😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $608 in Kairouan versus $502 in Dasmarinas.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $956 in Kairouan versus $750 in Dasmarinas.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,305 in Kairouan versus $998 in Dasmarinas.
🌍Living in Kairouan is roughly 21% more expensive than in Dasmarinas, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kairouan56% lower, Dasmarinas63% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kairouan
Dasmarinas
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.74TND 7.92
$4.10₱257
-33.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.55TND 47.84
$16.57₱1,037
-0.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.30TND 15.32
$2.76₱173
92.03%
Cappuccino
$0.79TND 2.29
$1.78₱111
-55.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66TND 1.90
$0.59₱37.08
11.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26TND 0.75
$0.31₱19.38
-16.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67TND 4.83
$1.01₱63.4
65.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03TND 5.86
$1.57₱98.2
29.30%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
Dasmarinas
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.49TND 1.42
$1.40₱87.4
-65.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.08TND 0.22
$1.11₱69.6
-92.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38TND 4.00
$0.70₱43.81
97.14%
Eggs
$1.57TND 4.54
$1.82₱114
-13.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.92TND 37.36
$5.01₱313
157.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.85TND 16.90
$3.46₱216
69.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.26TND 35.45
$4.68₱293
161.97%
Apples(1kg)
$1.89TND 5.46
$2.23₱140
-15.25%
Banana(1kg)
$2.29TND 6.63
$1.60₱100
43.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.06TND 3.07
$2.44₱153
-56.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.76TND 2.20
$1.05₱65.7
-27.62%
Potato(1kg)
$0.72TND 2.08
$1.70₱106
-57.65%
Onion(1kg)
$0.79TND 2.29
$1.75₱110
-54.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.55TND 1.59
$0.62₱38.65
-11.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27TND 0.78
$0.50₱31.20
-46.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.35TND 9.69
$2.92₱183
14.73%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.99TND 20.22
$9.07₱568
-22.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20TND 3.48
$0.90₱56.4
33.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08TND 3.12
$2.01₱126
-46.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Kairouan
Dasmarinas
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35TND 1.01
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.36TND 29.96
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.30TND 0.86
$0.79₱49.39
-62.03%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35TND 1.02
$0.25₱15.69
40.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.44TND 21.51
$1.89₱118
293.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82TND 2.38
$0.98₱61.2
-16.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.7KTND 117.7K
$21.7K₱1.4M
87.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.4KTND 108.3K
$19.7K₱1.2M
90.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
Dasmarinas
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$45.77TND 132
$48.99₱3,067
-6.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.04TND 29.04
$17.37₱1,087
-42.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.31TND 44.28
$23.85₱1,493
-35.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
Dasmarinas
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.75TND 68.7
$33.47₱2,095
-29.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.15TND 40.92
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.57TND 13.22
$5.10₱320
-10.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kairouan
Dasmarinas
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$112TND 324
$136₱8,490
-17.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,517TND 7,277
$10.8K₱677.1K
-76.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
Dasmarinas
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.76TND 68.7
$28.71₱1,797
-17.24%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.13TND 130
$19.82₱1,241
127.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$47.92TND 139
$71.5₱4,478
-33.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.3TND 189
$55.4₱3,470
17.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
Dasmarinas
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$117TND 339
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$159TND 459
$48.46₱3,034
227.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$390TND 1,127
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$284TND 821
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$976TND 2,822
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$634TND 1,832
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kairouan
Dasmarinas
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$339TND 981
$357₱22.4K
-5.12%
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: August 31, 2026
Last update for Dasmarinas: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
💰Dasmarinas pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $17.00 in Kairouan vs $17.00 in Dasmarinas. Groceries flip the comparison at $185 vs $161, 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 in Dasmarinas?
Kairouan and Dasmarinas differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($608 vs $502 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, salaries run 5% lower in Dasmarinas. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kairouan and Dasmarinas?
Childcare runs $112 in Kairouan versus $136 in Dasmarinas. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Dasmarinas – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $17.00 in Kairouan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How far does $1,200 go in Kairouan compared to 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 21% less than in Kairouan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.