Cost of Living Comparison Between Carthage and YiwuCost of Living Comparison Between Carthage and Yiwu
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $650 in Carthage versus $718 in Yiwu.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,056 in Carthage versus $1,344 in Yiwu.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,462 in Carthage versus $1,969 in Yiwu.
🙂Living in Carthage costs roughly 10% less than in Yiwu, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Carthage52% lower, Yiwu46% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Carthage
Yiwu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.01TND 14.55
$2.72¥18.37
84.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.83TND 75.0
$36.17¥245
-28.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.22TND 15.14
$5.48¥37.03
-4.74%
Cappuccino
$1.06TND 3.08
$3.55¥24.04
-70.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70TND 2.04
$0.55¥3.70
27.27%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28TND 0.82
$0.30¥2.00
-6.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68TND 4.87
$1.42¥9.57
18.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92TND 5.57
$2.74¥18.49
-29.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Carthage
Yiwu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.49TND 1.43
$1.78¥12.02
-72.47%
White Bread(500g)
$0.20TND 0.58
$1.79¥12.13
-88.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74TND 5.04
$0.85¥5.72
104.71%
Eggs
$1.64TND 4.77
$1.60¥10.84
2.50%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.47TND 30.39
$15.31¥104
-31.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.11TND 17.75
$3.12¥21.13
95.83%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.88TND 43.21
$10.57¥71.5
40.78%
Apples(1kg)
$2.02TND 5.88
$1.70¥11.53
18.82%
Banana(1kg)
$3.53TND 10.24
$1.43¥9.67
146.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.12TND 3.26
$1.41¥9.51
-20.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74TND 2.14
$1.13¥7.66
-34.51%
Potato(1kg)
$0.78TND 2.27
$0.51¥3.44
52.94%
Onion(1kg)
$0.66TND 1.92
$0.82¥5.54
-19.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.46TND 1.34
$0.15¥1.04
206.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31TND 0.91
$0.60¥4.02
-48.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.56TND 10.32
$2.77¥18.74
28.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.78TND 22.59
$11.98¥81.0
-35.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30TND 3.77
$0.40¥2.74
225.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26TND 3.65
$1.07¥7.22
17.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Carthage
Yiwu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36TND 1.03
$0.40¥2.72
-10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.26TND 21.08
$16.96¥115
-57.19%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.32TND 0.94
$1.13¥7.64
-71.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31TND 0.89
$0.23¥1.56
34.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.37TND 9.79
$8.30¥56.2
-59.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83TND 2.41
$1.15¥7.74
-27.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.3KTND 117.1K
$19.6K¥132.6K
105.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2KTND 105.1K
$17.7K¥119.9K
104.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Carthage
Yiwu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.69TND 133
$51.7¥350
-11.68%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.47TND 27.50
$8.78¥59.4
7.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.94TND 55.0
$13.47¥91.1
40.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Carthage
Yiwu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.63TND 109
$14.17¥95.8
165.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.48TND 39.15
$10.60¥71.7
27.17%
Cinema Ticket
$5.31TND 15.41
$6.49¥43.87
-18.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Carthage
Yiwu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$109TND 316
$339¥2,290
-67.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,369TND 9,781
$31.7K¥214.5K
-89.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Carthage
Yiwu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.85TND 130
$55.0¥372
-18.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.5TND 178
$34.40¥233
78.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.0TND 282
$76.3¥516
27.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.6TND 191
$70.4¥476
-6.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Carthage
Yiwu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$168TND 487
$424¥2,865
-60.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$99.8TND 290
$185¥1,251
-46.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$301TND 874
$990¥6,691
-69.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$239TND 695
$688¥4,651
-65.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$867TND 2,519
$3,197¥21.6K
-72.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$413TND 1,198
$2,894¥19.6K
-85.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Carthage
Yiwu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$278TND 807
$591¥3,997
-52.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.96
3.58
206.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Carthage: May 31, 2026
Last update for Yiwu: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $168 in Carthage and $424 in Yiwu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Yiwu pays 113% 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: $26.00 in Carthage vs $36.00 in Yiwu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $200 vs $206 per month, with Carthage 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
Carthage vs Yiwu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Carthage and Yiwu?
Carthage and Yiwu differ by about 11% in total monthly costs ($650 vs $718 including rent). Carthage is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Yiwu earns 113% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Carthage and Yiwu?
Rent for a central apartment: $168 in Carthage versus $424 in Yiwu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 3% higher in Yiwu. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Carthage – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $36.00 in Yiwu. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How far does $1,200 go in Carthage vs Yiwu?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Carthage gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Carthage and Yiwu?
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.
Where should expats move: Carthage or Yiwu?
Expats usually find Carthage gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Yiwu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.