🙂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 – Kairouan58% lower, Mataram57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.34TND 6.76
$1.05Rp 18.3K
122.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.65TND 24.99
$11.02Rp 190.9K
-21.51%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.32TND 9.60
$2.25Rp 39.0K
47.56%
Cappuccino
$0.71TND 2.05
$1.87Rp 32.4K
-62.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60TND 1.73
$0.55Rp 9,529
9.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14TND 0.41
$0.36Rp 6,243
-61.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.49TND 4.30
$2.63Rp 45.6K
-43.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92TND 5.56
$3.78Rp 65.6K
-49.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.45TND 1.29
$1.56Rp 27.0K
-71.15%
White Bread(500g)
$0.07TND 0.20
$1.68Rp 29.1K
-95.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.48TND 4.27
$0.83Rp 14.4K
78.31%
Eggs
$1.55TND 4.47
$1.36Rp 23.6K
13.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.47TND 33.14
$3.32Rp 57.5K
245.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.54TND 16.02
$3.53Rp 61.2K
56.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.75TND 33.95
$6.29Rp 109.1K
86.80%
Apples(1kg)
$2.21TND 6.39
$1.70Rp 29.5K
30.00%
Banana(1kg)
$2.24TND 6.47
$1.21Rp 21.0K
85.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.01TND 2.92
$1.86Rp 32.3K
-45.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74TND 2.14
$0.79Rp 13.7K
-6.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69TND 2.00
$0.79Rp 13.7K
-12.66%
Onion(1kg)
$0.78TND 2.24
$1.89Rp 32.8K
-58.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.48TND 1.38
$0.47Rp 8,180
2.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25TND 0.72
$0.31Rp 5,443
-19.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.46TND 9.99
$1.79Rp 31.1K
93.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.55TND 21.83
$16.27Rp 282.1K
-53.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14TND 3.30
$2.46Rp 42.6K
-53.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11TND 3.20
$3.80Rp 65.9K
-70.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32TND 0.93
$0.63Rp 10.9K
-49.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.24TND 29.59
$18.37Rp 318.5K
-44.26%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.31TND 0.90
$0.48Rp 8,285
-35.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33TND 0.96
$0.29Rp 5,024
13.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.62TND 22.01
$3.16Rp 54.7K
141.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76TND 2.19
$0.65Rp 11.2K
16.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3KTND 102.1K
$23.4KRp 405.9M
50.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0KTND 101.1K
$28.0KRp 485.3M
24.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.52TND 134
$50.2Rp 870.0K
-7.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.71TND 28.06
$4.39Rp 76.2K
121.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.99TND 43.32
$19.07Rp 330.6K
-21.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.44TND 67.7
$26.67Rp 462.3K
-12.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.84TND 37.11
$7.66Rp 132.7K
67.62%
Cinema Ticket
$4.66TND 13.46
$2.10Rp 36.3K
121.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$110TND 318
$90.8Rp 1.6M
21.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,464TND 7,120
$4,319Rp 74.9M
-42.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.79TND 68.8
$36.80Rp 637.8K
-35.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.78TND 127
$24.84Rp 430.6K
76.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$48.30TND 140
$61.1Rp 1.1M
-20.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.6TND 187
$40.16Rp 696.1K
60.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$116TND 335
$76.9Rp 1.3M
50.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$133TND 385
$128Rp 2.2M
3.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$377TND 1,089
$156Rp 2.7M
140.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$269TND 778
$265Rp 4.6M
1.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,199Rp 20.8M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$783Rp 13.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kairouan
Mataram
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$334TND 965
$202Rp 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.