🙂A single person spends $594 per month in Kairouan vs $611 in Mataram, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $944 per month in Kairouan vs $985 in Mataram, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,294 per month in Kairouan vs $1,360 in Mataram, rent included.
🙂Kairouan is about 3% cheaper than Mataram, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Kairouan and Mataram are more affordable than the global median – Kairouan57% lower, Mataram55% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.68TND 7.76
$0.95Rp 16.9K
182.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.29TND 47.25
$9.19Rp 162.8K
77.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.01TND 14.53
$3.31Rp 58.6K
51.36%
Cappuccino
$0.72TND 2.08
$1.58Rp 28.0K
-54.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60TND 1.75
$0.42Rp 7,461
42.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28TND 0.81
$0.33Rp 5,866
-15.15%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.65TND 4.80
$2.67Rp 47.3K
-38.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03TND 5.90
$3.38Rp 59.8K
-39.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.46TND 1.33
$1.35Rp 24.0K
-65.93%
White Bread(500g)
$0.08TND 0.24
$1.56Rp 27.7K
-94.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38TND 4.02
$0.84Rp 14.8K
64.29%
Eggs
$1.58TND 4.59
$1.51Rp 26.8K
4.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.75TND 36.99
$7.95Rp 140.8K
60.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.70TND 16.53
$3.05Rp 54.0K
86.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.12TND 35.16
$8.01Rp 141.8K
51.31%
Apples(1kg)
$1.81TND 5.25
$2.09Rp 37.0K
-13.40%
Banana(1kg)
$2.24TND 6.50
$1.35Rp 23.9K
65.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.11TND 3.22
$1.77Rp 31.4K
-37.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.76TND 2.21
$1.25Rp 22.1K
-39.20%
Potato(1kg)
$0.67TND 1.94
$1.32Rp 23.4K
-49.24%
Onion(1kg)
$0.79TND 2.28
$1.70Rp 30.1K
-53.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.56TND 1.61
$0.77Rp 13.6K
-27.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27TND 0.79
$0.42Rp 7,385
-35.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.35TND 9.71
$2.67Rp 47.2K
25.47%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.94TND 20.14
$20.74Rp 367.2K
-66.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15TND 3.34
$1.91Rp 33.8K
-39.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11TND 3.22
$2.70Rp 47.7K
-58.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.33TND 0.95
$0.32Rp 5,673
3.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.27TND 29.78
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.32TND 0.94
$0.49Rp 8,601
-34.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33TND 0.95
$0.33Rp 5,886
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.57TND 21.94
$3.13Rp 55.3K
141.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81TND 2.35
$0.62Rp 11.0K
30.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.6KTND 108.9K
$22.6KRp 400.1M
66.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.4KTND 105.5K
$35.7KRp 632.0M
1.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.09TND 134
$75.6Rp 1.3M
-39.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.69TND 28.11
$4.06Rp 71.9K
138.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.15TND 43.93
$19.22Rp 340.4K
-21.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.20TND 70.2
$20.32Rp 359.8K
19.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.18TND 41.13
$7.23Rp 128.1K
96.13%
Cinema Ticket
$4.57TND 13.25
$2.90Rp 51.4K
57.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$98.4TND 285
$106Rp 1.9M
-7.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,464TND 7,148
$8,960Rp 158.7M
-72.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.04TND 69.7
$46.12Rp 816.6K
-47.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.01TND 107
$29.40Rp 520.6K
25.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$47.89TND 139
$72.7Rp 1.3M
-34.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.8TND 200
$73.1Rp 1.3M
-5.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$118TND 343
$231Rp 4.1M
-48.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$158TND 459
$137Rp 2.4M
15.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$371TND 1,076
$641Rp 11.3M
-42.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$274TND 794
$371Rp 6.6M
-26.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$978TND 2,836
$1,312Rp 23.2M
-25.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$632TND 1,832
$668Rp 11.8M
-5.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$337TND 977
$227Rp 4.0M
48.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.6
9.46
43.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kairouan: September 14, 2026
Last update for Mataram: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $118 in Kairouan versus $231 in Mataram. 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 49% higher in Kairouan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Kairouan versus $9.00 in Mataram. Groceries tell a different story – $182 in Kairouan vs $205 in Mataram – so Kairouan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Mataram: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kairouan and in Mataram compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $594 in Kairouan, $611 in Mataram – roughly 3% apart. Mataram costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kairouan compared to Mataram?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $891 per month in Kairouan and $916 in Mataram. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kairouan and Mataram?
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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Kairouan and $9.00 in Mataram. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 13% more in Mataram, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How far does $1,200 go in Kairouan compared to Mataram?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $594 in Kairouan and $611 in Mataram, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Kairouan or Mataram?
Families tend to lean toward Kairouan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Kairouan or Mataram 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 Mataram?
If budget matters most, go with Kairouan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mataram makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.