😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,512 in Cartago versus $690 in Le Bardo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,121 in Cartago versus $1,090 in Le Bardo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,730 in Cartago versus $1,490 in Le Bardo.
😐Living in Cartago is roughly 119% more expensive than Le Bardo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Cartago is 13% above, Le Bardo is 49% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cartago
Le Bardo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.95₡3,615
$3.41TND 9.89
133.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$31.47₡14.3K
$25.73TND 74.7
22.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.17₡4,172
$4.79TND 13.90
91.44%
Cappuccino
$3.82₡1,738
$1.07TND 3.10
257.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93₡880
$0.60TND 1.76
221.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.23₡558
$0.26TND 0.75
373.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.01₡913
$1.67TND 4.86
20.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.75₡2,159
$2.43TND 7.04
95.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cartago
Le Bardo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.96₡894
$0.50TND 1.45
292.00%
White Bread(500g)
$2.19₡996
$0.17TND 0.50
1188.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.15₡976
$1.54TND 4.46
39.61%
Eggs
$2.91₡1,325
$1.49TND 4.33
95.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.84₡3,566
$10.65TND 30.92
-26.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.30₡4,228
$5.83TND 16.92
59.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.63₡6,199
$13.28TND 38.57
2.64%
Apples(1kg)
$4.43₡2,014
$2.04TND 5.93
117.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.17₡534
$2.96TND 8.59
-60.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.03₡1,832
$1.02TND 2.95
295.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.64₡1,201
$0.74TND 2.15
256.76%
Potato(1kg)
$1.96₡890
$0.78TND 2.27
151.28%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98₡899
$0.71TND 2.07
178.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04₡471
$0.49TND 1.41
112.24%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.94₡884
$0.30TND 0.88
546.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.11₡2,326
$3.61TND 10.49
41.55%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.30₡6,960
$5.18TND 15.04
195.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.45₡1,112
$1.28TND 3.73
91.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80₡820
$1.06TND 3.07
69.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Cartago
Le Bardo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.01₡461
$0.33TND 0.95
206.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$69.0₡31.4K
$10.28TND 29.85
571.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.37₡622
$0.30TND 0.86
356.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.86₡848
$0.33TND 0.97
463.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.91₡3,599
$3.33TND 9.66
137.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.41₡643
$0.90TND 2.61
56.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.4K₡17.0M
$36.9KTND 107.1K
1.46%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.3K₡14.7M
$37.7KTND 109.5K
-14.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cartago
Le Bardo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$49.02₡22.3K
$57.8TND 168
-15.18%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.60₡11.6K
$9.95TND 28.88
157.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.9₡26.3K
$21.18TND 61.5
173.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cartago
Le Bardo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.3₡26.0K
$42.90TND 125
33.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.06₡10.9K
$11.68TND 33.91
105.99%
Cinema Ticket
$6.47₡2,944
$5.27TND 15.30
22.77%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cartago
Le Bardo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$491₡223.1K
$110TND 318
347.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,189₡3.3M
$2,826TND 8,205
154.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cartago
Le Bardo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.5₡28.0K
$45.30TND 132
35.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.7₡23.5K
$44.81TND 130
15.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$109₡49.4K
$98.1TND 285
10.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4₡36.6K
$78.3TND 227
2.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cartago
Le Bardo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$760₡345.6K
$247TND 716
207.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$602₡273.6K
$150TND 434
302.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$734₡333.9K
$403TND 1,172
81.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$770₡350.1K
$253TND 734
204.63%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$982TND 2,851
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$639TND 1,854
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cartago
Le Bardo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,312₡596.8K
$396TND 1,151
231.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10
11
-9.09%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cartago: June 2, 2026
Last update for Le Bardo: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $760 in Cartago and $247 in Le Bardo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cartago pays 231% 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: $31.00 in Cartago vs $26.00 in Le Bardo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $315 vs $184 per month, with Le Bardo 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
Cartago vs Le Bardo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Le Bardo cheaper than Cartago?
Le Bardo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 119% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cartago or Le Bardo?
Cartago pays 231% more on average, 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 Cartago and Le Bardo?
Rent for a central apartment: $760 in Cartago versus $247 in Le Bardo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Le Bardo runs roughly 571% less than in Cartago. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $491 in Cartago versus $110 in Le Bardo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Cartago or Le Bardo?
At $690 in Le Bardo versus $1,512 in Cartago, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Le Bardo but tight or insufficient in Cartago. The gap between the two cities makes Le Bardo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Cartago or Le Bardo?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Cartago or Le Bardo?
Safety-wise, Cartago and Le Bardo 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 Le Bardo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 119% less than in Cartago. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.