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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $562 per month in Kairouan vs $558 in Mataram, rent included.

A couple spends around $869 per month in Kairouan vs $861 in Mataram, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,176 per month in Kairouan vs $1,163 in Mataram, rent included.

Kairouan costs about 1% more than Mataram, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.39 TND 7.01
$1.11 Rp 20.1K
115.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.64 TND 25.36
$11.00 Rp 198.5K
-21.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.33 TND 9.77
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
46.05%
Cappuccino
$0.77 TND 2.25
$1.80 Rp 32.5K
-57.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 TND 1.78
$0.55 Rp 9,869
10.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13 TND 0.38
$0.36 Rp 6,535
-63.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.49 TND 4.38
$2.63 Rp 47.5K
-43.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 TND 5.60
$3.67 Rp 66.2K
-47.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.49 TND 1.45
$1.53 Rp 27.7K
-67.97%
White Bread (500g)
$0.08 TND 0.23
$1.61 Rp 29.1K
-95.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 TND 4.55
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
103.95%
Eggs
$1.50 TND 4.39
$1.37 Rp 24.8K
9.49%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.35 TND 33.31
$3.31 Rp 59.7K
242.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.61 TND 16.47
$3.59 Rp 64.8K
56.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 TND 35.03
$5.99 Rp 108.2K
99.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.18 TND 6.39
$1.72 Rp 31.0K
26.74%
Banana (1kg)
$2.30 TND 6.76
$1.22 Rp 22.0K
88.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.00 TND 2.94
$1.89 Rp 34.1K
-47.09%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.74 TND 2.16
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
-1.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 TND 2.03
$0.84 Rp 15.2K
-17.86%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 TND 2.13
$1.80 Rp 32.5K
-59.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.49 TND 1.42
$0.48 Rp 8,639
2.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27 TND 0.80
$0.32 Rp 5,695
-15.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.35 TND 9.84
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
88.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.63 TND 19.47
$15.33 Rp 276.7K
-56.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 TND 3.35
$2.36 Rp 42.6K
-51.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 TND 3.14
$3.58 Rp 64.6K
-70.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 TND 0.97
$0.63 Rp 11.5K
-47.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.13 TND 29.74
$18.41 Rp 332.4K
-44.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 TND 0.92
$0.51 Rp 9,185
-39.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 TND 0.98
$0.31 Rp 5,661
6.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.38 TND 21.66
$3.08 Rp 55.7K
139.61%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 TND 2.31
$0.69 Rp 12.4K
14.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3K TND 106.4K
$23.3K Rp 420.7M
55.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K TND 101.2K
$27.5K Rp 496.7M
25.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.19 TND 136
$50.4 Rp 909.6K
-8.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.78 TND 28.71
$4.32 Rp 78.1K
126.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.61 TND 42.88
$19.37 Rp 349.8K
-24.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.96 TND 70.3
$26.95 Rp 486.5K
-11.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.48 TND 36.61
$7.48 Rp 135.0K
66.84%
Cinema Ticket
$4.63 TND 13.58
$2.10 Rp 38.0K
120.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$107 TND 313
$91.5 Rp 1.7M
16.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,475 TND 7,263
$4,217 Rp 76.1M
-41.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.83 TND 69.9
$36.84 Rp 665.2K
-35.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.37 TND 130
$24.43 Rp 441.0K
81.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$47.47 TND 139
$61.5 Rp 1.1M
-22.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.8 TND 187
$40.48 Rp 730.8K
57.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$115 TND 339
$76.8 Rp 1.4M
50.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$134 TND 392
$128 Rp 2.3M
4.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$373 TND 1,093
$153 Rp 2.8M
142.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$274 TND 803
$259 Rp 4.7M
5.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$968 TND 2,842
$1,155 Rp 20.8M
-16.15%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$568 TND 1,668
$679 Rp 12.3M
-16.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$326 TND 956
$192 Rp 3.5M
69.59%
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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Mataram: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $115 in Kairouan versus $76.8 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 70% higher in Kairouan, 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 $11.00 in Mataram. Groceries tell a different story – $178 in Kairouan vs $174 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 in Mataram compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $562 in Kairouan, $558 in Mataram – roughly 1% apart. Kairouan 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 $842 per month in Kairouan and $836 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 Mataram, 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 Mataram?
Public transport costs about 82% less in Mataram. 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 $91.5 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 compared to Mataram?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $562 in Kairouan and $558 in Mataram, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Kairouan or Mataram?
Families tend to lean toward Mataram – 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 Mataram. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kairouan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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