Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabat and Sale Cost of Living Comparison Between Rabat and Sale

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $908 per month in Rabat vs $790 in Sale, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,593 per month in Rabat vs $1,236 in Sale, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,279 per month in Rabat vs $1,682 in Sale, rent included.

Rabat costs about 15% more than Sale, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Rabat and Sale are more affordable than the global median – Rabat 32% lower, Sale 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rabat
Sale
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.63 MAD 42.62
$4.79 MAD 44.07
-3.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.79 MAD 449
$32.28 MAD 297
51.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.80 MAD 62.6
$6.66 MAD 61.3
2.10%
Cappuccino
$1.96 MAD 18.08
$2.07 MAD 19.07
-5.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 MAD 5.62
$0.69 MAD 6.35
-11.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38 MAD 3.48
$0.40 MAD 3.71
-5.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.47 MAD 50.3
$5.63 MAD 51.8
-2.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.21 MAD 38.74
$4.20 MAD 38.70
0.24%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rabat
Sale
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 MAD 7.52
$0.94 MAD 8.69
-12.77%
White Bread (500g)
$0.48 MAD 4.41
$0.58 MAD 5.37
-17.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.97 MAD 18.14
$1.95 MAD 17.99
1.03%
Eggs
$1.93 MAD 17.79
$2.05 MAD 18.89
-5.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.17 MAD 121
$13.28 MAD 122
-0.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.94 MAD 63.9
$6.28 MAD 57.8
10.51%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.92 MAD 110
$11.97 MAD 110
-0.42%
Apples (1kg)
$1.61 MAD 14.86
$1.51 MAD 13.86
6.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MAD 12.71
$1.34 MAD 12.31
2.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.83 MAD 7.63
$0.96 MAD 8.84
-13.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.81 MAD 7.46
$0.89 MAD 8.24
-8.99%
Potato (1kg)
$0.68 MAD 6.26
$0.80 MAD 7.35
-15.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.71 MAD 6.52
$0.80 MAD 7.36
-11.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.40 MAD 3.64
$0.43 MAD 3.93
-6.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 MAD 5.78
$0.60 MAD 5.52
5.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.39 MAD 40.43
$4.42 MAD 40.72
-0.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.08 MAD 74.4
$5.04 MAD 46.37
60.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.70 MAD 24.89
$2.61 MAD 24.00
3.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47 MAD 22.77
$2.48 MAD 22.80
-0.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Rabat
Sale
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MAD 5.24
$0.52 MAD 4.82
9.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.06 MAD 249
$24.86 MAD 229
8.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 MAD 5.28
$0.53 MAD 4.87
7.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.83 MAD 7.64
$0.49 MAD 4.50
69.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 MAD 41.10
$4.50 MAD 41.45
-0.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.54 MAD 14.14
$1.58 MAD 14.57
-2.53%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9K MAD 339.3K
$36.6K MAD 336.6K
0.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.8K MAD 274.3K
$29.6K MAD 272.8K
0.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rabat
Sale
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.32 MAD 380
$33.39 MAD 307
23.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.26 MAD 104
$10.94 MAD 101
2.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.59 MAD 365
$45.90 MAD 423
-13.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rabat
Sale
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.30 MAD 279
$14.46 MAD 133
109.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.31 MAD 270
$23.50 MAD 216
24.72%
Cinema Ticket
$6.56 MAD 60.4
$6.52 MAD 60.0
0.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rabat
Sale
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$158 MAD 1,451
$114 MAD 1,052
37.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,396 MAD 58.9K
$6,309 MAD 58.1K
1.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rabat
Sale
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.4 MAD 483
$42.83 MAD 394
22.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.76 MAD 449
$51.0 MAD 470
-4.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$108 MAD 992
$106 MAD 972
2.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.1 MAD 894
$99.3 MAD 914
-2.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rabat
Sale
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$460 MAD 4,234
$279 MAD 2,565
65.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$269 MAD 2,475
$173 MAD 1,590
55.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,103 MAD 10.2K
$498 MAD 4,587
121.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$727 MAD 6,692
$304 MAD 2,801
138.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,105 MAD 19.4K
$1,183 MAD 10.9K
77.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,209 MAD 11.1K
$856 MAD 7,880
41.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rabat
Sale
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$745 MAD 6,856
$543 MAD 4,998
37.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.81
4.81
-

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

Last update for Rabat: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sale: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $460 in Rabat versus $279 in Sale. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 37% higher in Rabat, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $49.00 in Rabat versus $32.00 in Sale. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $209 vs $203 – making Sale the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Sale: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rabat or Sale?
Rabat costs about 15% more than Sale, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Rabat vs Sale?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,362 per month in Rabat and $1,184 in Sale. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Rabat or Sale?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sale, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Rabat vs Sale?
Public transport costs about 9% less in Sale. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Rabat and Sale?
Kindergarten costs $158 per month in Rabat and $114 in Sale. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Rabat or Sale?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sale, where all-in costs run around $790, than in Rabat at $908. In Sale it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rabat it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Sale – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Rabat compared to Sale?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Rabat or Sale?
If budget matters most, go with Sale. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, 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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