🙂A single person spends $565 per month in Kairouan vs $2,263 in Lisbon, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $885 per month in Kairouan vs $3,315 in Lisbon, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,205 per month in Kairouan vs $4,368 in Lisbon, rent included.
🙂Kairouan is about 75% cheaper than Lisbon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Kairouan sits 58% below the global median, while Lisbon is 68% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kairouan
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.31TND 6.73
$15.94€13.73
-85.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.61TND 25.12
$63.4€54.6
-86.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.49TND 10.18
$10.38€8.95
-66.38%
Cappuccino
$0.76TND 2.22
$2.79€2.40
-72.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65TND 1.88
$2.34€2.01
-72.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16TND 0.45
$1.57€1.35
-89.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.55TND 4.52
$3.43€2.95
-54.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90TND 5.54
$3.91€3.37
-51.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.49TND 1.43
$1.08€0.93
-54.63%
White Bread(500g)
$0.07TND 0.20
$1.77€1.52
-96.05%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51TND 4.39
$1.71€1.47
-11.70%
Eggs
$1.56TND 4.55
$3.15€2.71
-50.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.33TND 33.06
$13.68€11.79
-17.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.61TND 16.35
$8.01€6.90
-29.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.88TND 34.65
$15.52€13.37
-23.45%
Apples(1kg)
$2.17TND 6.33
$2.29€1.98
-5.24%
Banana(1kg)
$2.31TND 6.74
$1.64€1.41
40.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.06TND 3.08
$1.94€1.67
-45.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.68TND 1.99
$2.51€2.17
-72.91%
Potato(1kg)
$0.66TND 1.93
$1.79€1.54
-63.13%
Onion(1kg)
$0.76TND 2.21
$2.01€1.73
-62.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.48TND 1.41
$1.97€1.69
-75.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25TND 0.73
$0.84€0.73
-70.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.46TND 10.08
$6.79€5.85
-49.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69TND 22.44
$5.67€4.89
35.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10TND 3.22
$1.39€1.20
-20.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10TND 3.21
$3.02€2.60
-63.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Kairouan
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.33TND 0.96
$2.27€1.95
-85.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.14TND 29.58
$45.44€39.15
-77.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.31TND 0.91
$4.29€3.70
-92.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31TND 0.90
$0.85€0.73
-63.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.54TND 22.00
$18.28€15.75
-58.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81TND 2.36
$1.99€1.71
-59.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7KTND 104.2K
$35.0K€30.2K
1.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0KTND 102.2K
$39.5K€34.1K
-11.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.74TND 131
$146€126
-69.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.56TND 27.88
$20.45€17.62
-53.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.54TND 42.41
$38.98€33.58
-62.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.12TND 70.4
$48.98€42.21
-50.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.59TND 36.72
$18.83€16.22
-33.14%
Cinema Ticket
$4.65TND 13.57
$9.52€8.21
-51.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kairouan
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$107TND 313
$608€524
-82.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,445TND 7,132
$16.5K€14.2K
-85.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.49TND 68.5
$104€89.5
-77.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.61TND 130
$42.12€36.29
5.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$48.02TND 140
$92.2€79.5
-47.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.1TND 193
$120€103
-44.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$117TND 342
$1,621€1,397
-92.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$133TND 388
$1,268€1,092
-89.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$376TND 1,096
$3,048€2,626
-87.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$274TND 800
$2,009€1,731
-86.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$7,663€6,602
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$4,329€3,730
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kairouan
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$339TND 988
$1,585€1,366
-78.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.6
3.81
256.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kairouan: June 8, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $117 in Kairouan versus $1,621 in Lisbon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 368% higher in Lisbon, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Kairouan versus $63.0 in Lisbon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $269 – making Kairouan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kairouan and Lisbon compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $565 in Kairouan, $2,263 in Lisbon – roughly 300% apart. Lisbon costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kairouan compared to Lisbon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $848 per month in Kairouan and $3,394 in Lisbon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kairouan and Lisbon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kairouan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Kairouan and Lisbon?
Public transport costs about 348% less in Kairouan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Kairouan and Lisbon?
Kindergarten costs $107 per month in Kairouan and $608 in Lisbon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kairouan, where all-in costs run around $565, than in Lisbon at $2,263. In Kairouan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Lisbon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Kairouan and Lisbon?
It depends on your priorities. Lisbon has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $565 in Kairouan to $2,263 in Lisbon. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Kairouan or Lisbon safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Kairouan and Lisbon?
If budget matters most, go with Kairouan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Lisbon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.