😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,018 in Medellin versus $691 in Ait Melloul.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,609 in Medellin versus $1,084 in Ait Melloul.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,200 in Medellin versus $1,477 in Ait Melloul.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 47% more expensive than in Ait Melloul, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin24% lower, Ait Melloul48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Ait Melloul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.93COP 19.1K
$4.37MAD 40.84
35.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.12COP 106.6K
$25.22MAD 236
31.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.12COP 22.9K
$6.95MAD 65.0
2.45%
Cappuccino
$1.71COP 5,487
$2.17MAD 20.32
-21.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,374
$0.62MAD 5.76
69.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,324
$0.32MAD 3.03
125.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,531
$3.86MAD 36.10
-55.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.2K
$3.68MAD 34.47
-13.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Ait Melloul
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,426
$0.87MAD 8.15
21.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,215
$0.52MAD 4.91
151.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33COP 4,279
$1.65MAD 15.41
-19.39%
Eggs
$2.28COP 7,338
$1.81MAD 16.89
25.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.42COP 14.2K
$9.38MAD 87.8
-52.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.92COP 19.0K
$5.11MAD 47.81
15.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 27.8K
$10.98MAD 103
-21.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34COP 7,545
$1.36MAD 12.69
72.06%
Banana(1kg)
$1.10COP 3,546
$1.21MAD 11.30
-9.09%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.47COP 4,724
$0.94MAD 8.81
56.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,439
$0.82MAD 7.67
68.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,774
$0.73MAD 6.84
60.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,765
$0.78MAD 7.32
50.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,905
$0.39MAD 3.66
130.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84COP 2,708
$0.60MAD 5.58
40.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 7,490
$4.23MAD 39.54
-44.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.92COP 38.3K
$7.11MAD 66.5
67.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15COP 3,693
$2.71MAD 25.34
-57.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42COP 7,791
$3.02MAD 28.29
-19.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Ait Melloul
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,702
$0.50MAD 4.70
68.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.83COP 131.4K
$16.20MAD 152
152.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COP 4,541
$0.67MAD 6.30
110.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,160
$0.52MAD 4.85
267.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.83COP 25.2K
$5.63MAD 52.7
39.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,037
$1.59MAD 14.84
-40.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.8KCOP 57.3M
$37.8KMAD 354.0K
-52.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KCOP 87.1M
$20.3KMAD 190.1K
33.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Ait Melloul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.3COP 267.9K
$28.39MAD 266
193.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.66COP 31.1K
$10.85MAD 101
-10.97%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.22COP 77.9K
$28.46MAD 266
-14.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Ait Melloul
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.22COP 81.2K
$24.78MAD 232
1.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.33COP 62.2K
$22.93MAD 214
-15.70%
Cinema Ticket
$4.07COP 13.1K
$6.43MAD 60.1
-36.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Ait Melloul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307COP 986.5K
$77.0MAD 720
298.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,981COP 19.2M
$1,983MAD 18.6K
201.58%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Ait Melloul
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 192.9K
$42.02MAD 393
42.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.65COP 105.1K
$39.70MAD 371
-17.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 325.2K
$47.67MAD 446
112.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 347.6K
$47.56MAD 445
127.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Ait Melloul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$476COP 1.5M
$275MAD 2,574
72.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COP 1.2M
$175MAD 1,640
116.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$816COP 2.6M
$508MAD 4,757
60.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$707COP 2.3M
$305MAD 2,855
131.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,190COP 10.3M
$1,336MAD 12.5K
138.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,446COP 4.7M
$1,006MAD 9,410
43.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Ait Melloul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$622COP 2.0M
$374MAD 3,500
66.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.75
182.74%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 20, 2026
Last update for Ait Melloul: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $275 in Ait Melloul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 66% 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $25.00 in Ait Melloul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $192 vs $183 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, Getting Around. The 47% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Ait Melloul?
Average pay runs 66% higher in Medellin, 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 Medellin and Ait Melloul?
Rent for a central apartment: $476 in Medellin versus $275 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 $307 in Medellin versus $77.0 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 5% 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 $691 in Ait Melloul versus $1,018 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 47% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.