Cost of Living Comparison Between Kairouan and Lisbon Cost of Living Comparison Between Kairouan and Lisbon

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $562 per month in Kairouan vs $2,280 in Lisbon, rent included.

A couple spends around $869 per month in Kairouan vs $3,294 in Lisbon, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,176 per month in Kairouan vs $4,307 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 71% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kairouan
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.39 TND 7.01
$15.75 €13.64
-84.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.64 TND 25.36
$63.5 €55.0
-86.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.33 TND 9.77
$10.45 €9.05
-68.13%
Cappuccino
$0.77 TND 2.25
$2.91 €2.52
-73.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 TND 1.78
$2.29 €1.98
-73.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13 TND 0.38
$1.50 €1.30
-91.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.49 TND 4.38
$3.56 €3.09
-58.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 TND 5.60
$3.96 €3.43
-51.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.49 TND 1.45
$1.08 €0.94
-54.63%
White Bread (500g)
$0.08 TND 0.23
$1.76 €1.53
-95.45%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 TND 4.55
$1.70 €1.47
-8.82%
Eggs
$1.50 TND 4.39
$3.25 €2.81
-53.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.35 TND 33.31
$13.25 €11.47
-14.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.61 TND 16.47
$7.70 €6.67
-27.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 TND 35.03
$15.77 €13.66
-24.29%
Apples (1kg)
$2.18 TND 6.39
$2.28 €1.97
-4.39%
Banana (1kg)
$2.30 TND 6.76
$1.66 €1.43
38.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.00 TND 2.94
$2.02 €1.75
-50.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.74 TND 2.16
$2.47 €2.14
-70.04%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 TND 2.03
$1.79 €1.55
-61.45%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 TND 2.13
$2.07 €1.79
-64.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.49 TND 1.42
$1.97 €1.71
-75.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27 TND 0.80
$0.83 €0.72
-67.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.35 TND 9.84
$6.55 €5.68
-48.85%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.63 TND 19.47
$5.57 €4.82
19.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 TND 3.35
$1.33 €1.15
-14.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 TND 3.14
$3.01 €2.60
-64.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Kairouan
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 TND 0.97
$2.27 €1.97
-85.46%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.13 TND 29.74
$46.35 €40.14
-78.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 TND 0.92
$4.23 €3.66
-92.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 TND 0.98
$0.85 €0.73
-61.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.38 TND 21.66
$18.83 €16.31
-60.81%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 TND 2.31
$2.02 €1.75
-60.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3K TND 106.4K
$35.0K €30.3K
3.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K TND 101.2K
$39.6K €34.3K
-12.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.19 TND 136
$148 €128
-68.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.78 TND 28.71
$20.52 €17.77
-52.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.61 TND 42.88
$39.52 €34.23
-63.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.96 TND 70.3
$48.17 €41.72
-50.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.48 TND 36.61
$18.39 €15.92
-32.14%
Cinema Ticket
$4.63 TND 13.58
$9.10 €7.88
-49.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kairouan
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$107 TND 313
$615 €532
-82.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,475 TND 7,263
$16.3K €14.1K
-84.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.83 TND 69.9
$102 €88.0
-76.54%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.37 TND 130
$42.09 €36.45
5.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$47.47 TND 139
$92.3 €79.9
-48.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.8 TND 187
$122 €106
-47.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$115 TND 339
$1,612 €1,396
-92.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$134 TND 392
$1,254 €1,086
-89.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$373 TND 1,093
$3,069 €2,658
-87.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$274 TND 803
$2,037 €1,764
-86.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$968 TND 2,842
$7,751 €6,712
-87.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$568 TND 1,668
$4,286 €3,712
-86.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kairouan
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$326 TND 956
$1,602 €1,387
-79.66%
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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $115 in Kairouan versus $1,612 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 392% 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: $178 vs $267 – 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 in Lisbon compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $562 in Kairouan, $2,280 in Lisbon – roughly 306% 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 $842 per month in Kairouan and $3,420 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 in Lisbon?
Public transport costs about 358% 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 $615 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 $562, than in Lisbon at $2,280. 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 $562 in Kairouan to $2,280 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.

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