Cost of Living Comparison Between Kairouan and Sfax Cost of Living Comparison Between Kairouan and Sfax

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $562 per month in Kairouan vs $621 in Sfax, rent included.

A couple spends around $869 per month in Kairouan vs $996 in Sfax, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,176 per month in Kairouan vs $1,372 in Sfax, rent included.

Kairouan is about 10% cheaper than Sfax, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kairouan and Sfax are more affordable than the global median – Kairouan 58% lower, Sfax 53% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.39 TND 7.01
$3.33 TND 9.77
-28.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.64 TND 25.36
$20.31 TND 59.6
-57.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.33 TND 9.77
$3.49 TND 10.24
-4.58%
Cappuccino
$0.77 TND 2.25
$0.71 TND 2.07
8.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 TND 1.78
$0.63 TND 1.85
-3.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13 TND 0.38
$0.23 TND 0.67
-43.48%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.49 TND 4.38
$1.55 TND 4.55
-3.87%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91 TND 5.60
$2.01 TND 5.89
-4.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.49 TND 1.45
$0.51 TND 1.48
-3.92%
White Bread (500g)
$0.08 TND 0.23
$0.18 TND 0.52
-55.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 TND 4.55
$1.54 TND 4.53
0.65%
Eggs
$1.50 TND 4.39
$1.66 TND 4.86
-9.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.35 TND 33.31
$11.23 TND 32.94
1.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.61 TND 16.47
$5.61 TND 16.45
-
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.94 TND 35.03
$13.41 TND 39.36
-10.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.18 TND 6.39
$2.22 TND 6.52
-1.80%
Banana (1kg)
$2.30 TND 6.76
$2.97 TND 8.73
-22.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.00 TND 2.94
$1.06 TND 3.10
-5.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.74 TND 2.16
$0.74 TND 2.18
-
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 TND 2.03
$0.79 TND 2.31
-12.66%
Onion (1kg)
$0.73 TND 2.13
$0.70 TND 2.07
4.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.49 TND 1.42
$0.52 TND 1.53
-5.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27 TND 0.80
$0.34 TND 0.98
-20.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.35 TND 9.84
$3.65 TND 10.72
-8.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.63 TND 19.47
$6.94 TND 20.35
-4.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 TND 3.35
$1.14 TND 3.35
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.07 TND 3.14
$1.10 TND 3.22
-2.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 TND 0.97
$0.20 TND 0.58
65.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.13 TND 29.74
$10.26 TND 30.11
-1.27%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 TND 0.92
$0.30 TND 0.87
3.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 TND 0.98
$0.33 TND 0.97
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.38 TND 21.66
$7.28 TND 21.37
1.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 TND 2.31
$0.83 TND 2.43
-4.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.3K TND 106.4K
$35.6K TND 104.5K
1.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5K TND 101.2K
$34.6K TND 101.5K
-0.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.19 TND 136
$45.95 TND 135
0.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.78 TND 28.71
$9.75 TND 28.62
0.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.61 TND 42.88
$14.77 TND 43.35
-1.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.96 TND 70.3
$27.90 TND 81.9
-14.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.48 TND 36.61
$7.46 TND 21.90
67.29%
Cinema Ticket
$4.63 TND 13.58
$4.64 TND 13.62
-0.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$107 TND 313
$107 TND 313
-0.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,475 TND 7,263
$2,460 TND 7,219
0.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.83 TND 69.9
$44.53 TND 131
-46.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.37 TND 130
$44.04 TND 129
0.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$47.47 TND 139
$101 TND 296
-52.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.8 TND 187
$66.3 TND 195
-3.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$115 TND 339
$192 TND 565
-39.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$134 TND 392
$130 TND 383
2.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$373 TND 1,093
$338 TND 990
10.38%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$274 TND 803
$251 TND 735
9.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$968 TND 2,842
$1,010 TND 2,965
-4.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$568 TND 1,668
$646 TND 1,896
-12.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$326 TND 956
$326 TND 956
0.05%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.6
13.6
-

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

Last update for Kairouan: July 26, 2026

Last update for Sfax: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $115 in Kairouan versus $192 in Sfax. 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 0% 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 $20.00 in Sfax. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $178 vs $190 – 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 Sfax: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kairouan and in Sfax compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $562 in Kairouan, $621 in Sfax – roughly 11% apart. Sfax costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kairouan compared to Sfax?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $842 per month in Kairouan and $931 in Sfax. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kairouan and Sfax?
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 Sfax?
Public transport costs about 1% 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 Sfax?
Kindergarten costs $107 per month in Kairouan and $107 in Sfax. 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 Sfax?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $562 in Kairouan and $621 in Sfax, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Kairouan or Sfax?
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 Sfax 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 Sfax?
If budget matters most, go with Kairouan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sfax makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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