Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cebu and Kairouan

For one person, living is cheaper in Kairouan: $634 a month against $918 in Cebu, rent and utilities included – about $3,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cebu
🇵🇭 Philippines
$918
/mo nomad
Kairouan
🇹🇳 Tunisia
$634
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cebu and in Kairouan

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cebu and in Kairouan actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $918 in Cebu versus $634 in Kairouan.

  • Cebu $918
  • Kairouan $634

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,409 in Cebu versus $975 in Kairouan.

  • Cebu $1,409
  • Kairouan $975

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,900 in Cebu versus $1,316 in Kairouan.

  • Cebu $1,900
  • Kairouan $1,316

Living in Cebu is roughly 45% more expensive than in Kairouan, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cebu 32% lower, Kairouan 53% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cebu
Kairouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.09 ₱194
$2.66 TND 7.96
16.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.22 ₱1,525
$15.64 TND 46.83
54.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.92 ₱247
$6.17 TND 18.49
-36.47%
Cappuccino
$2.51 ₱158
$0.96 TND 2.87
161.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 ₱100
$0.80 TND 2.39
98.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 ₱33.43
$0.40 TND 1.20
32.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.78 ₱112
$1.71 TND 5.11
4.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 ₱137
$2.64 TND 7.92
-17.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cebu
Kairouan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 ₱121
$0.45 TND 1.36
326.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.36 ₱85.4
$0.07 TND 0.22
1842.86%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 ₱63.5
$1.75 TND 5.25
-42.29%
Eggs
$2.03 ₱128
$1.49 TND 4.45
36.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 ₱621
$10.01 TND 29.97
-1.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 ₱277
$5.42 TND 16.22
-19.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 ₱479
$11.92 TND 35.70
-36.24%
Apples (1kg)
$3.30 ₱208
$2.19 TND 6.57
50.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 ₱87.8
$2.28 TND 6.82
-39.04%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.33 ₱147
$1.13 TND 3.38
106.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 ₱94.3
$0.77 TND 2.30
94.81%
Potato (1kg)
$2.36 ₱149
$0.65 TND 1.94
263.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 ₱119
$0.62 TND 1.86
206.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 ₱74.9
$0.53 TND 1.57
124.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 ₱39.71
$0.26 TND 0.78
142.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.00 ₱189
$3.34 TND 10.00
-10.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.03 ₱379
$6.85 TND 20.52
-11.97%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 ₱77.7
$1.28 TND 3.84
-3.91%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.75 ₱110
$1.55 TND 4.63
12.90%
🚌 Getting Around
Cebu
Kairouan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 ₱15.86
$0.32 TND 0.95
-21.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.64 ₱796
$9.94 TND 29.77
27.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.77 ₱48.62
$0.29 TND 0.86
165.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.23 ₱14.53
$0.34 TND 1.00
-32.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.46 ₱281
$1.76 TND 5.27
153.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 ₱82.8
$0.80 TND 2.39
63.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K ₱1.3M
$39.1K TND 117.1K
-45.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₱1.2M
$36.1K TND 108.3K
-47.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
Kairouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$120 ₱7,569
$60.0 TND 180
100.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.00 ₱882
$9.27 TND 27.77
51.02%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 ₱1,734
$20.01 TND 59.9
37.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
Kairouan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$32.33 ₱2,035
$23.03 TND 69.0
40.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.65 ₱419
$12.53 TND 37.53
-46.93%
Cinema Ticket
$5.65 ₱356
$4.59 TND 13.75
23.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cebu
Kairouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$275 ₱17.3K
$106 TND 317
160.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,918 ₱498.5K
$3,221 TND 9,647
145.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
Kairouan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.33 ₱3,106
$23.58 TND 70.6
109.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.24 ₱1,589
$61.1 TND 183
-58.68%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.0 ₱4,846
$46.83 TND 140
64.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.2 ₱3,601
$87.5 TND 262
-34.66%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cebu
Kairouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$500 ₱31.5K
$116 TND 347
331.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₱19.4K
$155 TND 463
99.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 ₱67.9K
$372 TND 1,115
189.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$615 ₱38.7K
$271 TND 812
126.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,886 ₱181.7K
$953 TND 2,855
202.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,917 ₱120.7K
$609 TND 1,825
214.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cebu
Kairouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$346 ₱21.8K
$320 TND 959
7.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.2
10.28
-29.96%

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

Last update for Cebu: October 12, 2026

Last update for Kairouan: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cebu
$309
Kairouan
$155 49.9% $154
Groceries & Markets
Cebu
$206
Kairouan
$176 14.6% $30
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cebu
$162
Kairouan
$89 44.8% $73
Clothing & Footwear
Cebu
$94
Kairouan
$99 4.9% $4.6
Eating Out
Cebu
$88
Kairouan
$70 20.8% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Cebu
$44
Kairouan
$32 26.1% $11
Getting Around
Cebu
$16
Kairouan
$13 15.4% $2.4

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $500 in Cebu and $116 in Kairouan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cebu pays 8% 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: $24.00 in Cebu vs $16.00 in Kairouan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $176 per month, with Kairouan cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇵🇭 Cebu
🇹🇳 Kairouan
🕒 Local time
14:06 2:06 PM
07:06 7:06 AM
7 h behind Cebu
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
964,169
139,070
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

TND, USD, EUR to PHP – Philippine Peso Converter

Philippine Peso exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 62.96 PHP (100 PHP = 1.59 USD). 1 EUR = 70.78 PHP (100 PHP = 1.41 EUR).

Tunisian Dinar exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 2.99 TND (1 TND = 0.334 USD). 1 EUR = 3.37 TND (1 TND = 0.297 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cebu Kairouan 11,410 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cebu
  • Kairouan

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Cebu vs Kairouan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kairouan cheaper than Cebu?
Kairouan is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 45% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Cebu or Kairouan?
Average pay runs 8% higher in Cebu, 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 Cebu and Kairouan?
Rent for a central apartment: $500 in Cebu versus $116 in Kairouan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Cebu and in Kairouan?
All in, you'll spend $918 per month in Cebu versus $634 in Kairouan – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Kairouan runs roughly 27% less than in Cebu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,200 enough for either Cebu or Kairouan?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Kairouan gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Cebu or Kairouan more family-friendly?
For families, Kairouan is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Cebu, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Cebu or Kairouan?
Safety-wise, Cebu and Kairouan 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 Kairouan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Cebu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Cebu vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?