Cost of Living Comparison Between Kairouan and Tunis Cost of Living Comparison Between Kairouan and Tunis

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $564 per month in Kairouan vs $732 in Tunis, rent included.

A couple spends around $893 per month in Kairouan vs $1,175 in Tunis, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,222 per month in Kairouan vs $1,618 in Tunis, rent included.

Kairouan is about 23% cheaper than Tunis, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kairouan and Tunis are more affordable than the global median – Kairouan 58% lower, Tunis 45% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kairouan
Tunis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.34 TND 6.76
$5.14 TND 14.86
-54.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.65 TND 24.99
$25.13 TND 72.6
-65.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.32 TND 9.60
$4.93 TND 14.25
-32.66%
Cappuccino
$0.71 TND 2.05
$1.03 TND 2.97
-31.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 TND 1.73
$0.71 TND 2.05
-15.49%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14 TND 0.41
$0.26 TND 0.74
-46.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.49 TND 4.30
$1.65 TND 4.77
-9.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 TND 5.56
$2.78 TND 8.03
-30.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
Tunis
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.45 TND 1.29
$0.50 TND 1.44
-10.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.07 TND 0.20
$0.22 TND 0.64
-68.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 TND 4.27
$1.74 TND 5.03
-14.94%
Eggs
$1.55 TND 4.47
$1.48 TND 4.28
4.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.47 TND 33.14
$10.59 TND 30.61
8.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.54 TND 16.02
$6.18 TND 17.87
-10.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.75 TND 33.95
$14.79 TND 42.73
-20.55%
Apples (1kg)
$2.21 TND 6.39
$2.10 TND 6.06
5.24%
Banana (1kg)
$2.24 TND 6.47
$3.74 TND 10.82
-40.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.01 TND 2.92
$1.12 TND 3.24
-9.82%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.74 TND 2.14
$0.76 TND 2.21
-2.63%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 TND 2.00
$0.70 TND 2.02
-1.43%
Onion (1kg)
$0.78 TND 2.24
$0.58 TND 1.69
34.48%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 TND 1.38
$0.47 TND 1.36
2.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25 TND 0.72
$0.31 TND 0.90
-19.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.46 TND 9.99
$3.44 TND 9.95
0.58%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.55 TND 21.83
$7.71 TND 22.28
-2.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 TND 3.30
$1.28 TND 3.69
-10.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 TND 3.20
$1.64 TND 4.75
-32.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Kairouan
Tunis
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 TND 0.93
$0.35 TND 1.02
-8.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.24 TND 29.59
$13.94 TND 40.27
-26.54%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 TND 0.90
$0.30 TND 0.86
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
$3.33 TND 9.63
128.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 TND 2.19
$0.83 TND 2.41
-8.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K TND 102.1K
$41.2K TND 119.2K
-14.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K TND 101.1K
$37.9K TND 109.5K
-7.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
Tunis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.52 TND 134
$59.2 TND 171
-21.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.71 TND 28.06
$10.00 TND 28.91
-2.90%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.99 TND 43.32
$20.97 TND 60.6
-28.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
Tunis
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.44 TND 67.7
$34.75 TND 100
-32.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.84 TND 37.11
$14.22 TND 41.10
-9.70%
Cinema Ticket
$4.66 TND 13.46
$5.53 TND 15.97
-15.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kairouan
Tunis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$110 TND 318
$111 TND 321
-0.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,464 TND 7,120
$3,256 TND 9,409
-24.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
Tunis
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.79 TND 68.8
$45.27 TND 131
-47.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.78 TND 127
$60.3 TND 174
-27.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$48.30 TND 140
$94.9 TND 274
-49.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.6 TND 187
$80.8 TND 234
-20.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
Tunis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$116 TND 335
$280 TND 808
-58.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$133 TND 385
$179 TND 516
-25.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$377 TND 1,089
$490 TND 1,417
-23.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$269 TND 778
$292 TND 843
-7.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,420 TND 4,103
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$781 TND 2,258
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kairouan
Tunis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$334 TND 965
$391 TND 1,131
-14.71%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.6
10.96
24.09%

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

Last update for Kairouan: April 27, 2026

Last update for Tunis: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $116 in Kairouan versus $280 in Tunis. 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 17% higher in Tunis, 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 $9.00 in Kairouan versus $25.00 in Tunis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $178 vs $202 – 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 Tunis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Kairouan and Tunis compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $564 in Kairouan, $732 in Tunis – roughly 30% apart. Tunis costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Kairouan compared to Tunis?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $846 per month in Kairouan and $1,098 in Tunis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Kairouan and Tunis?
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 Tunis?
Public transport costs about 36% 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 Tunis?
Kindergarten costs $110 per month in Kairouan and $111 in Tunis. 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 Tunis?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $564 in Kairouan and $732 in Tunis, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Kairouan or Tunis?
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 Tunis 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 Tunis?
If budget matters most, go with Kairouan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tunis makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Kairouan vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities