Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabat and Ouarzazate

For one person, living is cheaper in Ouarzazate: $706 a month against $921 in Rabat, rent and utilities included – about $2,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Rabat, Morocco
Ouarzazate, Morocco
Rabat
🇲🇦 Morocco
$921
/mo nomad
Ouarzazate
🇲🇦 Morocco
$706
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rabat and in Ouarzazate

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Rabat and in Ouarzazate actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $921 per month in Rabat vs $706 in Ouarzazate, rent included.

  • Rabat $921
  • Ouarzazate $706

A couple spends around $1,498 per month in Rabat vs $1,099 in Ouarzazate, rent included.

  • Rabat $1,498
  • Ouarzazate $1,099

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Rabat vs $1,492 in Ouarzazate, rent included.

  • Rabat $2,074
  • Ouarzazate $1,492

Rabat costs about 30% more than Ouarzazate, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Rabat and Ouarzazate are more affordable than the global median – Rabat 32% lower, Ouarzazate 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rabat
Ouarzazate
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.99 MAD 39.21
$3.93 MAD 38.58
1.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.46 MAD 408
$30.65 MAD 301
35.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.96 MAD 68.4
$6.02 MAD 59.2
15.61%
Cappuccino
$1.94 MAD 19.04
$2.47 MAD 24.29
-21.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 MAD 5.25
$0.56 MAD 5.46
-5.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 MAD 3.60
$0.37 MAD 3.60
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.19 MAD 51.0
$6.56 MAD 64.5
-20.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 MAD 30.87
$5.58 MAD 54.8
-43.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rabat
Ouarzazate
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.90 MAD 8.84
$0.80 MAD 7.81
12.50%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 MAD 5.93
$0.85 MAD 8.38
-29.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 MAD 18.85
$1.47 MAD 14.43
30.61%
Eggs
$1.86 MAD 18.24
$1.52 MAD 14.95
22.37%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.16 MAD 110
$7.64 MAD 75.1
46.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.71 MAD 65.9
$4.45 MAD 43.69
50.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.08 MAD 119
$11.29 MAD 111
7.00%
Apples (1kg)
$1.55 MAD 15.26
$0.74 MAD 7.32
109.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 MAD 14.07
$1.26 MAD 12.34
13.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.81 MAD 7.96
$0.64 MAD 6.25
26.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.82 MAD 8.11
$0.72 MAD 7.03
13.89%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 MAD 7.06
$0.66 MAD 6.45
9.09%
Onion (1kg)
$0.75 MAD 7.36
$0.75 MAD 7.38
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.37 MAD 3.61
$0.23 MAD 2.26
60.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 MAD 6.22
$0.61 MAD 5.97
3.28%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.06 MAD 39.93
$3.99 MAD 39.23
1.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.33 MAD 72.1
$7.68 MAD 75.5
-4.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.56 MAD 25.20
$2.23 MAD 21.92
14.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68 MAD 26.36
$3.38 MAD 33.27
-20.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Rabat
Ouarzazate
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.55 MAD 5.41
$0.50 MAD 4.94
10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$25.62 MAD 252
$18.66 MAD 183
37.30%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.73 MAD 7.16
$0.53 MAD 5.19
37.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.77 MAD 7.59
$0.62 MAD 6.10
24.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.13 MAD 40.63
$7.09 MAD 69.7
-41.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MAD 14.96
$1.41 MAD 13.84
7.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K MAD 296.4K
$30.1K MAD 296.4K
0.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K MAD 315.4K
$30.9K MAD 303.6K
3.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rabat
Ouarzazate
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$35.47 MAD 349
$35.09 MAD 345
1.08%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.21 MAD 100
$4.96 MAD 48.75
105.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.51 MAD 329
$25.40 MAD 250
31.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rabat
Ouarzazate
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.87 MAD 274
$25.27 MAD 248
10.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.11 MAD 237
$17.98 MAD 177
34.09%
Cinema Ticket
$5.94 MAD 58.4
$6.41 MAD 63.0
-7.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rabat
Ouarzazate
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$180 MAD 1,773
$98.6 MAD 969
82.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,261 MAD 91.0K
$8,270 MAD 81.3K
11.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rabat
Ouarzazate
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.83 MAD 460
$31.20 MAD 307
50.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.60 MAD 399
$43.88 MAD 431
-7.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$91.6 MAD 900
$80.4 MAD 790
13.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.0 MAD 648
$79.7 MAD 783
-17.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rabat
Ouarzazate
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$572 MAD 5,618
$278 MAD 2,730
105.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$345 MAD 3,394
$176 MAD 1,732
96.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$987 MAD 9,700
$519 MAD 5,105
90.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$687 MAD 6,756
$265 MAD 2,606
159.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,126 MAD 20.9K
$1,196 MAD 11.8K
77.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,214 MAD 11.9K
$828 MAD 8,134
46.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rabat
Ouarzazate
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$721 MAD 7,092
$201 MAD 1,979
258.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.55
4.5
1.11%

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

Last update for Rabat: October 27, 2026

Last update for Ouarzazate: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rabat
$345
Ouarzazate
$176 49% $169
Groceries & Markets
Rabat
$203
Ouarzazate
$170 16.2% $33
Eating Out
Rabat
$112
Ouarzazate
$127 13.3% $15
Clothing & Footwear
Rabat
$110
Ouarzazate
$106 4% $4.4
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rabat
$79
Ouarzazate
$65 17.4% $14
Sport & Entertainment
Rabat
$40
Ouarzazate
$38 4.2% $1.7
Getting Around
Rabat
$32
Ouarzazate
$24 25% $8.1

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $572 in Rabat versus $278 in Ouarzazate. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Rabat are about 3.6 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $41 in Rabat versus $31 in Ouarzazate. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $170 – making Ouarzazate the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇲🇦 Rabat
🇲🇦 Ouarzazate
🕒 Local time
15:45 3:45 PM
15:45 3:45 PM
Same time as Rabat
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
573,895 Capital
71,067
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MAD – Moroccan Dirham Converter

Moroccan Dirham exchange rates as of November 1, 2026: 1 USD = 9.83 MAD (1 MAD = 0.102 USD). 1 EUR = 10.98 MAD (100 MAD = 9.11 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rabat Ouarzazate 350 km
From you
  • Rabat
  • Ouarzazate

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Ouarzazate: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Rabat and in Ouarzazate compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $921 in Rabat, $706 in Ouarzazate – Ouarzazate comes out roughly 23% cheaper. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Rabat compared to Ouarzazate?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,382 per month in Rabat and $1,059 in Ouarzazate. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Rabat and Ouarzazate?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Ouarzazate, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $278 there versus $572 in Rabat.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Rabat and Ouarzazate?
Kindergarten costs $180 per month in Rabat and $99 in Ouarzazate. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 19% more in Rabat, though the gap depends on what you buy.
How far does $1,200 go in Rabat compared to Ouarzazate?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $921 in Rabat and $706 in Ouarzazate, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Rabat or Ouarzazate?
Families tend to lean toward Ouarzazate – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Rabat or Ouarzazate safer for residents?
Both cities have a reputation for safety. In either place, the choice of neighborhood matters more than the choice between the two cities.
How do I decide between Rabat and Ouarzazate?
If budget matters most, go with Ouarzazate. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rabat makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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