🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $691 in Ait Melloul versus $1,481 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,084 in Ait Melloul versus $2,352 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,477 in Ait Melloul versus $3,222 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Ait Melloul costs roughly 53% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ait Melloul is 48% below, Mexico City is 11% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ait Melloul
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.37MAD 40.84
$13.16MX$230
-66.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.22MAD 236
$53.6MX$936
-52.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.95MAD 65.0
$9.55MX$167
-27.23%
Cappuccino
$2.17MAD 20.32
$3.72MX$65.0
-41.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62MAD 5.76
$1.57MX$27.39
-60.51%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32MAD 3.03
$1.16MX$20.20
-72.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.86MAD 36.10
$3.18MX$55.7
21.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MAD 34.47
$4.63MX$81.0
-20.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ait Melloul
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.87MAD 8.15
$1.71MX$29.80
-49.12%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52MAD 4.91
$2.62MX$45.73
-80.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65MAD 15.41
$1.89MX$33.01
-12.70%
Eggs
$1.81MAD 16.89
$2.60MX$45.36
-30.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.38MAD 87.8
$9.91MX$173
-5.35%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.11MAD 47.81
$8.22MX$144
-37.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.98MAD 103
$11.78MX$206
-6.79%
Apples(1kg)
$1.36MAD 12.69
$3.00MX$52.4
-54.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21MAD 11.30
$1.80MX$31.45
-32.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.94MAD 8.81
$2.07MX$36.24
-54.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.82MAD 7.67
$1.97MX$34.37
-58.38%
Potato(1kg)
$0.73MAD 6.84
$2.07MX$36.21
-64.73%
Onion(1kg)
$0.78MAD 7.32
$2.17MX$38.00
-64.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.39MAD 3.66
$1.40MX$24.52
-72.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60MAD 5.58
$1.07MX$18.78
-43.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23MAD 39.54
$4.12MX$72.0
2.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.11MAD 66.5
$17.42MX$304
-59.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.71MAD 25.34
$1.68MX$29.28
61.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02MAD 28.29
$3.65MX$63.8
-17.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Ait Melloul
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.50MAD 4.70
$0.38MX$6.64
31.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.20MAD 152
$18.71MX$327
-13.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.67MAD 6.30
$1.33MX$23.23
-49.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.52MAD 4.85
$0.30MX$5.30
73.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.63MAD 52.7
$5.51MX$96.3
2.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.59MAD 14.84
$1.31MX$22.81
21.37%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8KMAD 354.0K
$19.2KMX$334.9K
97.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3KMAD 190.1K
$23.7KMX$415.0K
-14.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ait Melloul
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$28.39MAD 266
$41.14MX$719
-30.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.85MAD 101
$27.74MX$485
-60.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.46MAD 266
$30.13MX$527
-5.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ait Melloul
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.78MAD 232
$53.7MX$939
-53.89%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.93MAD 214
$25.98MX$454
-11.74%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43MAD 60.1
$6.49MX$113
-0.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ait Melloul
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$77.0MAD 720
$437MX$7,630
-82.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,983MAD 18.6K
$10.5KMX$182.7K
-81.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ait Melloul
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.02MAD 393
$58.3MX$1,019
-27.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.70MAD 371
$45.86MX$801
-13.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$47.67MAD 446
$101MX$1,773
-53.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.56MAD 445
$107MX$1,862
-55.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ait Melloul
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$275MAD 2,574
$1,005MX$17.6K
-72.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$175MAD 1,640
$634MX$11.1K
-72.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$508MAD 4,757
$2,148MX$37.5K
-76.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$305MAD 2,855
$1,247MX$21.8K
-75.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,336MAD 12.5K
$3,859MX$67.4K
-65.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,006MAD 9,410
$2,085MX$36.4K
-51.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ait Melloul
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$374MAD 3,500
$1,072MX$18.7K
-65.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.75
11.34
-58.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ait Melloul: July 21, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: July 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $275 in Ait Melloul and $1,005 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Mexico City pays 187% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in Ait Melloul vs $54.0 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $291 per month, with Ait Melloul cheaper across the board.
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
Ait Melloul vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mexico City cheaper than Ait Melloul?
Ait Melloul is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 114% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ait Melloul or Mexico City?
On paper, salaries run 187% lower in Mexico City. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ait Melloul and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $275 in Ait Melloul versus $1,005 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $77.0 in Ait Melloul versus $437 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Ait Melloul and in Mexico City?
Supermarket bills run roughly 59% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Ait Melloul or in Mexico City?
At $691 in Ait Melloul versus $1,481 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ait Melloul but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Ait Melloul the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ait Melloul or Mexico City more family-friendly?
For families, Ait Melloul is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ait Melloul or Mexico City?
Safety-wise, Ait Melloul and Mexico City 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 Ait Melloul gentler on the wallet – expenses run 114% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Ait Melloul vs other spots: cost of living compared