Cost Of Living For a Student in Rabat 2025
Average Monthly Expenditure
Currency: MAD
Average monthly spending for students in Rabat
How much money does a student need in a month to survive in Rabat?
Students in Rabat spend around 5,200 MAD per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a student can survive with a monthly budget as low as 790 MAD or as high as 58,000 MAD. Location is a very important factor and has a huge influence on expenditure and budget.
A typical and healthy budgeting structure
The 50/30/20 rule
Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle,
location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule,
which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.
50% for needs and financial obligations
This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.
30% for wants and discretionary spending
This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.
20% for savings and emergency fund
This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.
About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting
The 50/30/20 rule is used as a general guideline but may not be the best choice for all people. There are in fact many budgeting plans out there like the 70/20/10 and the 60/20/20 rules, all claiming to be the best. More important than all of this is to establish financial discipline by creating a budget tailored to your specific financial goals and situation. It is very important that your financial outflow be less than your income to maintain a healthy cash flow.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Rabat
Dining, food, and beverages costs
Fast food combo meal
Restaurant meal for one
Fine dining meal for one
Cappuccino or latte
Grocery and market costs
Milk large bottle
12 eggs
Fresh whole chicken
Pack of beef
Medium bag of rice
Bag of tomatos
Bag of apples
Commute, travel, and transportation costs
20 minutes taxi ride
Average car full tank
Average car 1-day rental
Average car price
| 29,000 MAD | 59,000 MAD | 78,000 MAD |
Bus ticket one way
Car Service
Utility cost (monthly)
Utility Bill - Student
Internet and cable
Mobile phone charges
Leisure and activities costs
Movie ticket
One month gym membership
Cloths and accessories costs
Pair of jeans or pants
Woman dress
Woman shoes
Men's shoes
Men suit
Regular t-shirt
Housing costs / monthly rent
Studio apartment
| 880 MAD | 1,300 MAD | 3,500 MAD |
1-bedroom apartment
| 1,300 MAD | 2,100 MAD | 5,200 MAD |
2-bedroom apartment
| 1,700 MAD | 2,600 MAD | 6,900 MAD |
Housing costs / Buying
Studio apartment
| 170,000 MAD | 260,000 MAD | 520,000 MAD |
1-bedroom apartment
| 200,000 MAD | 340,000 MAD | 1.3M MAD |
2-bedroom apartment
| 350,000 MAD | 1.1M MAD | 2.1M MAD |
| $35,000 | $110,000 | $210,000 |
Furniture Costs
King Size Bed
| 1,200 MAD | 1,400 MAD | 1,900 MAD |
Double Bed
| 760 MAD | 1,100 MAD | 1,400 MAD |
Single Bed
| 660 MAD | 860 MAD | 1,100 MAD |
Living Room
| 1,200 MAD | 1,600 MAD | 5,500 MAD |
Dining Table
| 580 MAD | 770 MAD | 1,400 MAD |
Sofa or Couch
| 760 MAD | 1,000 MAD | 2,300 MAD |
Electronics and House Appliance Costs
TV Set
| 760 MAD | 1,100 MAD | 2,300 MAD |
Fridge or Freezer
| 660 MAD | 1,000 MAD | 1,400 MAD |
Washing Machine
| 900 MAD | 1,300 MAD | 2,300 MAD |
Stove or Cooker
| 820 MAD | 1,000 MAD | 1,400 MAD |
Mobile Phone
| 950 MAD | 1,100 MAD | 1,600 MAD |
Laptop or Computer
| 1,000 MAD | 1,200 MAD | 2,200 MAD |
Affordable living in Rabat
Income and cost of living compatibility
We asked students one simple question and recorded their answers.
Is it affordable or economical to live in Rabat?
Around 63% of surveyed students think that living in Rabat is affordable with proper budgeting while 37% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.
Low-cost alternatives in Rabat
People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked students how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:
Plenty of low-cost options59%
Few low-cost options41%
Based on the survey, 59% of the students living in Rabat have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 41% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.
How do students spend their money in Rabat?
We asked thousands of students about their spending habits and expenditure break down.
Housing and accomodation expenditure for students
Accomodation Cost19%
19% of total expenses on average (14% to 25%)
| LOW | $19 190 MAD |
| AVERAGE | $120 1,200 MAD |
| HIGH | $1,400 14,000 MAD |
| Per Month |
Students in Rabat typically spend from 14% to 25% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 19% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 1,200 MAD with expenditure ranging from 190 MAD to 14,000 MAD. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.
Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for students
Cost of utilities6%
6% of total expenses on average (4% to 10%)
| LOW | $3.3 34 MAD |
| AVERAGE | $22 220 MAD |
| HIGH | $240 2,400 MAD |
| Per Month |
Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Rabat ranges from 4% to 10% of total expenses with 6% being the average for most students. The average monthly cost of utilities is 220 MAD with 34 MAD and 2,400 MAD being the upper and lower limits for a student of four.
Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for students
Cost of transport and fuel5%
5% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
| LOW | $5.6 56 MAD |
| AVERAGE | $37 370 MAD |
| HIGH | $410 4,100 MAD |
| Per Month |
Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a student resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a student would expect to spend from 56 MAD to 4,100 MAD in a month on commuting with 370 MAD being the norm for most students. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 5% of total spending on average but can go as low as 5% or as high as 11%.
Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for students
Food and Groceries Cost22%
22% of total expenses on average (16% to 26%)
| LOW | $16 160 MAD |
| AVERAGE | $110 1,100 MAD |
| HIGH | $1,200 12,000 MAD |
| Per Month |
The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical student in a month in Rabat is 1,100 MAD. The cost of groceries can range between 160 MAD to 12,000 MAD. Students spend on average about 22% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 16% and 26% respectively.
Healthcare and medical services expenditure for students
Cost of healthcare8%
8% of total expenses on average (5% to 11%)
| LOW | $5.2 52 MAD |
| AVERAGE | $34 340 MAD |
| HIGH | $380 3,800 MAD |
| Per Month |
Students in Rabat allocate 5% to 11% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 8%. The range of medical expenses range from 52 MAD to 3,800 MAD with 340 MAD being the norm for most students.
Leisure and shopping expenditure for students
Cost of leisure and shopping3%
3% of total expenses on average (2% to 7%)
| LOW | $4.1 41 MAD |
| AVERAGE | $27 270 MAD |
| HIGH | $300 3,000 MAD |
| Per Month |
This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 41 MAD to 3,000 MAD with 270 MAD being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 7% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most students.
Education and schooling expenditure for students
Cost of education and schooling19%
19% of total expenses on average (12% to 24%)
| LOW | $15 160 MAD |
| AVERAGE | $100 1,000 MAD |
| HIGH | $1,100 11,000 MAD |
| Per Month |
Spending on education can vary drastically between different students. On average, education constitutes 19% of the monthly expenditure of students with 12% and 24% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 1,000 MAD per month with 160 MAD being the minimum spent amount and 11,000 MAD being the maximum.
Other Expenses18%
18% of total expenses on average (12% to 24%)
| LOW | $12 120 MAD |
| AVERAGE | $78 790 MAD |
| HIGH | $870 8,700 MAD |
| Per Month |
Emergency Funds For Students
An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked students whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.
Yes63%
No37%
Based on the survey, 37% of the students living in Rabat said that they don't have an emergency fund while 63% said that they do.
Financial Literacy in
Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.
Financial Leteracy58%
We asked student guardians and parents in Rabat whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 42% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 58% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.
Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning
We wanted to understand whether students of have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 34% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 66% said that they have everything under control.
Struggles with finance34%
Easily manages finances66%
Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Rabat
Rental costs and house/apartment prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Rent Cost in Rabat
Monthly Rent Prices
Studio apartment monthly rent cost
| 880 MAD | 1,300 MAD | 3,500 MAD |
1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,300 MAD | 2,100 MAD | 5,200 MAD |
2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 1,700 MAD | 2,600 MAD | 6,900 MAD |
3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost
| 2,000 MAD | 3,400 MAD | 9,300 MAD |
Furnished apartment monthly rent cost
| 4,200 MAD | 10,000 MAD | 21,000 MAD |
Townhouse monthly rent cost
| 3,500 MAD | 5,300 MAD | 15,000 MAD |
House monthly rent cost
| 4,200 MAD | 10,000 MAD | 21,000 MAD |
Villa monthly rent cost
| 5,300 MAD | 13,000 MAD | 21,000 MAD |
The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Rabat ranges between 880 MAD and 3,500 MAD, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 1,300 MAD to 5,200 MAD. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 1,700 MAD and 6,900 MAD per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 2,000 MAD to 9,300 MAD. The average rent of a townhouse in Rabat is around 5,300 MAD while house rental costs can be as high as 10,000 MAD per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 5,300 MAD to 21,000 MAD per month.
Apartment and house prices in Rabat
Cost of buying a property
Studio apartment price
| 170,000 MAD | 260,000 MAD | 520,000 MAD |
1-bedroom apartment price
| 200,000 MAD | 340,000 MAD | 1.3M MAD |
2-bedroom apartment price
| 350,000 MAD | 1.1M MAD | 2.1M MAD |
| $35,000 | $110,000 | $210,000 |
3-bedroom apartment price
| 1.2M MAD | 1.7M MAD | 5.2M MAD |
| $120,000 | $170,000 | $520,000 |
Townhouse price
| 1.5M MAD | 3.4M MAD | 13M MAD |
House price
Villa price
The average price of a studio apartment in Rabat can range from 170,000 MAD to 520,000 MAD depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 200,000 MAD to 1.3M MAD. A villa can cost you 11M MAD on average with prices ranging from 2M MAD to 17M MAD.
If you're leasing or purchasing, housing costs in Rabat will probably constitute your biggest expenditure, yet it's an area where you wield considerable influence. This is due to the substantial variance in housing prices across communities. Keep in mind the location of your workplace and the accessibility of essential amenities to prevent negating the savings from lower rental rates with increased transportation expenses.
House / apartment prices to income ratio
Property price to income ratio
( average property price / average monthly income ) x 100
| 31 | x87 monthly income | 171 |
Property prices in Rabat can be x87 to x171 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x87 multiples of the average monthly salary in Rabat.
Rent to income ratio
Rent to income ratio
( monthly rental / monthly income ) x 100
The average rent-to-income ratio in Rabat is around 27%. This means that people pay 27% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 18% to 36% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.
The housing-to-income ratio is a very important metric to evaluate and measure how affordable living is in a particular area, city, or country since housing comprises the biggest chunk of expenditure. A higher housing to income ratio means that the place is relatively expensive. The figure by itself does tell much. It only starts to make sense when comparing the housing to income ratio across different locations.
Housing affordability index
The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.
Housing Affordability Index
28% Property Taxes
Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.
Home Maintenance Costs
Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.
Urban vs. rural living costs
Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.
Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Rabat
Grocery / Food expenditure and prices can vary drastically between different areas and locations.
Prices and cost of goods and services in Rabat
Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.
Fast food combo meal price
The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Rabat is approximatly 23 MAD with meal cost ranging from 11 MAD to 38 MAD. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.
Restaurant meal for one price
If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 37 MAD and 110 MAD with 56 MAD being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Rabat.
Fine dining meal for one price
The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 76 MAD to 460 MAD with the average cost being 110 MAD for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Rabat.
Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..
The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Rabat is around 15 MAD. Price ranges between 9.4 MAD and 23 MAD depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.
Grocery and market costs
Large bottle of milk price
The average price of a large bottle of milk in Rabat is 9 MAD. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 11 MAD and the minimum being 7.5 MAD depending on the brand of milk and other properties.
12 eggs price
A dozen eggs costs around 7.7 MAD on average with 5.7 MAD and 11 MAD being the lower and upper limits respectively.
Fresh whole chicken price
The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Rabat is between 13 MAD and 23 MAD depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 16 MAD.
Pack of beef price
The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 22 MAD. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.
Medium bag of rice price
A bag of rice in Rabat costs around 8.5 MAD on average with prices rangeing between 6.2 MAD and 12 MAD depending on the brand and quality.
Bag of tomatos price
A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 2.3 MAD to 5.7 MAD. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Bag of apples price
A bag of apples costs 5.3 MAD on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.
Expenditure on food and grocery for students
Students' spending on grocery ranges from 160 MAD to 12,000 MAD with the location, income, and size of the student being the most determinite factors.
Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Rabat
Utilities expenditure can vary slightly between different areas and locations.
Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Rabat
Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Student
Internet and cable cost
Mobile phone bill and charges
Because most utility bills club electricity, water, and gas costs in one bill, we can't provide a breakup for each type of utility and will display electricity, gas, and water as single cost.
The average monthly energy and water consumption of students is around 220 MAD. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 56 MAD to 150 MAD with 110 MAD being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 83 MAD but can range between 50 MAD and 250 MAD depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.
Energy / Utility expense to income ratio
( monthly utility expenses / monthly income ) x 100
The average utility-to-income ratio in Rabat is around 5.5%. This means that people pay 5.5% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2.7% to 9.2% depending on salary and location.
Published: September 23, 2024 Last Update: May 21, 2025
