😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,263 in Lisbon versus $673 in Ait Melloul.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,315 in Lisbon versus $1,062 in Ait Melloul.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,368 in Lisbon versus $1,450 in Ait Melloul.
😐Living in Lisbon is roughly 236% more expensive than Ait Melloul, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Lisbon is 68% above, Ait Melloul is 50% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Lisbon
Ait Melloul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.94€13.82
$4.42MAD 40.86
260.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4€55.0
$25.47MAD 236
148.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.38€9.01
$7.11MAD 65.7
45.99%
Cappuccino
$2.79€2.42
$2.13MAD 19.68
30.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34€2.03
$0.63MAD 5.80
271.43%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.36
$0.33MAD 3.02
375.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.43€2.97
$3.78MAD 34.96
-9.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91€3.39
$3.70MAD 34.19
5.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lisbon
Ait Melloul
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.08€0.94
$0.94MAD 8.73
14.89%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77€1.53
$0.50MAD 4.60
254.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.71€1.48
$1.63MAD 15.08
4.91%
Eggs
$3.15€2.73
$1.88MAD 17.43
67.55%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.68€11.86
$9.50MAD 87.9
44.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.01€6.95
$5.08MAD 46.96
57.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.52€13.46
$11.13MAD 103
39.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29€1.99
$1.43MAD 13.20
60.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.42
$1.27MAD 11.76
29.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.94€1.68
$0.90MAD 8.36
115.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.51€2.18
$0.83MAD 7.65
202.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79€1.55
$0.74MAD 6.83
141.89%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01€1.74
$0.79MAD 7.33
154.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.97€1.70
$0.39MAD 3.61
405.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.63MAD 5.86
33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.79€5.89
$4.04MAD 37.40
68.07%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.67€4.92
$7.13MAD 65.9
-20.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.39€1.21
$2.71MAD 25.07
-48.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02€2.62
$2.92MAD 27.05
3.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Lisbon
Ait Melloul
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.27€1.97
$0.51MAD 4.70
345.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$45.44€39.40
$16.18MAD 150
180.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.29€3.72
$0.67MAD 6.22
540.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.85€0.74
$0.52MAD 4.85
63.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.28€15.85
$5.40MAD 49.97
238.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99€1.72
$1.59MAD 14.71
25.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K€30.4K
$36.9KMAD 341.3K
-5.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.5K€34.3K
$20.4KMAD 189.0K
93.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lisbon
Ait Melloul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$146€127
$28.46MAD 263
413.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.45€17.73
$10.82MAD 100
89.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.98€33.80
$28.00MAD 259
39.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lisbon
Ait Melloul
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$48.98€42.48
$24.12MAD 223
103.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.83€16.33
$22.92MAD 212
-17.84%
Cinema Ticket
$9.52€8.26
$6.76MAD 62.5
40.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lisbon
Ait Melloul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€527
$75.7MAD 701
702.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.5K€14.3K
$1,959MAD 18.1K
743.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lisbon
Ait Melloul
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$104€90.1
$43.21MAD 400
140.43%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.12€36.53
$39.80MAD 368
5.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.2€80.0
$47.57MAD 440
93.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120€104
$47.11MAD 436
154.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lisbon
Ait Melloul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,621€1,406
$280MAD 2,588
479.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,268€1,099
$174MAD 1,612
627.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,048€2,643
$513MAD 4,747
493.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,009€1,742
$311MAD 2,873
546.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,663€6,645
$1,591MAD 14.7K
381.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,329€3,754
$947MAD 8,763
356.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lisbon
Ait Melloul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,585€1,374
$376MAD 3,481
321.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
4.75
-19.79%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Last update for Ait Melloul: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,621 in Lisbon and $280 in Ait Melloul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Lisbon pays 321% 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: $63.0 in Lisbon vs $25.00 in Ait Melloul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $269 vs $185 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
Lisbon vs Ait Melloul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ait Melloul cheaper than Lisbon?
Ait Melloul is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 236% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Lisbon or Ait Melloul?
Lisbon pays 321% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Lisbon and Ait Melloul?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,621 in Lisbon versus $280 in Ait Melloul. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $608 in Lisbon versus $75.7 in Ait Melloul. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Lisbon and Ait Melloul?
Supermarket bills run roughly 45% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Lisbon or Ait Melloul?
At $673 in Ait Melloul versus $2,263 in Lisbon, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ait Melloul but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Ait Melloul the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Lisbon or Ait Melloul more family-friendly?
For families, Ait Melloul is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Lisbon or Ait Melloul?
Safety-wise, Lisbon and Ait Melloul 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 236% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.