Ait Melloul vs Chefchaouen: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?

Ait Melloul is a cheap place to live, not a charming one, and anyone expecting a postcard version of Morocco should look elsewhere. A one-bedroom in the center runs $280/mo while a three-bedroom outside the center costs $400/mo, and utilities at $23/mo barely register, yet the local average net salary of $375/mo means most residents are not living the expat budget you would. The overall expat score of 79/100 and FIRE score of 81/100 are genuinely strong, but the retiree score of 55/100 and digital nomad score of 57/100 tell the real story: no expat community, English only common in tourist areas, and fair healthcare. Come for the low costs and the 6 km hop to AGA, stay only if you can tolerate an industrial town with 28 Mbps internet and a $1,500/mo income floor for the retirement visa.

Chefchaouen is a cheap, pretty mountain town that rewards people who do not need fast internet or a big social scene. At $375/mo for a one-bedroom in the Medina and $5 restaurant meals, your money goes far, and the Mediterranean mountain climate at 564 m keeps summers bearable. But 5 Mbps average internet and a 39/100 digital nomad score mean remote work will be a daily fight, and limited English plus fair healthcare add friction. Come for the low costs and the 60/100 safety index, not for convenience.