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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $911 per month in Rabat vs $765 in Sale, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,576 per month in Rabat vs $1,245 in Sale, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,240 per month in Rabat vs $1,724 in Sale, rent included.

Rabat costs about 19% more than Sale, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Rabat and Sale are more affordable than the global median – Rabat 32% lower, Sale 43% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rabat
Sale
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.73 MAD 44.24
$4.65 MAD 43.51
1.72%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.72 MAD 456
$32.54 MAD 304
49.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.67 MAD 62.4
$6.71 MAD 62.8
-0.60%
Cappuccino
$2.04 MAD 19.08
$1.98 MAD 18.49
3.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 MAD 5.88
$0.69 MAD 6.44
-8.70%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 MAD 3.79
$0.37 MAD 3.49
10.81%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.63 MAD 52.7
$5.41 MAD 50.7
4.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.17 MAD 39.06
$3.99 MAD 37.32
4.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rabat
Sale
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.86 MAD 8.09
$0.95 MAD 8.86
-9.47%
White Bread (500g)
$0.47 MAD 4.38
$0.55 MAD 5.10
-14.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 MAD 17.49
$1.91 MAD 17.84
-2.09%
Eggs
$1.92 MAD 18.00
$1.99 MAD 18.65
-3.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.96 MAD 121
$12.96 MAD 121
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.15 MAD 66.9
$5.98 MAD 56.0
19.57%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.93 MAD 112
$11.78 MAD 110
1.27%
Apples (1kg)
$1.55 MAD 14.47
$1.50 MAD 14.08
3.33%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 MAD 13.45
$1.40 MAD 13.08
2.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.82 MAD 7.70
$0.97 MAD 9.05
-15.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.79 MAD 7.40
$0.90 MAD 8.42
-12.22%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 MAD 6.70
$0.80 MAD 7.51
-10.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.70 MAD 6.52
$0.79 MAD 7.41
-11.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.42 MAD 3.96
$0.39 MAD 3.68
7.69%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 MAD 5.94
$0.59 MAD 5.51
8.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.39 MAD 41.06
$4.26 MAD 39.87
3.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.66 MAD 71.7
$4.97 MAD 46.54
54.12%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.71 MAD 25.38
$2.64 MAD 24.66
2.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 MAD 22.91
$2.55 MAD 23.82
-3.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Rabat
Sale
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.53 MAD 4.94
$0.53 MAD 5.00
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$27.66 MAD 259
$24.65 MAD 231
12.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.53 MAD 4.94
$0.54 MAD 5.02
-1.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.88 MAD 8.26
$0.52 MAD 4.87
69.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.33 MAD 40.48
$4.30 MAD 40.22
0.70%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.52 MAD 14.27
$1.54 MAD 14.42
-1.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.3K MAD 349.2K
$37.3K MAD 348.8K
0.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.6K MAD 277.0K
$29.9K MAD 280.2K
-1.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rabat
Sale
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$41.99 MAD 393
$33.10 MAD 310
26.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.87 MAD 102
$10.92 MAD 102
-0.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$39.97 MAD 374
$45.41 MAD 425
-11.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rabat
Sale
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.61 MAD 286
$14.62 MAD 137
109.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.43 MAD 266
$23.33 MAD 218
21.86%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49 MAD 60.7
$6.56 MAD 61.4
-1.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rabat
Sale
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$160 MAD 1,495
$111 MAD 1,034
44.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,628 MAD 62.0K
$6,395 MAD 59.8K
3.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rabat
Sale
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 MAD 503
$43.41 MAD 406
23.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.14 MAD 460
$49.78 MAD 466
-1.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$109 MAD 1,019
$109 MAD 1,020
-0.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.0 MAD 917
$98.9 MAD 925
-0.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rabat
Sale
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$459 MAD 4,294
$280 MAD 2,618
64.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$259 MAD 2,422
$172 MAD 1,614
50.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,120 MAD 10.5K
$505 MAD 4,730
121.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$746 MAD 6,979
$301 MAD 2,818
147.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,090 MAD 19.6K
$1,163 MAD 10.9K
79.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,204 MAD 11.3K
$850 MAD 7,953
41.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rabat
Sale
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$739 MAD 6,914
$543 MAD 5,079
36.12%
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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Sale: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $459 in Rabat versus $280 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 36% 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 $33.00 in Sale. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $209 vs $200 – 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 19% 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 and in Sale?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,366 per month in Rabat and $1,148 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 compared to Sale?
Public transport costs about 12% less in Sale. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Rabat and in Sale?
Kindergarten costs $160 per month in Rabat and $111 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 in Sale?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Sale, where all-in costs run around $765, than in Rabat at $911. 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 to 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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