Cost of Living Comparison Between Kairouan and Mataram Cost of Living Comparison Between Kairouan and Mataram

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $565 per month in Kairouan vs $578 in Mataram, rent included.

A couple spends around $885 per month in Kairouan vs $867 in Mataram, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,205 per month in Kairouan vs $1,157 in Mataram, rent included.

Kairouan is about 2% cheaper than Mataram, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Kairouan and Mataram are more affordable than the global median – Kairouan 58% lower, Mataram 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.31 TND 6.73
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
117.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.61 TND 25.12
$11.01 Rp 197.3K
-21.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.49 TND 10.18
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
48.51%
Cappuccino
$0.76 TND 2.22
$1.87 Rp 33.5K
-59.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 TND 1.88
$0.54 Rp 9,705
20.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 TND 0.45
$0.36 Rp 6,486
-55.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.55 TND 4.52
$2.54 Rp 45.4K
-38.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 TND 5.54
$3.77 Rp 67.5K
-49.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.49 TND 1.43
$1.54 Rp 27.6K
-68.18%
White Bread (500g)
$0.07 TND 0.20
$1.67 Rp 30.0K
-95.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 TND 4.39
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
81.93%
Eggs
$1.56 TND 4.55
$1.43 Rp 25.5K
9.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.33 TND 33.06
$3.19 Rp 57.2K
255.17%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.61 TND 16.35
$3.59 Rp 64.2K
56.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.88 TND 34.65
$6.10 Rp 109.3K
94.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 TND 6.33
$1.64 Rp 29.4K
32.32%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 TND 6.74
$1.26 Rp 22.7K
83.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.06 TND 3.08
$1.85 Rp 33.2K
-42.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.68 TND 1.99
$0.75 Rp 13.4K
-9.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 TND 1.93
$0.84 Rp 15.0K
-21.43%
Onion (1kg)
$0.76 TND 2.21
$1.88 Rp 33.7K
-59.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 TND 1.41
$0.48 Rp 8,621
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25 TND 0.73
$0.34 Rp 6,097
-26.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.46 TND 10.08
$1.80 Rp 32.2K
92.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.69 TND 22.44
$15.23 Rp 272.9K
-49.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 TND 3.22
$2.39 Rp 42.8K
-53.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 TND 3.21
$3.80 Rp 68.1K
-71.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 TND 0.96
$0.64 Rp 11.4K
-48.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.14 TND 29.58
$18.26 Rp 327.2K
-44.47%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 TND 0.91
$0.51 Rp 9,057
-39.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 TND 0.90
$0.29 Rp 5,136
6.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.54 TND 22.00
$2.99 Rp 53.5K
152.17%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 TND 2.36
$0.64 Rp 11.5K
26.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7K TND 104.2K
$23.2K Rp 415.3M
54.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K TND 102.2K
$27.1K Rp 486.3M
29.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.74 TND 131
$50.4 Rp 902.3K
-11.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.56 TND 27.88
$4.25 Rp 76.2K
124.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.54 TND 42.41
$19.16 Rp 343.3K
-24.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.12 TND 70.4
$26.28 Rp 470.9K
-8.22%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.59 TND 36.72
$7.75 Rp 138.9K
62.45%
Cinema Ticket
$4.65 TND 13.57
$2.19 Rp 39.2K
112.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$107 TND 313
$90.9 Rp 1.6M
18.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,445 TND 7,132
$4,244 Rp 76.0M
-42.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.49 TND 68.5
$37.49 Rp 671.7K
-37.34%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.61 TND 130
$24.39 Rp 437.0K
82.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$48.02 TND 140
$61.0 Rp 1.1M
-21.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.1 TND 193
$40.32 Rp 722.3K
63.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$117 TND 342
$77.1 Rp 1.4M
52.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$133 TND 388
$127 Rp 2.3M
4.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$376 TND 1,096
$156 Rp 2.8M
141.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$274 TND 800
$257 Rp 4.6M
6.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,135 Rp 20.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$700 Rp 12.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$339 TND 988
$197 Rp 3.5M
72.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.6
9
51.11%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Kairouan: June 8, 2026

Last update for Mataram: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $117 in Kairouan versus $77.1 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 72% 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 $9.00 in Kairouan versus $11.00 in Mataram. Groceries tell a different story – $179 in Kairouan vs $176 in Mataram – so Mataram 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 Mataram compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $565 in Kairouan, $578 in Mataram – roughly 2% apart. Mataram costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kairouan compared to Mataram?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $848 per month in Kairouan and $867 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.
How do commuting costs compare in Kairouan and Mataram?
Public transport costs about 80% 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 Mataram?
Kindergarten costs $107 per month in Kairouan and $90.9 in Mataram. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How far does $1,200 go in Kairouan vs Mataram?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $565 in Kairouan and $578 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.

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