Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ait Melloul and Nosara

For one person, living is cheaper in Ait Melloul: $667 a month against $1,839 in Nosara, rent and utilities included – about $14,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ait Melloul
🇲🇦 Morocco
$667
/mo nomad
Nosara
🇨🇷 Costa Rica
$1,839
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ait Melloul and in Nosara

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ait Melloul and in Nosara actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $667 in Ait Melloul versus $1,839 in Nosara.

  • Ait Melloul $667
  • Nosara $1,839

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,027 in Ait Melloul versus $2,828 in Nosara.

  • Ait Melloul $1,027
  • Nosara $2,828

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,386 in Ait Melloul versus $3,818 in Nosara.

  • Ait Melloul $1,386
  • Nosara $3,818

Living in Ait Melloul costs roughly 64% less than in Nosara, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ait Melloul is 51% below, Nosara is 36% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ait Melloul
Nosara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.61 MAD 35.15
$12.35 ₡5,539
-70.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.96 MAD 243
$61.2 ₡27.4K
-59.20%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.16 MAD 60.1
$7.52 ₡3,373
-18.09%
Cappuccino
$2.11 MAD 20.53
$4.41 ₡1,978
-52.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 MAD 7.95
$1.74 ₡780
-52.87%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 MAD 5.56
$1.31 ₡587
-56.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.10 MAD 49.73
$3.28 ₡1,471
55.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.41 MAD 42.96
$4.47 ₡2,004
-1.34%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ait Melloul
Nosara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.80 MAD 7.81
$1.56 ₡701
-48.72%
White Bread (500g)
$0.54 MAD 5.26
$3.02 ₡1,355
-82.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 MAD 14.77
$2.51 ₡1,125
-39.84%
Eggs
$1.62 MAD 15.81
$3.57 ₡1,603
-54.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.83 MAD 76.3
$7.43 ₡3,333
5.38%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.45 MAD 53.2
$10.52 ₡4,717
-48.19%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.79 MAD 115
$13.97 ₡6,265
-15.60%
Apples (1kg)
$1.25 MAD 12.23
$2.35 ₡1,052
-46.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 MAD 11.48
$1.61 ₡720
-26.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.84 MAD 8.17
$4.80 ₡2,152
-82.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.79 MAD 7.75
$1.61 ₡724
-50.93%
Potato (1kg)
$0.71 MAD 6.93
$3.80 ₡1,703
-81.32%
Onion (1kg)
$0.76 MAD 7.41
$3.69 ₡1,657
-79.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.25 MAD 2.44
$1.13 ₡507
-77.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 MAD 5.46
$2.66 ₡1,191
-78.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.12 MAD 40.14
$5.18 ₡2,321
-20.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.55 MAD 73.6
$19.88 ₡8,916
-62.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 MAD 22.70
$2.90 ₡1,300
-19.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 MAD 31.61
$3.63 ₡1,626
-10.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Ait Melloul
Nosara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.57 MAD 5.58
$1.12 ₡504
-49.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$20.98 MAD 205
$72.6 ₡32.6K
-71.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.65 MAD 6.34
$2.14 ₡958
-69.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.60 MAD 5.85
$1.57 ₡703
-61.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.13 MAD 69.5
$8.52 ₡3,823
-16.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.45 MAD 14.16
$1.52 ₡682
-4.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K MAD 329.3K
$21.6K ₡9.7M
56.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.3K MAD 295.1K
$34.5K ₡15.5M
-12.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ait Melloul
Nosara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$24.40 MAD 238
$96.3 ₡43.2K
-74.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.02 MAD 87.9
$35.89 ₡16.1K
-74.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.62 MAD 289
$53.6 ₡24.0K
-44.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ait Melloul
Nosara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.05 MAD 225
$71.6 ₡32.1K
-67.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.96 MAD 175
$34.91 ₡15.7K
-48.55%
Cinema Ticket
$5.02 MAD 48.95
$7.89 ₡3,539
-36.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ait Melloul
Nosara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$69.7 MAD 679
$494 ₡221.6K
-85.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,859 MAD 18.1K
$11.9K ₡5.3M
-84.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ait Melloul
Nosara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$31.11 MAD 303
$53.9 ₡24.2K
-42.32%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.52 MAD 424
$55.4 ₡24.8K
-21.46%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.0 MAD 575
$77.9 ₡34.9K
-24.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.72 MAD 465
$79.6 ₡35.7K
-40.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ait Melloul
Nosara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$283 MAD 2,758
$788 ₡353.4K
-64.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$173 MAD 1,687
$794 ₡356.2K
-78.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$436 MAD 4,253
$3,939 ₡1.8M
-88.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$252 MAD 2,458
$1,419 ₡636.5K
-82.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,366 MAD 13.3K
$6,912 ₡3.1M
-80.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$767 MAD 7,478
$1,224 ₡549.0K
-37.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ait Melloul
Nosara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$864 ₡387.3K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.5
8.62
-47.80%

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

Last update for Ait Melloul: October 12, 2026

Last update for Nosara: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Ait Melloul
$177
Nosara
$352 98.6% $175
Accommodation & Living
Ait Melloul
$173
Nosara
$794 359% $621
Eating Out
Ait Melloul
$112
Nosara
$212 88.4% $99
Clothing & Footwear
Ait Melloul
$82
Nosara
$120 47.2% $39
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ait Melloul
$63
Nosara
$186 195% $123
Sport & Entertainment
Ait Melloul
$33
Nosara
$87 164% $54
Getting Around
Ait Melloul
$27
Nosara
$87 224% $60

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $283 in Ait Melloul and $788 in Nosara. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $25.00 in Ait Melloul vs $61.0 in Nosara for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $177 vs $352 per month, with Ait Melloul cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇦 Ait Melloul
🇨🇷 Nosara
🕒 Local time
07:28 7:28 AM
00:28 12:28 AM
7 h behind Ait Melloul
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
171,847
4,912
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CRC, USD, EUR to MAD – Moroccan Dirham Converter

Moroccan Dirham exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 9.75 MAD (1 MAD = 0.103 USD). 1 EUR = 10.96 MAD (100 MAD = 9.12 EUR).

Costa Rican Colón exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 448 CRC (1,000 CRC = 2.23 USD). 1 EUR = 504 CRC (1,000 CRC = 1.98 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ait Melloul Nosara 8,130 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ait Melloul
  • Nosara

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Nosara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nosara cheaper than Ait Melloul?
Ait Melloul is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 175% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,001 in Ait Melloul and $2,758 in Nosara 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 Nosara?
Rent for a central apartment: $283 in Ait Melloul versus $788 in Nosara. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $69.7 in Ait Melloul versus $494 in Nosara. 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 Nosara?
Supermarket bills run roughly 99% higher in Nosara. 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 Nosara?
At $667 in Ait Melloul versus $1,839 in Nosara, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ait Melloul but tight or insufficient in Nosara. The gap between the two cities makes Ait Melloul the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ait Melloul or Nosara more family-friendly?
For families, Ait Melloul is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Nosara, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ait Melloul or Nosara?
Safety-wise, Ait Melloul and Nosara 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 175% less than in Nosara. 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

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