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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $558 per month in Kairouan vs $624 in Sfax, rent included.

A couple spends around $881 per month in Kairouan vs $1,006 in Sfax, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,204 per month in Kairouan vs $1,388 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
$2.41 TND 7.00
$3.29 TND 9.56
-26.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.49 TND 24.67
$19.95 TND 58.0
-57.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.31 TND 9.62
$3.49 TND 10.14
-5.16%
Cappuccino
$0.77 TND 2.22
$0.70 TND 2.05
10.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61 TND 1.77
$0.59 TND 1.72
3.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13 TND 0.38
$0.25 TND 0.73
-48.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.47 TND 4.29
$1.48 TND 4.29
-0.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 TND 5.50
$2.00 TND 5.80
-5.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.46 TND 1.34
$0.54 TND 1.58
-14.81%
White Bread (500g)
$0.09 TND 0.26
$0.19 TND 0.56
-52.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 TND 4.29
$1.54 TND 4.49
-4.55%
Eggs
$1.54 TND 4.47
$1.63 TND 4.75
-5.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.31 TND 32.88
$11.45 TND 33.29
-1.22%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.58 TND 16.22
$5.81 TND 16.88
-3.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.00 TND 34.88
$13.40 TND 38.94
-10.45%
Apples (1kg)
$2.26 TND 6.57
$2.23 TND 6.49
1.35%
Banana (1kg)
$2.36 TND 6.86
$2.97 TND 8.64
-20.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.05 TND 3.06
$1.06 TND 3.08
-0.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.69 TND 2.00
$0.68 TND 1.99
1.47%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 TND 2.04
$0.79 TND 2.29
-11.39%
Onion (1kg)
$0.77 TND 2.25
$0.72 TND 2.10
6.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 TND 1.39
$0.48 TND 1.41
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25 TND 0.73
$0.31 TND 0.89
-19.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.49 TND 10.13
$3.49 TND 10.14
-
Wine (Bottle)
$7.70 TND 22.37
$6.77 TND 19.69
13.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 TND 3.20
$1.13 TND 3.29
-2.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05 TND 3.06
$1.10 TND 3.19
-4.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 TND 0.96
$0.21 TND 0.60
57.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.21 TND 29.68
$9.99 TND 29.05
2.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 TND 0.91
$0.30 TND 0.86
3.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 TND 0.98
$0.33 TND 0.96
3.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.34 TND 21.35
$7.28 TND 21.17
0.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 TND 2.32
$0.83 TND 2.42
-3.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4K TND 103.0K
$36.1K TND 105.0K
-1.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9K TND 101.5K
$35.3K TND 102.6K
-1.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.88 TND 130
$45.10 TND 131
-0.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.62 TND 27.96
$9.74 TND 28.30
-1.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.89 TND 43.29
$14.69 TND 42.69
1.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.01 TND 69.8
$27.92 TND 81.2
-14.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.61 TND 36.64
$7.17 TND 20.85
75.87%
Cinema Ticket
$4.70 TND 13.66
$4.47 TND 13.00
5.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$108 TND 314
$108 TND 314
0.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,443 TND 7,103
$2,469 TND 7,177
-1.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.95 TND 69.6
$43.94 TND 128
-45.49%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.82 TND 127
$43.58 TND 127
0.55%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$46.97 TND 137
$102 TND 297
-54.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.3 TND 187
$64.4 TND 187
-0.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$118 TND 342
$192 TND 560
-38.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$135 TND 392
$131 TND 382
2.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$381 TND 1,107
$327 TND 951
16.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$273 TND 794
$253 TND 734
8.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,148 TND 3,337
$1,020 TND 2,966
12.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$686 TND 1,994
$657 TND 1,909
4.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kairouan
Sfax
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$337 TND 981
$321 TND 932
5.28%
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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Sfax: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $118 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 5% 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 $8.00 in Kairouan versus $20.00 in Sfax. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $180 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: $558 in Kairouan, $624 in Sfax – roughly 12% 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 $838 per month in Kairouan and $936 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 2% 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 $108 per month in Kairouan and $108 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 $558 in Kairouan and $624 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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