😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $567 in Kairouan versus $542 in Dasmarinas.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $894 in Kairouan versus $976 in Dasmarinas.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,221 in Kairouan versus $1,409 in Dasmarinas.
😐Living in Kairouan is roughly 5% more expensive than Dasmarinas, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kairouan58% lower, Dasmarinas60% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kairouan
Dasmarinas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.40TND 6.97
$3.61₱223
-33.52%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.57TND 24.89
$13.43₱828
-36.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.43TND 9.97
$2.68₱165
27.99%
Cappuccino
$0.72TND 2.08
$1.59₱97.9
-54.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60TND 1.73
$0.53₱32.87
13.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16TND 0.46
$0.33₱20.49
-51.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.50TND 4.34
$1.09₱67.0
37.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97TND 5.72
$1.36₱84.1
44.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
Dasmarinas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.48TND 1.40
$1.65₱102
-70.91%
White Bread(500g)
$0.08TND 0.24
$1.06₱65.6
-92.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.49TND 4.33
$0.86₱52.8
73.26%
Eggs
$1.54TND 4.46
$2.06₱127
-25.24%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.45TND 33.24
$5.68₱351
101.58%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.73TND 16.64
$3.72₱229
54.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.06TND 35.02
$8.09₱499
49.07%
Apples(1kg)
$2.17TND 6.31
$2.69₱166
-19.33%
Banana(1kg)
$2.32TND 6.75
$1.45₱89.5
60.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.01TND 2.92
$1.73₱107
-41.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.73TND 2.13
$0.68₱41.76
7.35%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71TND 2.07
$1.09₱67.0
-34.86%
Onion(1kg)
$0.76TND 2.21
$2.20₱136
-65.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.51TND 1.48
$0.68₱41.66
-25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25TND 0.72
$0.42₱26.17
-40.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.42TND 9.93
$2.17₱134
57.60%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.51TND 21.81
$8.94₱551
-16.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.09TND 3.16
$1.08₱66.6
0.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09TND 3.17
$2.26₱140
-51.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Kairouan
Dasmarinas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.36TND 1.03
$0.28₱17.31
28.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.13TND 29.42
$4.50₱277
125.11%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.29TND 0.83
$0.86₱53.3
-66.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31TND 0.89
$0.24₱14.83
29.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.37TND 21.39
$2.33₱144
216.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80TND 2.32
$1.15₱71.0
-30.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7KTND 103.7K
$31.7K₱2.0M
12.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8KTND 100.9K
$20.5K₱1.3M
69.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
Dasmarinas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.95TND 131
$43.28₱2,669
3.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.68TND 28.11
$34.52₱2,129
-71.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.90TND 43.27
$26.51₱1,635
-43.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
Dasmarinas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.62TND 68.6
$11.66₱719
102.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.93TND 37.54
$4.47₱276
189.26%
Cinema Ticket
$4.44TND 12.88
$5.68₱350
-21.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kairouan
Dasmarinas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$108TND 314
$154₱9,497
-29.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,493TND 7,238
$4,656₱287.1K
-46.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
Dasmarinas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.09TND 70.0
$48.00₱2,960
-49.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.45TND 129
$27.21₱1,678
63.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$47.09TND 137
$74.9₱4,621
-37.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.1TND 192
$46.65₱2,876
41.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
Dasmarinas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$117TND 339
$264₱16.3K
-55.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$133TND 387
$85.4₱5,267
55.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$372TND 1,080
$576₱35.5K
-35.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$268TND 777
$388₱23.9K
-31.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$407₱25.1K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kairouan
Dasmarinas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$329TND 956
$357₱22.0K
-7.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.6
6.4
112.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kairouan: May 31, 2026
Last update for Dasmarinas: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $117 in Kairouan and $264 in Dasmarinas. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Dasmarinas pays 8% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $9.00 in Kairouan vs $13.00 in Dasmarinas. Groceries flip the comparison at $181 vs $174, with Dasmarinas cheaper for home cooking.
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
Kairouan vs Dasmarinas: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Kairouan and Dasmarinas?
Kairouan and Dasmarinas differ by about 5% in total monthly costs ($567 vs $542 including rent). Dasmarinas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Dasmarinas earns 8% 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 Kairouan and Dasmarinas?
Rent for a central apartment: $117 in Kairouan versus $264 in Dasmarinas. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Kairouan and Dasmarinas?
A monthly transit pass in Dasmarinas runs roughly 125% less than in Kairouan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kairouan and Dasmarinas?
Childcare runs $108 in Kairouan versus $154 in Dasmarinas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How far does $1,200 go in Kairouan vs Dasmarinas?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Dasmarinas 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 Kairouan and Dasmarinas?
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.
Is Kairouan or Dasmarinas safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kairouan and Dasmarinas are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Kairouan or Dasmarinas?
Expats usually find Dasmarinas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Kairouan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.