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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $564 per month in Kairouan vs $618 in Sfax, rent included.

A couple spends around $893 per month in Kairouan vs $997 in Sfax, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,222 per month in Kairouan vs $1,375 in Sfax, rent included.

Kairouan is about 9% cheaper than Sfax, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kairouan and Sfax are more affordable than the global median – Kairouan 58% lower, Sfax 54% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.34 TND 6.76
$3.37 TND 9.74
-30.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.65 TND 24.99
$19.94 TND 57.6
-56.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.32 TND 9.60
$3.37 TND 9.73
-1.48%
Cappuccino
$0.71 TND 2.05
$0.72 TND 2.09
-1.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 TND 1.73
$0.64 TND 1.86
-6.25%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14 TND 0.41
$0.25 TND 0.73
-44.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.49 TND 4.30
$1.50 TND 4.33
-0.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 TND 5.56
$1.99 TND 5.75
-3.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.45 TND 1.29
$0.53 TND 1.54
-15.09%
White Bread (500g)
$0.07 TND 0.20
$0.19 TND 0.56
-63.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 TND 4.27
$1.56 TND 4.51
-5.13%
Eggs
$1.55 TND 4.47
$1.58 TND 4.56
-1.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.47 TND 33.14
$11.13 TND 32.18
3.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.54 TND 16.02
$5.84 TND 16.87
-5.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.75 TND 33.95
$13.54 TND 39.13
-13.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.21 TND 6.39
$2.15 TND 6.22
2.79%
Banana (1kg)
$2.24 TND 6.47
$3.09 TND 8.93
-27.51%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.01 TND 2.92
$1.05 TND 3.02
-3.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.74 TND 2.14
$0.72 TND 2.09
2.78%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 TND 2.00
$0.75 TND 2.16
-8.00%
Onion (1kg)
$0.78 TND 2.24
$0.77 TND 2.23
1.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 TND 1.38
$0.48 TND 1.40
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25 TND 0.72
$0.31 TND 0.89
-19.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.46 TND 9.99
$3.48 TND 10.04
-0.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.55 TND 21.83
$7.01 TND 20.25
7.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 TND 3.30
$1.14 TND 3.28
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 TND 3.20
$1.10 TND 3.19
0.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 TND 0.93
$0.19 TND 0.56
68.42%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.24 TND 29.59
$10.35 TND 29.91
-1.06%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 TND 0.90
$0.30 TND 0.87
3.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 TND 0.96
$0.31 TND 0.89
6.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.62 TND 22.01
$7.38 TND 21.32
3.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 TND 2.19
$0.90 TND 2.60
-15.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K TND 102.1K
$35.6K TND 102.8K
-0.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K TND 101.1K
$34.3K TND 99.1K
2.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.52 TND 134
$44.90 TND 130
3.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.71 TND 28.06
$9.49 TND 27.43
2.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.99 TND 43.32
$14.99 TND 43.32
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.44 TND 67.7
$27.95 TND 80.8
-16.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.84 TND 37.11
$7.14 TND 20.64
79.83%
Cinema Ticket
$4.66 TND 13.46
$4.65 TND 13.44
0.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$110 TND 318
$107 TND 308
3.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,464 TND 7,120
$2,437 TND 7,042
1.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.79 TND 68.8
$43.84 TND 127
-45.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.78 TND 127
$44.33 TND 128
-1.24%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$48.30 TND 140
$103 TND 299
-53.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.6 TND 187
$64.6 TND 187
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$116 TND 335
$193 TND 559
-40.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$133 TND 385
$133 TND 385
0.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$377 TND 1,089
$338 TND 976
11.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$269 TND 778
$254 TND 734
6.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$980 TND 2,831
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$650 TND 1,879
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$334 TND 965
$322 TND 929
3.79%
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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Sfax: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $116 in Kairouan versus $193 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 4% 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 $191 – 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 Sfax compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $564 in Kairouan, $618 in Sfax – roughly 10% 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 $846 per month in Kairouan and $928 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 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 $110 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 vs Sfax?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $564 in Kairouan and $618 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.

Kairouan vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities