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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $565 per month in Kairouan vs $743 in Tunis, rent included.

A couple spends around $885 per month in Kairouan vs $1,178 in Tunis, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,205 per month in Kairouan vs $1,613 in Tunis, rent included.

Kairouan is about 24% 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
$2.31 TND 6.73
$5.17 TND 15.09
-55.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.61 TND 25.12
$25.01 TND 73.0
-65.57%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.49 TND 10.18
$4.99 TND 14.55
-30.06%
Cappuccino
$0.76 TND 2.22
$1.02 TND 2.99
-25.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 TND 1.88
$0.75 TND 2.19
-13.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 TND 0.45
$0.26 TND 0.75
-38.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.55 TND 4.52
$1.66 TND 4.84
-6.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 TND 5.54
$2.72 TND 7.95
-30.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kairouan
Tunis
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.49 TND 1.43
$0.47 TND 1.36
4.26%
White Bread (500g)
$0.07 TND 0.20
$0.18 TND 0.53
-61.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 TND 4.39
$1.74 TND 5.07
-13.22%
Eggs
$1.56 TND 4.55
$1.55 TND 4.51
0.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.33 TND 33.06
$10.48 TND 30.58
8.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.61 TND 16.35
$6.05 TND 17.65
-7.27%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.88 TND 34.65
$14.55 TND 42.45
-18.35%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 TND 6.33
$2.10 TND 6.12
3.33%
Banana (1kg)
$2.31 TND 6.74
$3.73 TND 10.87
-38.07%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.06 TND 3.08
$1.18 TND 3.43
-10.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.68 TND 1.99
$0.70 TND 2.03
-2.86%
Potato (1kg)
$0.66 TND 1.93
$0.71 TND 2.07
-7.04%
Onion (1kg)
$0.76 TND 2.21
$0.64 TND 1.85
18.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 TND 1.41
$0.47 TND 1.36
2.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.25 TND 0.73
$0.29 TND 0.84
-13.79%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.46 TND 10.08
$3.43 TND 10.02
0.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.69 TND 22.44
$7.79 TND 22.74
-1.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 TND 3.22
$1.27 TND 3.72
-13.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 TND 3.21
$1.56 TND 4.55
-29.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Kairouan
Tunis
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 TND 0.96
$0.36 TND 1.04
-8.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.14 TND 29.58
$14.13 TND 41.21
-28.24%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 TND 0.91
$0.30 TND 0.87
3.33%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 TND 0.90
$0.31 TND 0.89
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.54 TND 22.00
$3.30 TND 9.62
128.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 TND 2.36
$0.87 TND 2.53
-6.90%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7K TND 104.2K
$40.8K TND 119.1K
-12.45%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K TND 102.2K
$37.8K TND 110.2K
-7.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kairouan
Tunis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.74 TND 131
$59.0 TND 172
-24.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.56 TND 27.88
$9.56 TND 27.89
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.54 TND 42.41
$20.96 TND 61.2
-30.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kairouan
Tunis
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.12 TND 70.4
$34.45 TND 101
-29.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.59 TND 36.72
$13.98 TND 40.80
-9.94%
Cinema Ticket
$4.65 TND 13.57
$5.29 TND 15.44
-12.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kairouan
Tunis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$107 TND 313
$109 TND 317
-1.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,445 TND 7,132
$3,312 TND 9,662
-26.19%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kairouan
Tunis
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.49 TND 68.5
$44.53 TND 130
-47.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.61 TND 130
$61.4 TND 179
-27.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$48.02 TND 140
$94.9 TND 277
-49.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.1 TND 193
$81.1 TND 237
-18.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kairouan
Tunis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$117 TND 342
$280 TND 818
-58.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$133 TND 388
$177 TND 517
-24.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$376 TND 1,096
$478 TND 1,394
-21.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$274 TND 800
$294 TND 858
-6.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,426 TND 4,160
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$777 TND 2,268
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kairouan
Tunis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$339 TND 988
$367 TND 1,070
-7.66%
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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Tunis: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $117 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 8% 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: $179 vs $200 – 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: $565 in Kairouan, $743 in Tunis – roughly 31% 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 $848 per month in Kairouan and $1,115 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 39% 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 $107 per month in Kairouan and $109 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 $565 in Kairouan and $743 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.

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