😐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 – Rabat33% lower, Marrakech34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.69MAD 43.35
$4.55MAD 42.07
3.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.21MAD 455
$32.45MAD 300
51.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.53MAD 60.4
$7.16MAD 66.2
-8.80%
Cappuccino
$1.96MAD 18.14
$2.59MAD 23.97
-24.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61MAD 5.68
$1.28MAD 11.82
-52.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38MAD 3.48
$0.57MAD 5.26
-33.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.51MAD 51.0
$5.61MAD 51.9
-1.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.00MAD 37.05
$6.31MAD 58.4
-36.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.89MAD 8.19
$0.90MAD 8.37
-1.11%
White Bread(500g)
$0.50MAD 4.64
$0.59MAD 5.43
-15.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.95MAD 18.00
$1.85MAD 17.09
5.41%
Eggs
$1.96MAD 18.10
$2.02MAD 18.72
-2.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.01MAD 120
$9.30MAD 86.1
39.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.14MAD 66.1
$6.01MAD 55.6
18.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.97MAD 111
$11.39MAD 105
5.09%
Apples(1kg)
$1.62MAD 14.95
$1.50MAD 13.90
8.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.39MAD 12.82
$1.38MAD 12.79
0.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.76MAD 7.04
$0.89MAD 8.21
-14.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.80MAD 7.39
$0.84MAD 7.79
-4.76%
Potato(1kg)
$0.73MAD 6.76
$0.80MAD 7.37
-8.75%
Onion(1kg)
$0.66MAD 6.11
$0.79MAD 7.35
-16.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.39MAD 3.65
$0.40MAD 3.67
-2.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63MAD 5.80
$0.59MAD 5.47
6.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.40MAD 40.67
$4.28MAD 39.56
2.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.92MAD 73.3
$7.93MAD 73.4
-0.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.71MAD 25.10
$2.70MAD 24.99
0.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45MAD 22.68
$2.94MAD 27.23
-16.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.57MAD 5.24
$0.45MAD 4.20
26.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.67MAD 256
$11.06MAD 102
150.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53MAD 4.94
$1.01MAD 9.33
-47.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.82MAD 7.59
$0.52MAD 4.85
57.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.47MAD 41.39
$5.37MAD 49.65
-16.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.53MAD 14.19
$1.55MAD 14.32
-1.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7KMAD 349.0K
$36.9KMAD 341.0K
2.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.7KMAD 275.0K
$29.3KMAD 271.5K
1.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.01MAD 379
$31.97MAD 296
28.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.17MAD 103
$10.94MAD 101
2.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.41MAD 374
$46.22MAD 428
-12.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.55MAD 283
$24.18MAD 224
26.34%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.23MAD 261
$32.12MAD 297
-12.11%
Cinema Ticket
$6.40MAD 59.2
$6.62MAD 61.2
-3.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$161MAD 1,487
$112MAD 1,038
43.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,610MAD 61.1K
$6,441MAD 59.6K
2.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5MAD 495
$42.91MAD 397
24.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.11MAD 445
$50.5MAD 468
-4.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109MAD 1,007
$108MAD 1,001
0.55%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$101MAD 930
$104MAD 962
-3.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$449MAD 4,153
$428MAD 3,955
4.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$262MAD 2,422
$278MAD 2,570
-5.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,117MAD 10.3K
$753MAD 6,963
48.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$724MAD 6,700
$455MAD 4,208
59.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,099MAD 19.4K
$1,978MAD 18.3K
6.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,186MAD 11.0K
$1,011MAD 9,356
17.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$726MAD 6,717
$515MAD 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.