🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $679 in Ait Melloul versus $1,677 in Mexico City.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,068 in Ait Melloul versus $2,608 in Mexico City.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,457 in Ait Melloul versus $3,540 in Mexico City.
🌍Living in Ait Melloul costs roughly 60% less than in Mexico City, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ait Melloul is 51% below, Mexico City is 22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ait Melloul
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.82MAD 35.85
$12.14MX$206
-68.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.21MAD 237
$53.9MX$915
-53.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.30MAD 59.2
$11.09MX$188
-43.19%
Cappuccino
$2.19MAD 20.62
$4.10MX$69.6
-46.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MAD 8.60
$1.68MX$28.55
-45.83%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37MAD 3.50
$1.39MX$23.56
-73.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.22MAD 49.03
$3.33MX$56.5
56.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67MAD 43.89
$5.88MX$99.8
-20.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ait Melloul
Mexico City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.84MAD 7.85
$1.85MX$31.42
-54.59%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55MAD 5.13
$3.17MX$53.8
-82.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55MAD 14.56
$2.07MX$35.14
-25.12%
Eggs
$1.73MAD 16.26
$2.93MX$49.69
-40.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.19MAD 76.9
$12.59MX$214
-34.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.44MAD 51.1
$10.11MX$172
-46.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.88MAD 112
$16.09MX$273
-26.17%
Apples(1kg)
$1.30MAD 12.19
$3.39MX$57.5
-61.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.23MAD 11.51
$2.08MX$35.27
-40.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.93MAD 8.71
$2.12MX$35.99
-56.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74MAD 6.98
$2.41MX$40.97
-69.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75MAD 7.09
$2.13MX$36.13
-64.79%
Onion(1kg)
$0.84MAD 7.90
$2.01MX$34.03
-58.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.26MAD 2.46
$1.55MX$26.23
-83.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56MAD 5.28
$1.36MX$23.16
-58.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23MAD 39.71
$5.77MX$97.9
-26.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.16MAD 76.7
$17.74MX$301
-54.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40MAD 22.52
$2.07MX$35.13
15.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39MAD 31.87
$4.61MX$78.3
-26.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Ait Melloul
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53MAD 4.96
$0.37MX$6.21
43.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.61MAD 194
$21.18MX$359
-2.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.63MAD 5.91
$2.05MX$34.86
-69.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.62MAD 5.86
$0.58MX$9.79
6.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.31MAD 68.7
$6.07MX$103
20.43%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.50MAD 14.08
$1.55MX$26.35
-3.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5KMAD 333.8K
$22.9KMX$388.2K
55.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9KMAD 290.7K
$27.2KMX$462.2K
13.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ait Melloul
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$24.94MAD 234
$67.4MX$1,144
-63.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.62MAD 90.4
$30.62MX$520
-68.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.70MAD 288
$37.24MX$632
-17.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ait Melloul
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.77MAD 223
$61.5MX$1,043
-61.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.72MAD 223
$27.12MX$460
-12.54%
Cinema Ticket
$5.36MAD 50.4
$7.11MX$121
-24.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ait Melloul
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$73.0MAD 686
$456MX$7,743
-84.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,878MAD 17.6K
$13.7KMX$232.4K
-86.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ait Melloul
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.13MAD 311
$74.2MX$1,259
-55.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.44MAD 418
$57.0MX$968
-22.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.3MAD 566
$115MX$1,959
-47.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.41MAD 446
$122MX$2,062
-60.98%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ait Melloul
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$283MAD 2,656
$1,148MX$19.5K
-75.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$153MAD 1,433
$709MX$12.0K
-78.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$481MAD 4,524
$2,577MX$43.7K
-81.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$242MAD 2,274
$1,295MX$22.0K
-81.31%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,180MAD 11.1K
$4,005MX$68.0K
-70.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$918MAD 8,630
$2,130MX$36.1K
-56.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ait Melloul
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,082MX$18.4K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
11.3
-69.03%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ait Melloul: September 5, 2026
Last update for Mexico City: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $283 in Ait Melloul and $1,148 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒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 $182 vs $345 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 147% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,018 in Ait Melloul and $2,515 in Mexico City to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Ait Melloul and Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $283 in Ait Melloul versus $1,148 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 $73.0 in Ait Melloul versus $456 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 89% 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 $679 in Ait Melloul versus $1,677 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 147% 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