Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabat and Marrakech Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabat and Marrakech

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $900 per month in Rabat vs $883 in Marrakech, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,571 per month in Rabat vs $1,383 in Marrakech, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,242 per month in Rabat vs $1,884 in Marrakech, rent included.

Rabat costs about 2% more than Marrakech, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Rabat and Marrakech are more affordable than the global median – Rabat 33% lower, Marrakech 34% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.69 MAD 43.35
$4.55 MAD 42.07
3.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.21 MAD 455
$32.45 MAD 300
51.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.53 MAD 60.4
$7.16 MAD 66.2
-8.80%
Cappuccino
$1.96 MAD 18.14
$2.59 MAD 23.97
-24.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 MAD 5.68
$1.28 MAD 11.82
-52.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 MAD 3.48
$0.57 MAD 5.26
-33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.51 MAD 51.0
$5.61 MAD 51.9
-1.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00 MAD 37.05
$6.31 MAD 58.4
-36.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.89 MAD 8.19
$0.90 MAD 8.37
-1.11%
White Bread (500g)
$0.50 MAD 4.64
$0.59 MAD 5.43
-15.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.95 MAD 18.00
$1.85 MAD 17.09
5.41%
Eggs
$1.96 MAD 18.10
$2.02 MAD 18.72
-2.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.01 MAD 120
$9.30 MAD 86.1
39.89%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.14 MAD 66.1
$6.01 MAD 55.6
18.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.97 MAD 111
$11.39 MAD 105
5.09%
Apples (1kg)
$1.62 MAD 14.95
$1.50 MAD 13.90
8.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 MAD 12.82
$1.38 MAD 12.79
0.72%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.76 MAD 7.04
$0.89 MAD 8.21
-14.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.80 MAD 7.39
$0.84 MAD 7.79
-4.76%
Potato (1kg)
$0.73 MAD 6.76
$0.80 MAD 7.37
-8.75%
Onion (1kg)
$0.66 MAD 6.11
$0.79 MAD 7.35
-16.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.39 MAD 3.65
$0.40 MAD 3.67
-2.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 MAD 5.80
$0.59 MAD 5.47
6.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.40 MAD 40.67
$4.28 MAD 39.56
2.80%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.92 MAD 73.3
$7.93 MAD 73.4
-0.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.71 MAD 25.10
$2.70 MAD 24.99
0.37%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 MAD 22.68
$2.94 MAD 27.23
-16.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MAD 5.24
$0.45 MAD 4.20
26.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.67 MAD 256
$11.06 MAD 102
150.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.53 MAD 4.94
$1.01 MAD 9.33
-47.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.82 MAD 7.59
$0.52 MAD 4.85
57.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.47 MAD 41.39
$5.37 MAD 49.65
-16.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.53 MAD 14.19
$1.55 MAD 14.32
-1.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7K MAD 349.0K
$36.9K MAD 341.0K
2.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K MAD 275.0K
$29.3K MAD 271.5K
1.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.01 MAD 379
$31.97 MAD 296
28.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.17 MAD 103
$10.94 MAD 101
2.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.41 MAD 374
$46.22 MAD 428
-12.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.55 MAD 283
$24.18 MAD 224
26.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.23 MAD 261
$32.12 MAD 297
-12.11%
Cinema Ticket
$6.40 MAD 59.2
$6.62 MAD 61.2
-3.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$161 MAD 1,487
$112 MAD 1,038
43.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,610 MAD 61.1K
$6,441 MAD 59.6K
2.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 MAD 495
$42.91 MAD 397
24.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.11 MAD 445
$50.5 MAD 468
-4.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 MAD 1,007
$108 MAD 1,001
0.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101 MAD 930
$104 MAD 962
-3.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$449 MAD 4,153
$428 MAD 3,955
4.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$262 MAD 2,422
$278 MAD 2,570
-5.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,117 MAD 10.3K
$753 MAD 6,963
48.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$724 MAD 6,700
$455 MAD 4,208
59.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,099 MAD 19.4K
$1,978 MAD 18.3K
6.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,186 MAD 11.0K
$1,011 MAD 9,356
17.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$726 MAD 6,717
$515 MAD 4,762
41.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.81
4.75
1.26%

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

Last update for Rabat: June 6, 2026

Last update for Marrakech: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $449 in Rabat versus $428 in Marrakech. 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 41% 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 $32.00 in Marrakech. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $210 vs $194 – making Marrakech 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 Marrakech: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marrakech cheaper than Rabat?
Yes – Rabat is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,349 per month in Rabat and $1,324 in Marrakech. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Marrakech, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $161 per month in Rabat and $112 in Marrakech. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Rabat and Marrakech?
Groceries cost about 8% more in Rabat, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Rabat or Marrakech?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Marrakech, where all-in costs run around $883, than in Rabat at $900. In Marrakech it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rabat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Rabat or Marrakech more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Marrakech – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Rabat or Marrakech?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Marrakech. 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.

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