Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kairouan and Phuket

For one person, living is cheaper in Kairouan: $613 a month against $1,208 in Phuket, rent and utilities included – about $7,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kairouan
🇹🇳 Tunisia
$613
/mo nomad
Phuket
🇹🇭 Thailand
$1,208
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kairouan and in Phuket

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Kairouan and in Phuket actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $613 per month in Kairouan vs $1,208 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Kairouan $613
  • Phuket $1,208

A couple spends around $965 per month in Kairouan vs $2,027 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Kairouan $965
  • Phuket $2,027

A family of three spends $1,316 per month in Kairouan vs $2,845 in Phuket, rent included.

  • Kairouan $1,316
  • Phuket $2,845

Kairouan is about 49% cheaper than Phuket, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Kairouan and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Kairouan 55% lower, Phuket 11% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kairouan
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.65 TND 7.93
$4.40 ฿147
-39.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.21 TND 48.56
$32.26 ฿1,078
-49.75%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.15 TND 18.42
$8.76 ฿293
-29.79%
Cappuccino
$0.96 TND 2.87
$2.83 ฿94.5
-66.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 TND 2.53
$0.90 ฿30.14
-6.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 TND 1.12
$0.47 ฿15.56
-21.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.64 TND 4.91
$2.55 ฿85.2
-35.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 TND 7.87
$3.83 ฿128
-31.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
Phuket
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.46 TND 1.37
$1.73 ฿57.7
-73.41%
White Bread (500g)
$0.08 TND 0.24
$1.47 ฿49.11
-94.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.71 TND 5.11
$1.51 ฿50.6
13.25%
Eggs
$1.50 TND 4.49
$2.17 ฿72.7
-30.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.90 TND 29.64
$19.70 ฿658
-49.75%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.65 TND 16.92
$3.34 ฿112
69.16%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.68 TND 34.97
$11.16 ฿373
4.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.19 TND 6.55
$2.85 ฿95.1
-23.16%
Banana (1kg)
$2.20 TND 6.58
$1.70 ฿56.9
29.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.17 TND 3.49
$2.19 ฿73.3
-46.58%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.76 TND 2.27
$2.05 ฿68.4
-62.93%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 TND 2.10
$1.45 ฿48.57
-51.72%
Onion (1kg)
$0.66 TND 1.97
$1.38 ฿46.16
-52.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.50 TND 1.48
$1.07 ฿35.69
-53.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.24 TND 0.71
$0.51 ฿16.91
-52.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.33 TND 9.96
$4.26 ฿142
-21.83%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.78 TND 20.30
$18.58 ฿621
-63.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 TND 3.73
$1.78 ฿59.7
-29.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 TND 4.39
$2.85 ฿95.2
-48.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Kairouan
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.34 TND 1.02
$2.26 ฿75.6
-84.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.10 TND 33.26
$22.10 ฿738
-49.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.29 TND 0.86
$3.01 ฿101
-90.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 TND 0.86
$1.06 ฿35.34
-72.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.82 TND 5.46
$3.86 ฿129
-52.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.73 TND 2.18
$1.45 ฿48.45
-49.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.8K TND 116.3K
$26.3K ฿879.9K
47.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2K TND 108.6K
$26.9K ฿900.4K
34.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$60.7 TND 182
$96.4 ฿3,221
-37.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.89 TND 26.63
$11.04 ฿369
-19.47%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.10 TND 60.2
$17.14 ฿573
17.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.26 TND 69.7
$52.2 ฿1,744
-55.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.84 TND 38.45
$11.16 ฿373
15.05%
Cinema Ticket
$4.77 TND 14.28
$7.81 ฿261
-38.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kairouan
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$108 TND 322
$556 ฿18.6K
-80.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,227 TND 9,666
$11.6K ฿387.0K
-72.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
Phuket
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.82 TND 71.4
$64.2 ฿2,146
-62.90%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.5 TND 184
$28.69 ฿959
114.50%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$46.99 TND 141
$95.4 ฿3,187
-50.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.4 TND 250
$88.0 ฿2,940
-5.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$118 TND 354
$737 ฿24.6K
-83.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$135 TND 404
$462 ฿15.5K
-70.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$376 TND 1,126
$2,095 ฿70.0K
-82.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$271 TND 813
$1,201 ฿40.1K
-77.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$890 TND 2,665
$3,488 ฿116.6K
-74.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$601 TND 1,800
$2,523 ฿84.3K
-76.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kairouan
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$325 TND 972
$501 ฿16.7K
-35.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.65
5.57
91.20%

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

Last update for Kairouan: October 20, 2026

Last update for Phuket: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
$175
Phuket
$269 53.8% $94
Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
$135
Phuket
$462 243% $327
Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
$97
Phuket
$124 28% $27
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
$90
Phuket
$125 38.9% $35
Eating Out
Kairouan
$69
Phuket
$121 74.6% $52
Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
$33
Phuket
$68 107% $35
Getting Around
Kairouan
$14
Phuket
$39 178% $25

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $118 in Kairouan versus $737 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 54% 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 $16.00 in Kairouan versus $32.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $175 vs $269 – making Kairouan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇳 Kairouan
🇹🇭 Phuket
🕒 Local time
01:39 1:39 AM
07:39 7:39 AM
6 h ahead of Kairouan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
139,070
79,308
💱 Currency
Thai Baht THB ฿
Exchange rates and currency converter

THB, USD, EUR to TND – Tunisian Dinar Converter

Tunisian Dinar exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 2.99 TND (1 TND = 0.334 USD). 1 EUR = 3.37 TND (1 TND = 0.297 EUR).

Thai Baht exchange rates as of October 23, 2026: 1 USD = 33.42 THB (100 THB = 2.99 USD). 1 EUR = 37.57 THB (100 THB = 2.66 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kairouan Phuket 9,340 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kairouan
  • Phuket

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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: $613 in Kairouan, $1,208 in Phuket – roughly 97% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Kairouan compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $919 per month in Kairouan and $1,813 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 99% 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 $108 per month in Kairouan and $556 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 $613, than in Phuket at $1,208. 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 $613 in Kairouan to $1,208 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.

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