Cost of Living Comparison Between Ben Arous and Sfax Cost of Living Comparison Between Ben Arous and Sfax

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $693 per month in Ben Arous vs $656 in Sfax, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,087 per month in Ben Arous vs $1,015 in Sfax, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,481 per month in Ben Arous vs $1,375 in Sfax, rent included.

Ben Arous costs about 6% more than Sfax, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ben Arous and Sfax are more affordable than the global median – Ben Arous 49% lower, Sfax 52% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ben Arous
Sfax
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.06 TND 11.69
$3.33 TND 9.59
21.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.63 TND 59.5
$20.32 TND 58.6
1.53%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.04 TND 14.53
$5.26 TND 15.16
-4.18%
Cappuccino
$0.84 TND 2.41
$0.73 TND 2.10
15.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 TND 1.97
$0.65 TND 1.88
4.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 TND 0.71
$0.27 TND 0.79
-7.41%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.58 TND 4.54
$1.61 TND 4.64
-1.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99 TND 5.75
$2.00 TND 5.75
-0.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ben Arous
Sfax
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.48 TND 1.38
$0.48 TND 1.37
-
White Bread (500g)
$0.24 TND 0.69
$0.22 TND 0.63
9.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.72 TND 4.96
$1.39 TND 4.01
23.74%
Eggs
$1.60 TND 4.62
$1.61 TND 4.64
-0.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.56 TND 30.45
$12.88 TND 37.13
-18.01%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.03 TND 17.40
$5.62 TND 16.19
7.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.15 TND 46.56
$13.82 TND 39.84
16.86%
Apples (1kg)
$1.51 TND 4.35
$1.80 TND 5.19
-16.11%
Banana (1kg)
$2.39 TND 6.88
$3.67 TND 10.59
-34.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.01 TND 2.92
$1.06 TND 3.07
-4.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.74 TND 2.15
$0.75 TND 2.15
-1.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.83 TND 2.39
$0.76 TND 2.20
9.21%
Onion (1kg)
$0.80 TND 2.31
$0.84 TND 2.42
-4.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.49 TND 1.41
$0.58 TND 1.67
-15.52%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 TND 0.86
$0.34 TND 0.98
-11.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.62 TND 10.43
$3.69 TND 10.65
-1.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.89 TND 19.86
$6.88 TND 19.83
0.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 TND 3.34
$1.21 TND 3.49
-4.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.25 TND 3.61
$1.07 TND 3.08
16.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Ben Arous
Sfax
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.40 TND 1.14
$0.17 TND 0.48
135.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$13.87 TND 39.99
$10.27 TND 29.62
35.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.32 TND 0.92
$0.31 TND 0.89
3.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 TND 1.01
$0.35 TND 1.02
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.43 TND 9.88
$7.68 TND 22.15
-55.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 TND 2.44
$0.88 TND 2.54
-3.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.9K TND 115.0K
$40.7K TND 117.3K
-2.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.6K TND 108.3K
$38.0K TND 109.6K
-1.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ben Arous
Sfax
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$55.7 TND 161
$46.46 TND 134
19.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.75 TND 28.11
$9.76 TND 28.13
-0.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.91 TND 60.3
$14.80 TND 42.66
41.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ben Arous
Sfax
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.01 TND 95.2
$28.03 TND 80.8
17.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.88 TND 48.68
$7.48 TND 21.55
125.67%
Cinema Ticket
$4.97 TND 14.33
$4.71 TND 13.58
5.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ben Arous
Sfax
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$107 TND 310
$108 TND 311
-0.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,521 TND 7,268
$2,532 TND 7,300
-0.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ben Arous
Sfax
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.9 TND 150
$52.8 TND 152
-1.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.90 TND 129
$44.84 TND 129
0.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$104 TND 299
$101 TND 290
2.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.3 TND 191
$65.6 TND 189
0.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ben Arous
Sfax
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$214 TND 618
$194 TND 560
10.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$162 TND 468
$135 TND 390
19.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$382 TND 1,100
$342 TND 985
11.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$272 TND 784
$220 TND 634
23.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$938 TND 2,705
$1,024 TND 2,951
-8.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$427 TND 1,231
$755 TND 2,176
-43.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ben Arous
Sfax
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$253 TND 730
$329 TND 947
-22.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.5
13.6
-22.79%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ben Arous: August 16, 2026

Last update for Sfax: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $214 in Ben Arous versus $194 in Sfax. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 30% higher in Sfax, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Ben Arous versus $20.00 in Sfax. Groceries tell a different story – $192 in Ben Arous vs $198 in Sfax – so Ben Arous wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Ben Arous vs Sfax: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Ben Arous and in Sfax compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $693 in Ben Arous, $656 in Sfax – roughly 6% apart. Ben Arous costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Ben Arous compared to Sfax?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,040 per month in Ben Arous and $984 in Sfax. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Ben Arous and Sfax?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sfax, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $21.00 in Ben Arous and $20.00 in Sfax. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ben Arous or Sfax?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $693 in Ben Arous and $656 in Sfax. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How far does $1,200 go in Ben Arous compared to Sfax?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $693 in Ben Arous and $656 in Sfax, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Ben Arous or Sfax?
Families tend to lean toward Sfax – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Ben Arous or Sfax safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Ben Arous and Sfax?
If budget matters most, go with Sfax. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ben Arous makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Ben Arous vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities