🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $673 in Ait Melloul versus $1,261 in Phuket.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,062 in Ait Melloul versus $2,286 in Phuket.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,450 in Ait Melloul versus $3,310 in Phuket.
🙂Living in Ait Melloul costs roughly 47% less than in Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ait Melloul50% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ait Melloul
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.42MAD 40.86
$4.56฿150
-3.07%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.47MAD 236
$46.63฿1,533
-45.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.11MAD 65.7
$8.47฿278
-16.06%
Cappuccino
$2.13MAD 19.68
$3.03฿99.5
-29.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63MAD 5.80
$0.69฿22.65
-8.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33MAD 3.02
$0.37฿12.03
-10.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.78MAD 34.96
$2.49฿81.8
51.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70MAD 34.19
$3.66฿120
1.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ait Melloul
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.94MAD 8.73
$2.18฿71.7
-56.88%
White Bread(500g)
$0.50MAD 4.60
$1.90฿62.5
-73.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.63MAD 15.08
$2.20฿72.3
-25.91%
Eggs
$1.88MAD 17.43
$2.22฿73.1
-15.32%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.50MAD 87.9
$19.99฿657
-52.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.08MAD 46.96
$3.66฿120
38.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.13MAD 103
$13.25฿436
-16.00%
Apples(1kg)
$1.43MAD 13.20
$3.23฿106
-55.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.27MAD 11.76
$1.70฿55.8
-25.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.90MAD 8.36
$2.39฿78.7
-62.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.83MAD 7.65
$2.08฿68.3
-60.10%
Potato(1kg)
$0.74MAD 6.83
$1.59฿52.3
-53.46%
Onion(1kg)
$0.79MAD 7.33
$1.48฿48.76
-46.62%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.39MAD 3.61
$1.03฿33.85
-62.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63MAD 5.86
$0.52฿16.99
21.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.04MAD 37.40
$4.25฿140
-4.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.13MAD 65.9
$18.79฿618
-62.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.71MAD 25.07
$1.76฿57.8
53.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92MAD 27.05
$2.76฿90.6
5.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Ait Melloul
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51MAD 4.70
$1.36฿44.73
-62.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.18MAD 150
$11.36฿374
42.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.67MAD 6.22
$3.14฿103
-78.66%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.52MAD 4.85
$1.04฿34.05
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.40MAD 49.97
$13.77฿452
-60.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.59MAD 14.71
$1.34฿44.20
18.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.9KMAD 341.3K
$27.7K฿909.7K
33.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4KMAD 189.0K
$33.9K฿1.1M
-39.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ait Melloul
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$28.46MAD 263
$124฿4,062
-76.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.82MAD 100
$13.52฿444
-19.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.00MAD 259
$18.69฿614
49.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ait Melloul
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.12MAD 223
$61.8฿2,032
-60.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.92MAD 212
$17.25฿567
32.87%
Cinema Ticket
$6.76MAD 62.5
$9.14฿300
-26.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ait Melloul
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$75.7MAD 701
$703฿23.1K
-89.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,959MAD 18.1K
$15.9K฿521.7K
-87.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ait Melloul
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.21MAD 400
$59.5฿1,955
-27.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.80MAD 368
$35.07฿1,153
13.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$47.57MAD 440
$115฿3,789
-58.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.11MAD 436
$84.1฿2,763
-43.95%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ait Melloul
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$280MAD 2,588
$619฿20.3K
-54.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$174MAD 1,612
$433฿14.2K
-59.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$513MAD 4,747
$2,062฿67.8K
-75.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$311MAD 2,873
$1,511฿49.7K
-79.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,591MAD 14.7K
$3,646฿119.8K
-56.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$947MAD 8,763
$2,626฿86.3K
-63.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ait Melloul
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$376MAD 3,481
$507฿16.7K
-25.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.75
5.33
-10.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ait Melloul: June 8, 2026
Last update for Phuket: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $280 in Ait Melloul and $619 in Phuket. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Phuket pays 35% 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 $47.00 in Phuket for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $185 vs $293 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 Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phuket cheaper than Ait Melloul?
Ait Melloul is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 87% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ait Melloul or Phuket?
On paper, Phuket earns 35% less. 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 Phuket?
Rent for a central apartment: $280 in Ait Melloul versus $619 in Phuket. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $75.7 in Ait Melloul versus $703 in Phuket. 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 Phuket?
Supermarket bills run roughly 58% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Ait Melloul or Phuket?
At $673 in Ait Melloul versus $1,261 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ait Melloul but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Ait Melloul the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Ait Melloul or Phuket more family-friendly?
For families, Ait Melloul is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Ait Melloul or Phuket?
Safety-wise, Ait Melloul and Phuket 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 87% less than in Phuket. 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