 MAD 60.1

18.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 MAD 25.29

$1.93 MAD 18.03

40.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 MAD 22.83

$2.20 MAD 20.52

11.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 MAD 4.93

$0.87 MAD 8.11

-39.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.66 MAD 258

$16.46 MAD 154

68.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.53 MAD 4.92

$0.63 MAD 5.92

-15.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.88 MAD 8.23

$0.48 MAD 4.43

83.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.33 MAD 40.34

$8.98 MAD 83.8

-51.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.52 MAD 14.22

$1.58 MAD 14.70

-3.80%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$37.3K MAD 348.0K

$37.2K MAD 346.5K

0.44%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.6K MAD 276.0K

$21.1K MAD 196.4K

40.57%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$41.99 MAD 392

$27.86 MAD 260

50.72%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$10.87 MAD 101

$13.90 MAD 130

-21.80%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.97 MAD 373

$27.94 MAD 261

43.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.61 MAD 285

$21.61 MAD 202

41.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.43 MAD 265

$22.76 MAD 212

24.91%

Cinema Ticket

$6.49 MAD 60.5

$6.65 MAD 62.0

-2.41%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$160 MAD 1,490

$75.3 MAD 702

112.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,628 MAD 61.8K

$1,956 MAD 18.2K

238.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.7 MAD 501

$30.88 MAD 288

73.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.14 MAD 458

$39.68 MAD 370

23.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 MAD 1,015

$49.28 MAD 460

120.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.0 MAD 914

$44.34 MAD 413

121.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$459 MAD 4,279

$388 MAD 3,617

18.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$259 MAD 2,414

$346 MAD 3,229

-25.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,120 MAD 10.4K

$813 MAD 7,584

37.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$746 MAD 6,955

$559 MAD 5,209

33.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,090 MAD 19.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,204 MAD 11.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$739 MAD 6,891

$268 MAD 2,498

175.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.81

5.5

-12.55%

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

Last update for Rabat: July 11, 2026

Last update for Essaouira: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $459 in Rabat versus $388 in Essaouira. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 176% higher in Rabat, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Rabat versus $25.00 in Essaouira. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $209 vs $176 – making Essaouira the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Essaouira: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Rabat is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,366 per month in Rabat and $1,256 in Essaouira. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Essaouira, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% more in Rabat, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Rabat and $25.00 in Essaouira. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Essaouira, where all-in costs run around $837, than in Rabat at $911. In Essaouira it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rabat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Essaouira – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Essaouira. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rabat makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.