Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabat and Meknes Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabat and Meknes

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $900 in Rabat versus $666 in Meknes.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,571 in Rabat versus $980 in Meknes.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,242 in Rabat versus $1,293 in Meknes.

Living in Rabat is roughly 35% more expensive than Meknes, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rabat 33% lower, Meknes 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.69 MAD 43.35

$2.16 MAD 19.95

117.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.21 MAD 455

$12.73 MAD 118

286.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.53 MAD 60.4

$5.40 MAD 49.94

20.93%

Cappuccino

$1.96 MAD 18.14

$1.33 MAD 12.28

47.37%

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

$0.61 MAD 5.68

$0.69 MAD 6.42

-11.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 MAD 3.48

$0.44 MAD 4.07

-13.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.51 MAD 51.0

$3.26 MAD 30.17

69.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.00 MAD 37.05

$4.13 MAD 38.25

-3.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 MAD 8.19

$0.86 MAD 7.95

3.49%

White Bread (500g)

$0.50 MAD 4.64

$0.32 MAD 2.93

56.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 MAD 18.00

$1.25 MAD 11.54

56.00%

Eggs

$1.96 MAD 18.10

$1.99 MAD 18.45

-1.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.01 MAD 120

$10.90 MAD 101

19.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.14 MAD 66.1

$4.49 MAD 41.52

59.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.97 MAD 111

$9.20 MAD 85.1

30.11%

Apples (1kg)

$1.62 MAD 14.95

$1.33 MAD 12.35

21.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 MAD 12.82

$1.24 MAD 11.47

12.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.76 MAD 7.04

$0.92 MAD 8.55

-17.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.80 MAD 7.39

$0.72 MAD 6.67

11.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.73 MAD 6.76

$0.72 MAD 6.70

1.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 MAD 6.11

$0.74 MAD 6.86

-10.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 MAD 3.65

$0.42 MAD 3.91

-7.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MAD 5.80

$0.59 MAD 5.45

6.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.40 MAD 40.67

$4.38 MAD 40.55

0.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.92 MAD 73.3

$11.51 MAD 106

-31.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.71 MAD 25.10

$2.85 MAD 26.38

-4.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.45 MAD 22.68

$2.77 MAD 25.65

-11.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.57 MAD 5.24

$0.42 MAD 3.92

35.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.67 MAD 256

$16.56 MAD 153

67.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.53 MAD 4.94

$0.39 MAD 3.61

35.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.82 MAD 7.59

$0.48 MAD 4.40

70.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.47 MAD 41.39

$4.27 MAD 39.53

4.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.53 MAD 14.19

$1.48 MAD 13.74

3.38%

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

$37.7K MAD 349.0K

$37.7K MAD 348.6K

0.14%

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

$29.7K MAD 275.0K

$28.3K MAD 262.2K

4.87%

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

$41.01 MAD 379

$37.11 MAD 343

10.51%

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

$11.17 MAD 103

$10.79 MAD 99.8

3.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.41 MAD 374

$33.11 MAD 306

22.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.55 MAD 283

$24.20 MAD 224

26.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.23 MAD 261

$19.26 MAD 178

46.57%

Cinema Ticket

$6.40 MAD 59.2

$4.40 MAD 40.70

45.45%

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

$161 MAD 1,487

$151 MAD 1,399

6.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,610 MAD 61.1K

$1,629 MAD 15.1K

305.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.5 MAD 495

$44.80 MAD 414

19.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.11 MAD 445

$40.23 MAD 372

19.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 MAD 1,007

$57.6 MAD 532

89.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 MAD 930

$55.0 MAD 508

82.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$449 MAD 4,153

$271 MAD 2,507

65.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 MAD 2,422

$175 MAD 1,620

49.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,117 MAD 10.3K

$423 MAD 3,916

163.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 MAD 6,700

$286 MAD 2,645

153.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,099 MAD 19.4K

$934 MAD 8,638

124.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,186 MAD 11.0K

$633 MAD 5,858

87.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$726 MAD 6,717

$506 MAD 4,679

43.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.81

4.5

6.89%

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

Last update for Rabat: June 6, 2026

Last update for Meknes: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $449 in Rabat and $271 in Meknes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rabat pays 44% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $49.00 in Rabat vs $13.00 in Meknes for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $184 per month, with Meknes cheaper across the board.

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 Meknes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Meknes wins on cost – living expenses run 35% lower than in Rabat. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Meknes the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Rabat pays 44% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $449 in Rabat versus $271 in Meknes. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Meknes – a meal for two runs $13.00 versus $49.00 in Rabat. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $900 per month in Rabat versus $666 in Meknes – a 35% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $666 in Meknes versus $900 in Rabat, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Meknes but tight or insufficient in Rabat. The gap between the two cities makes Meknes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Rabat and Meknes are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Meknes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Rabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.