Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabat and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabat and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $908 in Rabat versus $1,265 in Phuket.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,593 in Rabat versus $2,297 in Phuket.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,279 in Rabat versus $3,329 in Phuket.

Living in Rabat costs roughly 28% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rabat 32% lower, Phuket 6% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rabat
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 MAD 42.54
$4.70 ฿153
-1.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.79 MAD 448
$45.37 ฿1,482
7.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.80 MAD 62.5
$8.43 ฿275
-19.34%
Cappuccino
$1.96 MAD 18.04
$2.93 ฿95.6
-33.11%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 MAD 5.61
$0.69 ฿22.40
-11.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 MAD 3.48
$0.37 ฿11.99
2.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.47 MAD 50.2
$2.41 ฿78.6
126.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.21 MAD 38.67
$3.72 ฿122
13.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rabat
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 MAD 7.51
$2.23 ฿72.9
-63.23%
White Bread (500g)
$0.48 MAD 4.40
$1.83 ฿59.8
-73.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 MAD 18.11
$2.17 ฿70.8
-9.22%
Eggs
$1.93 MAD 17.76
$2.21 ฿72.3
-12.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.17 MAD 121
$19.74 ฿645
-33.28%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.94 MAD 63.8
$3.63 ฿119
91.18%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.92 MAD 110
$13.53 ฿442
-11.90%
Apples (1kg)
$1.61 MAD 14.83
$3.28 ฿107
-50.91%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MAD 12.68
$1.61 ฿52.6
-14.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.83 MAD 7.61
$2.41 ฿78.6
-65.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.81 MAD 7.44
$2.08 ฿68.1
-61.06%
Potato (1kg)
$0.68 MAD 6.25
$1.53 ฿49.93
-55.56%
Onion (1kg)
$0.71 MAD 6.51
$1.48 ฿48.36
-52.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.40 MAD 3.64
$0.99 ฿32.29
-59.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 MAD 5.77
$0.51 ฿16.67
23.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.39 MAD 40.35
$4.41 ฿144
-0.45%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.08 MAD 74.3
$19.38 ฿633
-58.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.70 MAD 24.85
$1.78 ฿58.1
51.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 MAD 22.73
$2.71 ฿88.6
-8.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Rabat
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MAD 5.23
$1.37 ฿44.79
-58.39%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.06 MAD 249
$11.39 ฿372
137.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 MAD 5.27
$3.02 ฿98.6
-81.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.83 MAD 7.63
$0.99 ฿32.48
-16.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 MAD 41.02
$14.10 ฿461
-68.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MAD 14.11
$1.36 ฿44.51
13.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9K MAD 338.7K
$28.2K ฿921.1K
30.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8K MAD 273.8K
$32.9K ฿1.1M
-9.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rabat
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.32 MAD 380
$122 ฿3,975
-66.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 MAD 103
$13.57 ฿443
-17.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.59 MAD 364
$18.31 ฿598
116.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rabat
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.30 MAD 278
$60.2 ฿1,967
-49.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.31 MAD 269
$17.14 ฿560
71.00%
Cinema Ticket
$6.56 MAD 60.3
$8.69 ฿284
-24.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rabat
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$158 MAD 1,448
$693 ฿22.6K
-77.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,396 MAD 58.8K
$15.7K ฿512.3K
-59.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rabat
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.4 MAD 482
$59.5 ฿1,944
-11.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.76 MAD 448
$34.77 ฿1,136
40.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 MAD 990
$115 ฿3,743
-5.97%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.1 MAD 892
$83.3 ฿2,720
16.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rabat
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$460 MAD 4,226
$613 ฿20.0K
-25.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$269 MAD 2,471
$437 ฿14.3K
-38.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,103 MAD 10.1K
$2,094 ฿68.4K
-47.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$727 MAD 6,680
$1,509 ฿49.3K
-51.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,105 MAD 19.3K
$3,749 ฿122.5K
-43.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,209 MAD 11.1K
$2,616 ฿85.4K
-53.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rabat
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$745 MAD 6,843
$508 ฿16.6K
46.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.81
5.33
-9.76%

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

Last update for Rabat: May 31, 2026

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $460 in Rabat and $613 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rabat pays 47% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $49.00 in Rabat vs $45.00 in Phuket. Groceries flip the comparison at $209 vs $293, with Rabat cheaper for home cooking.

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 Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Rabat?
Rabat is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Rabat or Phuket?
Rabat pays 47% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Rabat and Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $460 in Rabat versus $613 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $158 in Rabat versus $693 in Phuket. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Rabat and Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Rabat or Phuket?
At $908 in Rabat versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Rabat but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Rabat the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Rabat or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Rabat is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Rabat or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Rabat and Phuket are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Rabat gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Rabat vs other spots: cost of living compared

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