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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $901 per month in Rabat vs $878 in Marrakech, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,611 per month in Rabat vs $1,387 in Marrakech, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,321 per month in Rabat vs $1,896 in Marrakech, rent included.

Rabat costs about 3% 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
$4.63 MAD 42.81
$4.60 MAD 42.58
0.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.57 MAD 458
$33.52 MAD 310
47.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.53 MAD 60.4
$7.28 MAD 67.4
-10.30%
Cappuccino
$2.07 MAD 19.19
$2.45 MAD 22.71
-15.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 MAD 5.71
$1.23 MAD 11.33
-49.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 MAD 3.70
$0.55 MAD 5.11
-27.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.37 MAD 49.63
$5.42 MAD 50.2
-0.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.12 MAD 38.14
$6.23 MAD 57.7
-33.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.83 MAD 7.69
$0.96 MAD 8.84
-13.54%
White Bread (500g)
$0.51 MAD 4.69
$0.58 MAD 5.37
-12.07%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 MAD 18.25
$1.78 MAD 16.48
10.67%
Eggs
$1.91 MAD 17.68
$2.08 MAD 19.26
-8.17%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.19 MAD 122
$9.52 MAD 88.1
38.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.79 MAD 62.8
$6.18 MAD 57.2
9.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.04 MAD 111
$11.20 MAD 104
7.50%
Apples (1kg)
$1.61 MAD 14.87
$1.52 MAD 14.06
5.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MAD 13.36
$1.37 MAD 12.72
5.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.78 MAD 7.17
$0.97 MAD 8.95
-19.59%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.87 MAD 8.06
$0.84 MAD 7.81
3.57%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 MAD 6.60
$0.76 MAD 7.00
-6.58%
Onion (1kg)
$0.66 MAD 6.11
$0.74 MAD 6.81
-10.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.42 MAD 3.90
$0.40 MAD 3.67
5.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 MAD 5.92
$0.58 MAD 5.41
10.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.21 MAD 38.97
$4.30 MAD 39.77
-2.09%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.85 MAD 72.6
$8.29 MAD 76.7
-5.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 MAD 25.31
$2.61 MAD 24.15
4.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.53 MAD 23.37
$2.96 MAD 27.35
-14.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.52 MAD 4.85
$0.46 MAD 4.21
13.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.14 MAD 251
$11.01 MAD 102
146.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 MAD 5.25
$1.02 MAD 9.46
-44.12%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.88 MAD 8.13
$0.48 MAD 4.46
83.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.33 MAD 40.07
$5.61 MAD 51.9
-22.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.59 MAD 14.74
$1.54 MAD 14.21
3.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9K MAD 341.4K
$36.5K MAD 338.0K
1.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7K MAD 275.2K
$29.8K MAD 275.9K
-0.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.27 MAD 382
$32.83 MAD 304
25.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.06 MAD 102
$10.93 MAD 101
1.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.37 MAD 364
$45.33 MAD 419
-13.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.55 MAD 283
$24.36 MAD 225
25.41%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.95 MAD 268
$32.62 MAD 302
-11.25%
Cinema Ticket
$6.39 MAD 59.1
$6.52 MAD 60.3
-1.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$155 MAD 1,437
$112 MAD 1,040
38.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,445 MAD 59.6K
$6,249 MAD 57.8K
3.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.0 MAD 490
$42.39 MAD 392
25.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.82 MAD 442
$50.8 MAD 470
-5.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 MAD 1,007
$110 MAD 1,019
-1.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.8 MAD 895
$104 MAD 965
-7.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$460 MAD 4,252
$439 MAD 4,064
4.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$266 MAD 2,464
$278 MAD 2,570
-4.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,119 MAD 10.4K
$766 MAD 7,081
46.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$731 MAD 6,759
$439 MAD 4,064
66.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,946 MAD 18.0K
$1,873 MAD 17.3K
3.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,097 MAD 10.1K
$979 MAD 9,055
12.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$747 MAD 6,912
$509 MAD 4,708
46.84%
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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Marrakech: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $460 in Rabat versus $439 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 47% 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 $50.0 in Rabat versus $34.00 in Marrakech. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $210 vs $196 – 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 3%, 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 $1,351 per month in Rabat and $1,317 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 $155 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 7% 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 $878, than in Rabat at $901. 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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