🙂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 – Kairouan58% lower, Mataram57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.31TND 6.73
$1.06Rp 19.1K
117.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.61TND 25.12
$11.01Rp 197.3K
-21.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.49TND 10.18
$2.35Rp 42.2K
48.51%
Cappuccino
$0.76TND 2.22
$1.87Rp 33.5K
-59.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65TND 1.88
$0.54Rp 9,705
20.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16TND 0.45
$0.36Rp 6,486
-55.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.55TND 4.52
$2.54Rp 45.4K
-38.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90TND 5.54
$3.77Rp 67.5K
-49.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.49TND 1.43
$1.54Rp 27.6K
-68.18%
White Bread(500g)
$0.07TND 0.20
$1.67Rp 30.0K
-95.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.51TND 4.39
$0.83Rp 14.9K
81.93%
Eggs
$1.56TND 4.55
$1.43Rp 25.5K
9.09%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.33TND 33.06
$3.19Rp 57.2K
255.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.61TND 16.35
$3.59Rp 64.2K
56.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.88TND 34.65
$6.10Rp 109.3K
94.75%
Apples(1kg)
$2.17TND 6.33
$1.64Rp 29.4K
32.32%
Banana(1kg)
$2.31TND 6.74
$1.26Rp 22.7K
83.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.06TND 3.08
$1.85Rp 33.2K
-42.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.68TND 1.99
$0.75Rp 13.4K
-9.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.66TND 1.93
$0.84Rp 15.0K
-21.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.76TND 2.21
$1.88Rp 33.7K
-59.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.48TND 1.41
$0.48Rp 8,621
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25TND 0.73
$0.34Rp 6,097
-26.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.46TND 10.08
$1.80Rp 32.2K
92.22%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.69TND 22.44
$15.23Rp 272.9K
-49.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10TND 3.22
$2.39Rp 42.8K
-53.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10TND 3.21
$3.80Rp 68.1K
-71.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.33TND 0.96
$0.64Rp 11.4K
-48.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.14TND 29.58
$18.26Rp 327.2K
-44.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.31TND 0.91
$0.51Rp 9,057
-39.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31TND 0.90
$0.29Rp 5,136
6.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.54TND 22.00
$2.99Rp 53.5K
152.17%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81TND 2.36
$0.64Rp 11.5K
26.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7KTND 104.2K
$23.2KRp 415.3M
54.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0KTND 102.2K
$27.1KRp 486.3M
29.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.74TND 131
$50.4Rp 902.3K
-11.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.56TND 27.88
$4.25Rp 76.2K
124.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.54TND 42.41
$19.16Rp 343.3K
-24.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$24.12TND 70.4
$26.28Rp 470.9K
-8.22%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.59TND 36.72
$7.75Rp 138.9K
62.45%
Cinema Ticket
$4.65TND 13.57
$2.19Rp 39.2K
112.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$107TND 313
$90.9Rp 1.6M
18.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,445TND 7,132
$4,244Rp 76.0M
-42.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.49TND 68.5
$37.49Rp 671.7K
-37.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.61TND 130
$24.39Rp 437.0K
82.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$48.02TND 140
$61.0Rp 1.1M
-21.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.1TND 193
$40.32Rp 722.3K
63.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$117TND 342
$77.1Rp 1.4M
52.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$133TND 388
$127Rp 2.3M
4.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$376TND 1,096
$156Rp 2.8M
141.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$274TND 800
$257Rp 4.6M
6.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,135Rp 20.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$700Rp 12.5M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$339TND 988
$197Rp 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.