🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $691 in Ait Melloul versus $919 in Rabat.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,084 in Ait Melloul versus $1,621 in Rabat.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,477 in Ait Melloul versus $2,323 in Rabat.
🌍Living in Ait Melloul costs roughly 25% less than in Rabat, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ait Melloul48% lower, Rabat31% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ait Melloul
Rabat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.37MAD 40.84
$4.75MAD 44.46
-8.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.22MAD 236
$49.07MAD 459
-48.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.95MAD 65.0
$6.64MAD 62.1
4.67%
Cappuccino
$2.17MAD 20.32
$2.00MAD 18.72
8.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62MAD 5.76
$0.63MAD 5.87
-1.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32MAD 3.03
$0.38MAD 3.53
-15.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.86MAD 36.10
$5.33MAD 49.83
-27.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.68MAD 34.47
$4.16MAD 38.87
-11.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ait Melloul
Rabat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.87MAD 8.15
$0.83MAD 7.75
4.82%
White Bread(500g)
$0.52MAD 4.91
$0.50MAD 4.70
4.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.65MAD 15.41
$1.94MAD 18.13
-14.95%
Eggs
$1.81MAD 16.89
$2.02MAD 18.94
-10.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.38MAD 87.8
$13.14MAD 123
-28.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.11MAD 47.81
$7.03MAD 65.8
-27.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.98MAD 103
$11.94MAD 112
-8.04%
Apples(1kg)
$1.36MAD 12.69
$1.58MAD 14.82
-13.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21MAD 11.30
$1.43MAD 13.35
-15.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.94MAD 8.81
$0.76MAD 7.12
23.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.82MAD 7.67
$0.84MAD 7.90
-2.38%
Potato(1kg)
$0.73MAD 6.84
$0.72MAD 6.71
1.39%
Onion(1kg)
$0.78MAD 7.32
$0.65MAD 6.06
20.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.39MAD 3.66
$0.39MAD 3.65
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60MAD 5.58
$0.60MAD 5.61
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23MAD 39.54
$4.44MAD 41.54
-4.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.11MAD 66.5
$7.62MAD 71.3
-6.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.71MAD 25.34
$2.60MAD 24.32
4.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02MAD 28.29
$2.43MAD 22.76
24.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Ait Melloul
Rabat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.50MAD 4.70
$0.57MAD 5.37
-12.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$16.20MAD 152
$27.65MAD 259
-41.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.67MAD 6.30
$0.53MAD 5.00
26.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.52MAD 4.85
$0.81MAD 7.59
-35.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.63MAD 52.7
$4.48MAD 41.90
25.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.59MAD 14.84
$1.52MAD 14.19
4.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.8KMAD 354.0K
$37.5KMAD 351.2K
0.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.3KMAD 190.1K
$29.7KMAD 277.8K
-31.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ait Melloul
Rabat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$28.39MAD 266
$41.16MAD 385
-31.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.85MAD 101
$10.98MAD 103
-1.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.46MAD 266
$40.88MAD 382
-30.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ait Melloul
Rabat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.78MAD 232
$30.60MAD 286
-19.02%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.93MAD 214
$28.91MAD 270
-20.68%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43MAD 60.1
$6.50MAD 60.8
-1.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ait Melloul
Rabat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$77.0MAD 720
$160MAD 1,494
-51.80%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,983MAD 18.6K
$6,542MAD 61.2K
-69.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ait Melloul
Rabat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.02MAD 393
$53.5MAD 500
-21.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.70MAD 371
$47.69MAD 446
-16.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$47.67MAD 446
$105MAD 981
-54.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.56MAD 445
$98.6MAD 922
-51.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ait Melloul
Rabat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$275MAD 2,574
$443MAD 4,148
-37.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$175MAD 1,640
$266MAD 2,486
-34.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$508MAD 4,757
$1,130MAD 10.6K
-54.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$305MAD 2,855
$726MAD 6,789
-57.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,336MAD 12.5K
$2,046MAD 19.1K
-34.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,006MAD 9,410
$1,195MAD 11.2K
-15.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ait Melloul
Rabat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$374MAD 3,500
$721MAD 6,747
-48.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.75
4.81
-1.25%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ait Melloul: July 21, 2026
Last update for Rabat: July 19, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $275 in Ait Melloul and $443 in Rabat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rabat pays 93% 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 $49.00 in Rabat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $209 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 Rabat: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rabat cheaper than Ait Melloul?
Ait Melloul is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ait Melloul or Rabat?
On paper, salaries run 93% lower in Rabat. 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 Rabat?
Rent for a central apartment: $275 in Ait Melloul versus $443 in Rabat. 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 $160 in Rabat. 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 Rabat?
Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Rabat. 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 Rabat?
At $691 in Ait Melloul versus $919 in Rabat, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ait Melloul but tight or insufficient in Rabat. The gap between the two cities makes Ait Melloul the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Ait Melloul or in Rabat?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Ait Melloul or Rabat?
Safety-wise, Ait Melloul and Rabat 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 33% less than in Rabat. 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