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: $917 in Rabat versus $647 in Meknes.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,616 in Rabat versus $986 in Meknes.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,315 in Rabat versus $1,324 in Meknes.

Living in Rabat is roughly 42% more expensive than in Meknes, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rabat 31% lower, Meknes 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.78 MAD 44.55

$2.25 MAD 20.97

112.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.90 MAD 456

$12.70 MAD 118

285.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.51 MAD 60.7

$5.35 MAD 49.91

21.68%

Cappuccino

$2.04 MAD 18.99

$1.31 MAD 12.18

55.73%

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

$0.62 MAD 5.81

$0.75 MAD 6.97

-17.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 MAD 3.49

$0.48 MAD 4.45

-22.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.38 MAD 50.2

$3.37 MAD 31.44

59.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.20 MAD 39.12

$4.08 MAD 38.05

2.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 MAD 7.73

$0.81 MAD 7.53

2.47%

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 MAD 4.46

$0.32 MAD 2.96

50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.97 MAD 18.34

$1.30 MAD 12.09

51.54%

Eggs

$1.94 MAD 18.11

$1.91 MAD 17.85

1.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.88 MAD 120

$10.96 MAD 102

17.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.00 MAD 65.3

$4.51 MAD 42.02

55.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.74 MAD 109

$9.45 MAD 88.1

24.23%

Apples (1kg)

$1.59 MAD 14.79

$1.38 MAD 12.85

15.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 MAD 12.87

$1.25 MAD 11.66

10.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 MAD 7.56

$0.90 MAD 8.42

-10.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.82 MAD 7.61

$0.66 MAD 6.14

24.24%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 MAD 6.40

$0.72 MAD 6.69

-4.17%

Onion (1kg)

$0.71 MAD 6.62

$0.76 MAD 7.05

-6.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.43 MAD 4.00

$0.46 MAD 4.30

-6.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 MAD 5.52

$0.57 MAD 5.34

3.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.38 MAD 40.85

$4.38 MAD 40.88

Wine (Bottle)

$8.00 MAD 74.6

$11.26 MAD 105

-28.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.70 MAD 25.19

$2.82 MAD 26.32

-4.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 MAD 22.62

$2.66 MAD 24.82

-8.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.54 MAD 4.99

$0.46 MAD 4.25

17.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$27.81 MAD 259

$16.53 MAD 154

68.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 MAD 5.24

$0.39 MAD 3.66

43.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.87 MAD 8.15

$0.52 MAD 4.86

67.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.32 MAD 40.26

$4.45 MAD 41.52

-2.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 MAD 14.37

$1.49 MAD 13.87

3.36%

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

$37.4K MAD 348.7K

$36.8K MAD 342.8K

1.72%

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

$29.6K MAD 276.4K

$29.0K MAD 270.7K

2.11%

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

$41.72 MAD 389

$37.82 MAD 353

10.31%

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

$11.17 MAD 104

$10.76 MAD 100

3.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.95 MAD 382

$34.00 MAD 317

20.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.78 MAD 278

$24.36 MAD 227

22.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.35 MAD 264

$19.34 MAD 180

46.59%

Cinema Ticket

$6.55 MAD 61.0

$4.42 MAD 41.23

48.19%

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

$157 MAD 1,468

$154 MAD 1,434

2.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,433 MAD 60.0K

$1,668 MAD 15.6K

285.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.6 MAD 490

$45.92 MAD 428

14.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.84 MAD 446

$40.74 MAD 380

17.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 MAD 996

$56.6 MAD 528

88.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.9 MAD 931

$54.3 MAD 506

83.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$457 MAD 4,259

$270 MAD 2,515

69.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$268 MAD 2,500

$169 MAD 1,578

58.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,122 MAD 10.5K

$420 MAD 3,913

167.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$721 MAD 6,723

$278 MAD 2,589

159.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,046 MAD 19.1K

$981 MAD 9,144

108.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,204 MAD 11.2K

$612 MAD 5,702

96.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$725 MAD 6,763

$485 MAD 4,524

49.48%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Meknes: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $457 in Rabat and $270 in Meknes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rabat pays 49% 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 $208 vs $183 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 42% 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.

Average pay runs 49% higher in Rabat, 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: $457 in Rabat versus $270 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 $917 per month in Rabat versus $647 in Meknes – a 42% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Meknes gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 42% less than in Rabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.