Cost of Living Comparison Between Kairouan and Phuket Cost of Living Comparison Between Kairouan and Phuket

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $608 per month in Kairouan vs $1,253 in Phuket, rent included.

A couple spends around $956 per month in Kairouan vs $2,043 in Phuket, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,305 per month in Kairouan vs $2,833 in Phuket, rent included.

Kairouan is about 52% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kairouan and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Kairouan 56% lower, Phuket 9% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kairouan
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.74 TND 7.92
$4.56 ฿150
-39.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.55 TND 47.84
$32.62 ฿1,073
-49.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.30 TND 15.32
$8.90 ฿293
-40.45%
Cappuccino
$0.79 TND 2.29
$2.80 ฿92.3
-71.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 TND 1.90
$0.88 ฿28.96
-25.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 TND 0.75
$0.49 ฿16.09
-46.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 TND 4.83
$2.39 ฿78.6
-30.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 TND 5.86
$3.71 ฿122
-45.28%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.49 TND 1.42
$1.79 ฿58.8
-72.63%
White Bread (500g)
$0.08 TND 0.22
$1.44 ฿47.43
-94.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 TND 4.00
$1.58 ฿52.1
-12.66%
Eggs
$1.57 TND 4.54
$2.13 ฿70.0
-26.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.92 TND 37.36
$19.92 ฿655
-35.14%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.85 TND 16.90
$3.43 ฿113
70.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.26 TND 35.45
$11.33 ฿373
8.21%
Apples (1kg)
$1.89 TND 5.46
$2.95 ฿97.0
-35.93%
Banana (1kg)
$2.29 TND 6.63
$1.72 ฿56.6
33.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.06 TND 3.07
$2.32 ฿76.5
-54.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.76 TND 2.20
$2.08 ฿68.5
-63.46%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 TND 2.08
$1.47 ฿48.37
-51.02%
Onion (1kg)
$0.79 TND 2.29
$1.36 ฿44.68
-41.91%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.55 TND 1.59
$1.10 ฿36.15
-50.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27 TND 0.78
$0.57 ฿18.90
-52.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.35 TND 9.69
$4.27 ฿140
-21.55%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.99 TND 20.22
$18.42 ฿606
-62.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20 TND 3.48
$1.87 ฿61.6
-35.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 TND 3.12
$2.92 ฿96.1
-63.01%
🚌 Getting Around
Kairouan
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 TND 1.01
$2.22 ฿73.0
-84.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.36 TND 29.96
$22.90 ฿753
-54.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.30 TND 0.86
$3.03 ฿99.7
-90.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 TND 1.02
$1.07 ฿35.34
-67.29%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.44 TND 21.51
$3.93 ฿129
89.31%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 TND 2.38
$1.49 ฿49.09
-44.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.7K TND 117.7K
$27.1K ฿892.5K
50.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.4K TND 108.3K
$27.5K ฿903.2K
36.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$45.77 TND 132
$103 ฿3,382
-55.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.04 TND 29.04
$10.99 ฿362
-8.64%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.31 TND 44.28
$17.51 ฿576
-12.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.75 TND 68.7
$53.5 ฿1,761
-55.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.15 TND 40.92
$11.20 ฿368
26.34%
Cinema Ticket
$4.57 TND 13.22
$7.48 ฿246
-38.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kairouan
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$112 TND 324
$557 ฿18.3K
-79.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,517 TND 7,277
$11.9K ฿390.0K
-78.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.76 TND 68.7
$64.1 ฿2,108
-62.92%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.13 TND 130
$29.07 ฿957
55.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$47.92 TND 139
$96.0 ฿3,157
-50.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.3 TND 189
$90.3 ฿2,972
-27.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$117 TND 339
$730 ฿24.0K
-83.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$159 TND 459
$500 ฿16.4K
-68.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$390 TND 1,127
$2,090 ฿68.8K
-81.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$284 TND 821
$1,209 ฿39.8K
-76.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$976 TND 2,822
$3,596 ฿118.3K
-72.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$634 TND 1,832
$2,512 ฿82.7K
-74.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kairouan
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$339 TND 981
$503 ฿16.6K
-32.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.6
5.57
144.17%

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

Last update for Kairouan: August 31, 2026

Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $117 in Kairouan versus $730 in Phuket. 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 48% higher in Phuket, 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 $17.00 in Kairouan versus $33.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $273 – 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 Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kairouan and in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $608 in Kairouan, $1,253 in Phuket – roughly 106% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kairouan compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $911 per month in Kairouan and $1,880 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kairouan and Phuket?
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 in Phuket?
Public transport costs about 121% 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 Phuket?
Kindergarten costs $112 per month in Kairouan and $557 in Phuket. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kairouan, where all-in costs run around $608, than in Phuket at $1,253. In Kairouan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Kairouan and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $608 in Kairouan to $1,253 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Kairouan or Phuket 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 Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Kairouan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Kairouan vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities