😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,265 in Phuket versus $679 in Ait Melloul.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,089 in Phuket versus $1,068 in Ait Melloul.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,913 in Phuket versus $1,457 in Ait Melloul.
🌍Living in Phuket is roughly 86% more expensive than in Ait Melloul, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Phuket8% lower, Ait Melloul51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Ait Melloul
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.66฿154
$3.82MAD 35.85
21.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.22฿1,065
$25.21MAD 237
27.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.68฿287
$6.30MAD 59.2
37.78%
Cappuccino
$2.90฿95.8
$2.19MAD 20.62
32.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84฿27.89
$0.91MAD 8.60
-7.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.16
$0.37MAD 3.50
32.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.48฿82.0
$5.22MAD 49.03
-52.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.73฿123
$4.67MAD 43.89
-20.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Ait Melloul
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.89฿62.3
$0.84MAD 7.85
125.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41฿46.54
$0.55MAD 5.13
156.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.62฿53.6
$1.55MAD 14.56
4.52%
Eggs
$2.24฿74.1
$1.73MAD 16.26
29.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.84฿656
$8.19MAD 76.9
142.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.48฿115
$5.44MAD 51.1
-36.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.37฿376
$11.88MAD 112
-4.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.90฿95.8
$1.30MAD 12.19
123.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿57.0
$1.23MAD 11.51
39.84%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27฿75.1
$0.93MAD 8.71
144.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.13฿70.4
$0.74MAD 6.98
187.84%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.72
$0.75MAD 7.09
96.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.42฿46.92
$0.84MAD 7.90
69.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.25
$0.26MAD 2.46
323.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60฿19.76
$0.56MAD 5.28
7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.31฿142
$4.23MAD 39.71
1.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.60฿615
$8.16MAD 76.7
127.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80฿59.5
$2.40MAD 22.52
-25.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97฿98.0
$3.39MAD 31.87
-12.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Ait Melloul
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.25฿74.2
$0.53MAD 4.96
324.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$23.49฿776
$20.61MAD 194
13.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10฿102
$0.63MAD 5.91
392.06%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.08฿35.56
$0.62MAD 5.86
74.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.87฿128
$7.31MAD 68.7
-47.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.43฿47.16
$1.50MAD 14.08
-4.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K฿918.0K
$35.5KMAD 333.8K
-21.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.0K฿891.5K
$30.9KMAD 290.7K
-12.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Ait Melloul
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$105฿3,462
$24.94MAD 234
320.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.39฿376
$9.62MAD 90.4
18.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.54฿580
$30.70MAD 288
-42.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Ait Melloul
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.3฿1,795
$23.77MAD 223
128.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.44฿378
$23.72MAD 223
-51.77%
Cinema Ticket
$7.78฿257
$5.36MAD 50.4
45.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Ait Melloul
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$576฿19.0K
$73.0MAD 686
690.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.6K฿382.7K
$1,878MAD 17.6K
516.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Ait Melloul
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6฿2,103
$33.13MAD 311
92.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.10฿961
$44.44MAD 418
-34.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.2฿3,179
$60.3MAD 566
59.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0฿2,974
$47.41MAD 446
89.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Ait Melloul
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$733฿24.2K
$283MAD 2,656
159.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$501฿16.5K
$153MAD 1,433
228.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,126฿70.2K
$481MAD 4,524
341.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,252฿41.4K
$242MAD 2,274
417.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,534฿116.8K
$1,180MAD 11.1K
199.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,622฿86.6K
$918MAD 8,630
185.51%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Ait Melloul
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$508฿16.8K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
3.5
59.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: September 6, 2026
Last update for Ait Melloul: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $733 in Phuket and $283 in Ait Melloul. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $32.00 in Phuket vs $25.00 in Ait Melloul for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $275 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
Phuket vs Ait Melloul: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ait Melloul cheaper than Phuket?
Ait Melloul is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 86% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,898 in Phuket 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 Phuket and Ait Melloul?
Rent for a central apartment: $733 in Phuket 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 $576 in Phuket 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 Phuket and in Ait Melloul?
Supermarket bills run roughly 51% higher in Phuket. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Phuket or in Ait Melloul?
At $679 in Ait Melloul versus $1,265 in Phuket, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ait Melloul but tight or insufficient in Phuket. The gap between the two cities makes Ait Melloul the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Phuket or Ait Melloul more family-friendly?
For families, Ait Melloul is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Phuket, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Phuket or Ait Melloul?
Safety-wise, Phuket 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 86% less than in Phuket. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.