😐A single person spends $917 per month in Rabat vs $875 in Marrakech, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,616 per month in Rabat vs $1,374 in Marrakech, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,315 per month in Rabat vs $1,874 in Marrakech, rent included.
😐Rabat costs about 5% more than Marrakech, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Rabat and Marrakech are more affordable than the global median – Rabat31% lower, Marrakech34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.78MAD 44.55
$4.56MAD 42.52
4.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.90MAD 456
$32.27MAD 301
51.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.51MAD 60.7
$7.10MAD 66.2
-8.31%
Cappuccino
$2.04MAD 18.99
$2.47MAD 23.07
-17.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62MAD 5.81
$1.23MAD 11.42
-49.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37MAD 3.49
$0.56MAD 5.19
-33.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.38MAD 50.2
$5.51MAD 51.4
-2.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.20MAD 39.12
$6.38MAD 59.5
-34.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.83MAD 7.73
$0.90MAD 8.36
-7.78%
White Bread(500g)
$0.48MAD 4.46
$0.55MAD 5.12
-12.73%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.97MAD 18.34
$1.84MAD 17.19
7.07%
Eggs
$1.94MAD 18.11
$2.07MAD 19.30
-6.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.88MAD 120
$9.23MAD 86.1
39.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.00MAD 65.3
$6.04MAD 56.3
15.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.74MAD 109
$11.13MAD 104
5.48%
Apples(1kg)
$1.59MAD 14.79
$1.52MAD 14.16
4.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.38MAD 12.87
$1.33MAD 12.43
3.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.81MAD 7.56
$0.91MAD 8.50
-10.99%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.82MAD 7.61
$0.89MAD 8.32
-7.87%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69MAD 6.40
$0.79MAD 7.33
-12.66%
Onion(1kg)
$0.71MAD 6.62
$0.79MAD 7.38
-10.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.43MAD 4.00
$0.39MAD 3.67
10.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59MAD 5.52
$0.58MAD 5.40
1.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38MAD 40.85
$4.50MAD 41.98
-2.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.00MAD 74.6
$7.97MAD 74.3
0.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.70MAD 25.19
$2.68MAD 24.99
0.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43MAD 22.62
$2.98MAD 27.78
-18.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.54MAD 4.99
$0.46MAD 4.27
17.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$27.81MAD 259
$10.85MAD 101
156.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.56MAD 5.24
$1.02MAD 9.51
-45.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.87MAD 8.15
$0.49MAD 4.55
77.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.32MAD 40.26
$5.49MAD 51.2
-21.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.54MAD 14.37
$1.58MAD 14.77
-2.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4KMAD 348.7K
$37.2KMAD 347.2K
0.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6KMAD 276.4K
$30.3KMAD 282.6K
-2.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$41.72MAD 389
$32.34MAD 302
29.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.17MAD 104
$10.85MAD 101
2.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.95MAD 382
$45.52MAD 424
-10.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.78MAD 278
$23.98MAD 224
24.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.35MAD 264
$31.93MAD 298
-11.21%
Cinema Ticket
$6.55MAD 61.0
$6.71MAD 62.5
-2.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$157MAD 1,468
$111MAD 1,033
42.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,433MAD 60.0K
$6,275MAD 58.5K
2.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.6MAD 490
$43.48MAD 405
20.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$47.84MAD 446
$49.28MAD 459
-2.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$107MAD 996
$107MAD 995
0.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$99.9MAD 931
$103MAD 962
-3.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$457MAD 4,259
$436MAD 4,066
4.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$268MAD 2,500
$277MAD 2,585
-3.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,122MAD 10.5K
$746MAD 6,953
50.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$721MAD 6,723
$456MAD 4,256
57.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,046MAD 19.1K
$1,986MAD 18.5K
3.02%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,204MAD 11.2K
$955MAD 8,905
26.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rabat
Marrakech
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$725MAD 6,763
$516MAD 4,813
40.50%
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Marrakech: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $457 in Rabat versus $436 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 40% 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: $208 vs $193 – 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 5%, 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 $1,376 per month in Rabat and $1,312 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 $157 per month in Rabat and $111 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 in 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 $1,000 enough for either Rabat or Marrakech?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $917 in Rabat and $875 in Marrakech, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
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.