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: $874 in Rabat versus $731 in Meknes.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,498 in Rabat versus $1,128 in Meknes.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,123 in Rabat versus $1,525 in Meknes.

Living in Rabat is roughly 19% more expensive than in Meknes, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rabat 36% lower, Meknes 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.30 MAD 40.80

$3.25 MAD 30.81

32.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.91 MAD 397

$15.66 MAD 149

167.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.41 MAD 70.3

$6.38 MAD 60.6

16.14%

Cappuccino

$1.89 MAD 17.95

$1.25 MAD 11.89

51.20%

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

$0.63 MAD 5.96

$0.91 MAD 8.62

-30.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MAD 3.26

$0.42 MAD 4.00

-19.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.27 MAD 49.94

$3.10 MAD 29.36

70.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 MAD 29.70

$3.68 MAD 34.89

-14.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.89 MAD 8.46

$0.84 MAD 7.97

5.95%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 MAD 5.94

$0.40 MAD 3.77

57.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.85 MAD 17.54

$1.26 MAD 11.90

46.83%

Eggs

$1.88 MAD 17.87

$1.86 MAD 17.68

1.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.37 MAD 108

$15.28 MAD 145

-25.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.61 MAD 62.6

$5.29 MAD 50.2

24.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.29 MAD 117

$9.69 MAD 91.9

26.83%

Apples (1kg)

$1.62 MAD 15.37

$1.31 MAD 12.40

23.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 MAD 13.11

$1.23 MAD 11.68

12.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.91 MAD 8.61

$0.67 MAD 6.33

35.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 MAD 8.31

$0.60 MAD 5.66

46.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 MAD 7.07

$0.56 MAD 5.32

33.93%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 MAD 7.12

$0.80 MAD 7.59

-6.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 MAD 3.66

$0.47 MAD 4.50

-17.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 MAD 6.03

$0.58 MAD 5.53

10.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.24 MAD 40.23

$4.14 MAD 39.30

2.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.77 MAD 73.7

$10.87 MAD 103

-28.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 MAD 24.99

$3.33 MAD 31.59

-21.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 MAD 25.25

$2.66 MAD 25.21

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 MAD 5.24

$0.43 MAD 4.13

27.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.39 MAD 250

$16.13 MAD 153

63.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 MAD 7.19

$0.73 MAD 6.91

4.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.92 MAD 8.70

$0.54 MAD 5.15

70.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.15 MAD 39.37

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.57 MAD 14.84

$1.43 MAD 13.55

9.79%

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

$35.0K MAD 331.5K

$34.8K MAD 330.4K

0.34%

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

$32.4K MAD 307.1K

$31.2K MAD 296.0K

3.73%

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

$36.10 MAD 342

$31.36 MAD 297

15.11%

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

$10.38 MAD 98.5

$9.65 MAD 91.5

7.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.47 MAD 317

$34.69 MAD 329

-3.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.19 MAD 286

$29.45 MAD 279

2.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.93 MAD 265

$34.01 MAD 323

-17.88%

Cinema Ticket

$6.18 MAD 58.6

$4.15 MAD 39.35

48.92%

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

$185 MAD 1,753

$127 MAD 1,201

45.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,130 MAD 67.6K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$49.66 MAD 471

$67.2 MAD 637

-26.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.43 MAD 421

$64.3 MAD 609

-30.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.8 MAD 880

$104 MAD 982

-10.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.0 MAD 645

$67.3 MAD 638

1.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$508 MAD 4,818

$276 MAD 2,616

84.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$284 MAD 2,692

$177 MAD 1,676

60.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,109 MAD 10.5K

$473 MAD 4,490

134.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 MAD 6,383

$295 MAD 2,794

128.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,000 MAD 19.0K

$982 MAD 9,308

103.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,155 MAD 11.0K

$631 MAD 5,988

82.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$728 MAD 6,899

$479 MAD 4,543

51.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.52

4.5

0.44%

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

Last update for Rabat: September 13, 2026

Last update for Meknes: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $508 in Rabat and $276 in Meknes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rabat pays 52% 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: $42.00 in Rabat vs $16.00 in Meknes for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $202 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 19% 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 52% 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: $508 in Rabat versus $276 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 $16.00 versus $42.00 in Rabat. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $874 per month in Rabat versus $731 in Meknes – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $731 in Meknes versus $874 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 19% less than in Rabat. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.