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: $901 in Rabat versus $670 in Meknes.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,611 in Rabat versus $984 in Meknes.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,321 in Rabat versus $1,298 in Meknes.

Living in Rabat is roughly 34% 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

$4.63 MAD 42.81

$2.20 MAD 20.35

110.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.57 MAD 458

$12.47 MAD 115

297.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.53 MAD 60.4

$5.40 MAD 49.91

20.93%

Cappuccino

$2.07 MAD 19.19

$1.27 MAD 11.76

62.99%

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

$0.62 MAD 5.71

$0.69 MAD 6.38

-10.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 MAD 3.70

$0.45 MAD 4.14

-11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.37 MAD 49.63

$3.23 MAD 29.86

66.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.12 MAD 38.14

$4.20 MAD 38.81

-1.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 MAD 7.69

$0.87 MAD 8.01

-4.60%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 MAD 4.69

$0.35 MAD 3.20

45.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.97 MAD 18.25

$1.26 MAD 11.64

56.35%

Eggs

$1.91 MAD 17.68

$1.91 MAD 17.67

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.19 MAD 122

$10.88 MAD 101

21.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.79 MAD 62.8

$4.37 MAD 40.42

55.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.04 MAD 111

$9.33 MAD 86.3

29.05%

Apples (1kg)

$1.61 MAD 14.87

$1.37 MAD 12.66

17.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 MAD 13.36

$1.20 MAD 11.07

20.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.78 MAD 7.17

$0.93 MAD 8.59

-16.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.87 MAD 8.06

$0.67 MAD 6.17

29.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.71 MAD 6.60

$0.73 MAD 6.77

-2.74%

Onion (1kg)

$0.66 MAD 6.11

$0.74 MAD 6.83

-10.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.42 MAD 3.90

$0.43 MAD 3.94

-2.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 MAD 5.92

$0.62 MAD 5.77

3.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.21 MAD 38.97

$4.36 MAD 40.31

-3.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.85 MAD 72.6

$11.55 MAD 107

-32.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.74 MAD 25.31

$2.89 MAD 26.76

-5.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.53 MAD 23.37

$2.67 MAD 24.72

-5.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.52 MAD 4.85

$0.45 MAD 4.19

15.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.14 MAD 251

$16.32 MAD 151

66.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 MAD 5.25

$0.40 MAD 3.69

42.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.88 MAD 8.13

$0.48 MAD 4.48

83.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.33 MAD 40.07

$4.50 MAD 41.61

-3.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.59 MAD 14.74

$1.53 MAD 14.18

3.92%

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

$36.9K MAD 341.4K

$37.0K MAD 341.9K

-0.15%

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

$29.7K MAD 275.2K

$28.5K MAD 263.8K

4.32%

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

$41.27 MAD 382

$37.31 MAD 345

10.61%

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

$11.06 MAD 102

$10.72 MAD 99.1

3.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.37 MAD 364

$33.14 MAD 307

18.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.55 MAD 283

$24.93 MAD 231

22.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.95 MAD 268

$19.26 MAD 178

50.31%

Cinema Ticket

$6.39 MAD 59.1

$4.38 MAD 40.51

45.89%

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

$155 MAD 1,437

$150 MAD 1,384

3.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,445 MAD 59.6K

$1,643 MAD 15.2K

292.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$53.0 MAD 490

$46.32 MAD 428

14.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.82 MAD 442

$39.60 MAD 366

20.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$109 MAD 1,007

$57.2 MAD 529

90.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.8 MAD 895

$54.1 MAD 500

79.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 MAD 4,252

$274 MAD 2,532

67.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 MAD 2,464

$171 MAD 1,579

56.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,119 MAD 10.4K

$416 MAD 3,845

169.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$731 MAD 6,759

$285 MAD 2,638

156.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,946 MAD 18.0K

$954 MAD 8,824

103.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,097 MAD 10.1K

$646 MAD 5,976

69.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$747 MAD 6,912

$497 MAD 4,593

50.51%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Meknes: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $460 in Rabat and $274 in Meknes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rabat pays 51% 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: $50.0 in Rabat vs $12.00 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 34% 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 51% 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: $460 in Rabat versus $274 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 $12.00 versus $50.0 in Rabat. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $901 per month in Rabat versus $670 in Meknes – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $670 in Meknes versus $901 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 34% less than in Rabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.