😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,641 in Medellin versus $679 in Ait Melloul.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,447 in Medellin versus $1,068 in Ait Melloul.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,253 in Medellin versus $1,457 in Ait Melloul.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 142% more expensive than in Ait Melloul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 19% above, Ait Melloul is 51% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ait Melloul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$3.82MAD 35.85
110.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.9K
$25.21MAD 237
91.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.1K
$6.30MAD 59.2
49.52%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,056
$2.19MAD 20.62
34.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,745
$0.91MAD 8.60
104.40%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,487
$0.37MAD 3.50
294.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,899
$5.22MAD 49.03
-38.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$4.67MAD 43.89
22.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ait Melloul
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,436
$0.84MAD 7.85
71.43%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,401
$0.55MAD 5.13
336.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,237
$1.55MAD 14.56
9.68%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,911
$1.73MAD 16.26
67.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 31.0K
$8.19MAD 76.9
22.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$5.44MAD 51.1
83.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.8K
$11.88MAD 112
19.53%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$1.30MAD 12.19
206.15%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,886
$1.23MAD 11.51
28.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,635
$0.93MAD 8.71
131.18%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,090
$0.74MAD 6.98
210.81%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,179
$0.75MAD 7.09
166.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,654
$0.84MAD 7.90
79.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,707
$0.26MAD 2.46
361.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,953
$0.56MAD 5.28
128.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$4.23MAD 39.71
-9.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.2K
$8.16MAD 76.7
71.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,265
$2.40MAD 22.52
-28.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,454
$3.39MAD 31.87
-19.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ait Melloul
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,840
$0.53MAD 4.96
135.85%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 240.2K
$20.61MAD 194
277.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,023
$0.63MAD 5.91
107.94%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,692
$0.62MAD 5.86
250.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.6K
$7.31MAD 68.7
13.41%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,179
$1.50MAD 14.08
-9.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.7M
$35.5KMAD 333.8K
-22.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.6M
$30.9KMAD 290.7K
18.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ait Melloul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 520.1K
$24.94MAD 234
576.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$9.62MAD 90.4
41.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.3K
$30.70MAD 288
-7.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ait Melloul
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.9K
$23.77MAD 223
92.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.1K
$23.72MAD 223
-27.40%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$5.36MAD 50.4
24.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ait Melloul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$73.0MAD 686
1000.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$1,878MAD 17.6K
389.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ait Melloul
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 269.3K
$33.13MAD 311
163.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 183.0K
$44.44MAD 418
33.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 428.2K
$60.3MAD 566
130.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.6K
$47.41MAD 446
115.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ait Melloul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$283MAD 2,656
278.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$153MAD 1,433
328.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$481MAD 4,524
299.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$242MAD 2,274
332.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
$1,180MAD 11.1K
249.53%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
$918MAD 8,630
84.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ait Melloul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
3.5
212.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Ait Melloul: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,071 in Medellin and $283 in Ait Melloul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $25.00 in Ait Melloul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $182 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
Medellin vs Ait Melloul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ait Melloul cheaper than Medellin?
Ait Melloul is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 142% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,462 in Medellin and $1,018 in Ait Melloul 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 Medellin and Ait Melloul?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,071 in Medellin versus $283 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 $803 in Medellin versus $73.0 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 Medellin and in Ait Melloul?
Supermarket bills run roughly 65% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Ait Melloul?
At $679 in Ait Melloul versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ait Melloul but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Ait Melloul the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Ait Melloul more family-friendly?
For families, Ait Melloul is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Ait Melloul?
Safety-wise, Medellin 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 142% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.