🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $679 in Ait Melloul versus $869 in Rabat.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,068 in Ait Melloul versus $1,515 in Rabat.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,457 in Ait Melloul versus $2,161 in Rabat.
🌍Living in Ait Melloul costs roughly 22% less than in Rabat, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ait Melloul51% lower, Rabat37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ait Melloul
Rabat
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.82MAD 35.85
$4.21MAD 39.60
-9.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.21MAD 237
$43.15MAD 406
-41.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.30MAD 59.2
$7.38MAD 69.4
-14.63%
Cappuccino
$2.19MAD 20.62
$1.93MAD 18.12
13.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MAD 8.60
$0.64MAD 6.01
42.19%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37MAD 3.50
$0.35MAD 3.25
5.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.22MAD 49.03
$5.35MAD 50.3
-2.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67MAD 43.89
$3.29MAD 30.95
41.95%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ait Melloul
Rabat
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.84MAD 7.85
$0.85MAD 8.03
-1.18%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55MAD 5.13
$0.68MAD 6.40
-19.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55MAD 14.56
$1.89MAD 17.73
-17.99%
Eggs
$1.73MAD 16.26
$1.98MAD 18.65
-12.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.19MAD 76.9
$11.90MAD 112
-31.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.44MAD 51.1
$6.68MAD 62.7
-18.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.88MAD 112
$12.45MAD 117
-4.58%
Apples(1kg)
$1.30MAD 12.19
$1.71MAD 16.05
-23.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.23MAD 11.51
$1.46MAD 13.73
-15.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.93MAD 8.71
$0.88MAD 8.23
5.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74MAD 6.98
$0.92MAD 8.61
-19.57%
Potato(1kg)
$0.75MAD 7.09
$0.75MAD 7.07
-
Onion(1kg)
$0.84MAD 7.90
$0.77MAD 7.20
9.09%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.26MAD 2.46
$0.42MAD 3.92
-38.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56MAD 5.28
$0.59MAD 5.54
-5.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.23MAD 39.71
$4.23MAD 39.71
-
Wine(Bottle)
$8.16MAD 76.7
$7.84MAD 73.7
4.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.40MAD 22.52
$2.68MAD 25.18
-10.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39MAD 31.87
$2.69MAD 25.24
26.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Ait Melloul
Rabat
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.53MAD 4.96
$0.55MAD 5.19
-3.64%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$20.61MAD 194
$26.52MAD 249
-22.29%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.63MAD 5.91
$0.72MAD 6.74
-12.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.62MAD 5.86
$0.90MAD 8.44
-31.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.31MAD 68.7
$4.15MAD 39.00
76.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.50MAD 14.08
$1.57MAD 14.80
-4.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.5KMAD 333.8K
$34.6KMAD 324.7K
2.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9KMAD 290.7K
$31.5KMAD 295.8K
-1.73%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ait Melloul
Rabat
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$24.94MAD 234
$35.38MAD 333
-29.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.62MAD 90.4
$10.58MAD 99.4
-9.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.70MAD 288
$33.25MAD 312
-7.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ait Melloul
Rabat
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.77MAD 223
$30.18MAD 284
-21.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.72MAD 223
$27.55MAD 259
-13.90%
Cinema Ticket
$5.36MAD 50.4
$6.52MAD 61.3
-17.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ait Melloul
Rabat
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$73.0MAD 686
$186MAD 1,745
-60.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,878MAD 17.6K
$7,068MAD 66.4K
-73.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ait Melloul
Rabat
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$33.13MAD 311
$50.3MAD 473
-34.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.44MAD 418
$44.47MAD 418
-0.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$60.3MAD 566
$93.4MAD 878
-35.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$47.41MAD 446
$69.0MAD 648
-31.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ait Melloul
Rabat
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$283MAD 2,656
$519MAD 4,877
-45.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$153MAD 1,433
$278MAD 2,609
-45.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$481MAD 4,524
$1,114MAD 10.5K
-56.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$242MAD 2,274
$674MAD 6,329
-64.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,180MAD 11.1K
$2,018MAD 19.0K
-41.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$918MAD 8,630
$1,187MAD 11.2K
-22.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ait Melloul
Rabat
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$749MAD 7,036
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.5
4.52
-22.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ait Melloul: September 5, 2026
Last update for Rabat: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $283 in Ait Melloul and $519 in Rabat. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $25.00 in Ait Melloul vs $43.00 in Rabat for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $210 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, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 28% 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 $1,303 in Rabat 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 Rabat?
Rent for a central apartment: $283 in Ait Melloul versus $519 in Rabat. 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 $186 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 15% 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 $679 in Ait Melloul versus $869 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 28% 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