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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $594 per month in Kairouan vs $632 in Sfax, rent included.

A couple spends around $944 per month in Kairouan vs $1,014 in Sfax, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,294 per month in Kairouan vs $1,396 in Sfax, rent included.

Kairouan is about 6% cheaper than Sfax, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kairouan and Sfax are more affordable than the global median – Kairouan 57% lower, Sfax 54% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.68 TND 7.76
$3.52 TND 10.21
-23.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.29 TND 47.25
$20.74 TND 60.2
-21.46%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.01 TND 14.53
$5.05 TND 14.65
-0.79%
Cappuccino
$0.72 TND 2.08
$0.70 TND 2.04
2.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 TND 1.75
$0.60 TND 1.73
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 TND 0.81
$0.25 TND 0.72
12.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.65 TND 4.80
$1.58 TND 4.57
4.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 TND 5.90
$2.04 TND 5.91
-0.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.46 TND 1.33
$0.51 TND 1.49
-9.80%
White Bread (500g)
$0.08 TND 0.24
$0.25 TND 0.73
-68.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 TND 4.02
$1.34 TND 3.89
2.99%
Eggs
$1.58 TND 4.59
$1.64 TND 4.76
-3.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.75 TND 36.99
$12.81 TND 37.16
-0.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.70 TND 16.53
$5.62 TND 16.31
1.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.12 TND 35.16
$14.27 TND 41.40
-15.07%
Apples (1kg)
$1.81 TND 5.25
$1.85 TND 5.37
-2.16%
Banana (1kg)
$2.24 TND 6.50
$3.27 TND 9.47
-31.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.11 TND 3.22
$1.07 TND 3.10
3.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.76 TND 2.21
$0.76 TND 2.20
-
Potato (1kg)
$0.67 TND 1.94
$0.77 TND 2.24
-12.99%
Onion (1kg)
$0.79 TND 2.28
$0.80 TND 2.31
-1.25%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.56 TND 1.61
$0.59 TND 1.70
-5.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.27 TND 0.79
$0.35 TND 1.02
-22.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.35 TND 9.71
$3.87 TND 11.24
-13.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.94 TND 20.14
$7.04 TND 20.43
-1.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 TND 3.34
$1.15 TND 3.33
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 TND 3.22
$1.06 TND 3.08
4.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 TND 0.95
$0.18 TND 0.52
83.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.27 TND 29.78
$10.14 TND 29.42
1.28%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.32 TND 0.94
$0.31 TND 0.89
3.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 TND 0.95
$0.35 TND 1.02
-5.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.57 TND 21.94
$7.67 TND 22.24
-1.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 TND 2.35
$0.84 TND 2.44
-3.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.6K TND 108.9K
$37.9K TND 109.9K
-0.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.4K TND 105.5K
$35.1K TND 101.9K
3.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.09 TND 134
$46.48 TND 135
-0.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.69 TND 28.11
$9.50 TND 27.56
2.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.15 TND 43.93
$15.06 TND 43.67
0.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.20 TND 70.2
$28.18 TND 81.8
-14.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.18 TND 41.13
$7.42 TND 21.53
91.11%
Cinema Ticket
$4.57 TND 13.25
$4.67 TND 13.53
-2.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$98.4 TND 285
$101 TND 292
-2.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,464 TND 7,148
$2,542 TND 7,372
-3.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$24.04 TND 69.7
$43.78 TND 127
-45.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.01 TND 107
$36.69 TND 106
0.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$47.89 TND 139
$114 TND 329
-57.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.8 TND 200
$68.8 TND 199
0.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$118 TND 343
$198 TND 574
-40.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$158 TND 459
$139 TND 405
13.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$371 TND 1,076
$341 TND 990
8.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$274 TND 794
$221 TND 641
23.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$978 TND 2,836
$1,034 TND 3,000
-5.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$632 TND 1,832
$742 TND 2,152
-14.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$337 TND 977
$337 TND 977
-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: September 14, 2026

Last update for Sfax: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $118 in Kairouan versus $198 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 Sfax, 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 $21.00 in Sfax. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $182 vs $198 – 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: $594 in Kairouan, $632 in Sfax – roughly 6% 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 $891 per month in Kairouan and $947 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 $98.4 per month in Kairouan and $101 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 $594 in Kairouan and $632 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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