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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $564 per month in Kairouan vs $577 in Mataram, rent included.

A couple spends around $893 per month in Kairouan vs $888 in Mataram, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,222 per month in Kairouan vs $1,200 in Mataram, rent included.

Kairouan is about 2% cheaper than Mataram, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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
$2.34 TND 6.76
$1.05 Rp 18.3K
122.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.65 TND 24.99
$11.02 Rp 190.9K
-21.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.32 TND 9.60
$2.25 Rp 39.0K
47.56%
Cappuccino
$0.71 TND 2.05
$1.87 Rp 32.4K
-62.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 TND 1.73
$0.55 Rp 9,529
9.09%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14 TND 0.41
$0.36 Rp 6,243
-61.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.49 TND 4.30
$2.63 Rp 45.6K
-43.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 TND 5.56
$3.78 Rp 65.6K
-49.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.45 TND 1.29
$1.56 Rp 27.0K
-71.15%
White Bread (500g)
$0.07 TND 0.20
$1.68 Rp 29.1K
-95.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 TND 4.27
$0.83 Rp 14.4K
78.31%
Eggs
$1.55 TND 4.47
$1.36 Rp 23.6K
13.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.47 TND 33.14
$3.32 Rp 57.5K
245.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.54 TND 16.02
$3.53 Rp 61.2K
56.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.75 TND 33.95
$6.29 Rp 109.1K
86.80%
Apples (1kg)
$2.21 TND 6.39
$1.70 Rp 29.5K
30.00%
Banana (1kg)
$2.24 TND 6.47
$1.21 Rp 21.0K
85.12%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.01 TND 2.92
$1.86 Rp 32.3K
-45.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.74 TND 2.14
$0.79 Rp 13.7K
-6.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 TND 2.00
$0.79 Rp 13.7K
-12.66%
Onion (1kg)
$0.78 TND 2.24
$1.89 Rp 32.8K
-58.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 TND 1.38
$0.47 Rp 8,180
2.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25 TND 0.72
$0.31 Rp 5,443
-19.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.46 TND 9.99
$1.79 Rp 31.1K
93.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.55 TND 21.83
$16.27 Rp 282.1K
-53.60%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 TND 3.30
$2.46 Rp 42.6K
-53.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 TND 3.20
$3.80 Rp 65.9K
-70.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 TND 0.93
$0.63 Rp 10.9K
-49.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.24 TND 29.59
$18.37 Rp 318.5K
-44.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 TND 0.90
$0.48 Rp 8,285
-35.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 TND 0.96
$0.29 Rp 5,024
13.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.62 TND 22.01
$3.16 Rp 54.7K
141.14%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 TND 2.19
$0.65 Rp 11.2K
16.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K TND 102.1K
$23.4K Rp 405.9M
50.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K TND 101.1K
$28.0K Rp 485.3M
24.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.52 TND 134
$50.2 Rp 870.0K
-7.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.71 TND 28.06
$4.39 Rp 76.2K
121.18%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.99 TND 43.32
$19.07 Rp 330.6K
-21.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.44 TND 67.7
$26.67 Rp 462.3K
-12.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.84 TND 37.11
$7.66 Rp 132.7K
67.62%
Cinema Ticket
$4.66 TND 13.46
$2.10 Rp 36.3K
121.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$110 TND 318
$90.8 Rp 1.6M
21.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,464 TND 7,120
$4,319 Rp 74.9M
-42.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.79 TND 68.8
$36.80 Rp 637.8K
-35.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.78 TND 127
$24.84 Rp 430.6K
76.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$48.30 TND 140
$61.1 Rp 1.1M
-20.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.6 TND 187
$40.16 Rp 696.1K
60.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$116 TND 335
$76.9 Rp 1.3M
50.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$133 TND 385
$128 Rp 2.2M
3.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$377 TND 1,089
$156 Rp 2.7M
140.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$269 TND 778
$265 Rp 4.6M
1.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,199 Rp 20.8M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$783 Rp 13.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$334 TND 965
$202 Rp 3.5M
64.85%
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Mataram: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $116 in Kairouan versus $76.9 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 65% 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. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $178 vs $179 – 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 Mataram: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kairouan and Mataram compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $564 in Kairouan, $577 in Mataram – roughly 2% apart. Mataram costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kairouan compared to Mataram?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $846 per month in Kairouan and $865 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 79% 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 $110 per month in Kairouan and $90.8 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 $564 in Kairouan and $577 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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