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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $908 per month in Rabat vs $810 in Essaouira, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,593 per month in Rabat vs $1,226 in Essaouira, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,279 per month in Rabat vs $1,642 in Essaouira, rent included.

Rabat costs about 12% more than Essaouira, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Rabat and Essaouira are more affordable than the global median – Rabat 32% lower, Essaouira 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.63 MAD 42.54

$4.34 MAD 39.86

6.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.79 MAD 448

$24.74 MAD 227

97.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.80 MAD 62.5

$4.99 MAD 45.88

36.27%

Cappuccino

$1.96 MAD 18.04

$1.84 MAD 16.91

6.52%

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

$0.61 MAD 5.61

$0.45 MAD 4.13

35.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 MAD 3.48

$0.26 MAD 2.36

46.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.47 MAD 50.2

$3.85 MAD 35.40

42.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.21 MAD 38.67

$3.57 MAD 32.83

17.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.82 MAD 7.51

$0.85 MAD 7.80

-3.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 MAD 4.40

$0.53 MAD 4.90

-9.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.97 MAD 18.11

$1.69 MAD 15.57

16.57%

Eggs

$1.93 MAD 17.76

$1.80 MAD 16.52

7.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.17 MAD 121

$9.59 MAD 88.1

37.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.94 MAD 63.8

$5.34 MAD 49.08

29.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.92 MAD 110

$11.51 MAD 106

3.56%

Apples (1kg)

$1.61 MAD 14.83

$1.37 MAD 12.55

17.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 MAD 12.68

$1.27 MAD 11.70

8.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.83 MAD 7.61

$0.72 MAD 6.59

15.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 MAD 7.44

$0.93 MAD 8.56

-12.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.68 MAD 6.25

$0.69 MAD 6.36

-1.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 MAD 6.51

$0.92 MAD 8.47

-22.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 MAD 3.64

$0.39 MAD 3.60

2.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MAD 5.77

$0.54 MAD 4.92

16.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.39 MAD 40.35

$4.07 MAD 37.43

7.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.08 MAD 74.3

$6.61 MAD 60.8

22.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 MAD 24.85

$1.93 MAD 17.76

39.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 MAD 22.73

$2.16 MAD 19.83

14.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 MAD 5.23

$0.90 MAD 8.25

-36.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.06 MAD 249

$16.40 MAD 151

65.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 MAD 5.27

$0.68 MAD 6.26

-16.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.83 MAD 7.63

$0.51 MAD 4.72

62.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.46 MAD 41.02

$8.69 MAD 79.8

-48.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MAD 14.11

$1.58 MAD 14.54

-2.53%

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

$36.9K MAD 338.7K

$37.6K MAD 345.7K

-2.03%

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

$29.8K MAD 273.8K

$21.0K MAD 193.3K

41.62%

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

$41.32 MAD 380

$28.04 MAD 258

47.36%

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

$11.26 MAD 103

$13.82 MAD 127

-18.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.59 MAD 364

$28.65 MAD 263

38.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.30 MAD 278

$22.11 MAD 203

37.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.31 MAD 269

$23.63 MAD 217

24.04%

Cinema Ticket

$6.56 MAD 60.3

$6.71 MAD 61.7

-2.24%

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

$158 MAD 1,448

$75.6 MAD 695

108.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,396 MAD 58.8K

$1,990 MAD 18.3K

221.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.4 MAD 482

$31.43 MAD 289

66.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.76 MAD 448

$39.79 MAD 366

22.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 MAD 990

$48.84 MAD 449

120.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.1 MAD 892

$44.20 MAD 406

119.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 MAD 4,226

$388 MAD 3,563

18.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 MAD 2,471

$345 MAD 3,173

-22.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,103 MAD 10.1K

$795 MAD 7,308

38.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$727 MAD 6,680

$545 MAD 5,011

33.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,105 MAD 19.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,209 MAD 11.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$745 MAD 6,843

$268 MAD 2,462

177.91%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Essaouira: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $460 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 178% 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 $179 – 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 12%, 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 $1,362 per month in Rabat and $1,215 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 17% 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 $810, than in Rabat at $908. 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.