For one person, living is cheaper in Mahdia: $561 a month against $632 in Sfax, rent and utilities included – about $850 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Mahdia and in Sfax actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $561 per month in Mahdia vs $632 in Sfax, rent included.
Mahdia $561
Sfax $632
A couple spends around $887 per month in Mahdia vs $989 in Sfax, rent included.
Mahdia $887
Sfax $989
A family of three spends $1,214 per month in Mahdia vs $1,346 in Sfax, rent included.
Mahdia $1,214
Sfax $1,346
🙂
Mahdia is about 11% cheaper than Sfax, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.
📊
Both Mahdia and Sfax are more affordable than the global median – Mahdia59% lower, Sfax53% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Mahdia
Sfax
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.54TND 7.61
$3.28TND 9.83
-22.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.76TND 59.2
$19.78TND 59.3
-0.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.00TND 14.99
$5.18TND 15.50
-3.47%
Cappuccino
$0.98TND 2.94
$0.71TND 2.12
38.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62TND 1.87
$0.59TND 1.75
5.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17TND 0.50
$0.27TND 0.81
-37.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.03TND 3.07
$1.56TND 4.69
-33.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55TND 4.65
$1.96TND 5.86
-20.92%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mahdia
Sfax
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.43TND 1.28
$0.46TND 1.38
-6.52%
White Bread(500g)
$0.28TND 0.84
$0.24TND 0.72
16.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.33TND 3.98
$1.30TND 3.90
2.31%
Eggs
$1.54TND 4.60
$1.62TND 4.84
-4.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.75TND 35.18
$12.70TND 38.03
-7.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.06TND 15.15
$5.59TND 16.74
-9.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.81TND 44.37
$13.84TND 41.46
7.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.91TND 8.71
$1.83TND 5.49
59.02%
Banana(1kg)
$2.79TND 8.37
$3.11TND 9.31
-10.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.40TND 4.19
$1.04TND 3.10
34.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.72TND 2.16
$0.73TND 2.18
-1.37%
Potato(1kg)
$0.64TND 1.91
$0.76TND 2.28
-15.79%
Onion(1kg)
$0.33TND 0.99
$0.81TND 2.43
-59.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.41TND 1.22
$0.58TND 1.73
-29.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33TND 0.98
$0.32TND 0.95
3.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.61TND 10.82
$3.83TND 11.46
-5.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.29TND 9.87
$6.66TND 19.95
-50.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57TND 4.71
$1.17TND 3.52
34.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26TND 3.78
$1.04TND 3.13
21.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Mahdia
Sfax
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.33TND 0.99
$0.17TND 0.52
94.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$13.27TND 39.75
$10.20TND 30.56
30.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.29TND 0.86
$0.33TND 0.99
-12.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.26TND 0.77
$0.32TND 0.97
-18.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$7.41TND 22.18
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.89TND 2.67
$0.83TND 2.47
7.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.7KTND 118.8K
$36.6KTND 109.6K
8.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.5KTND 121.2K
$35.6KTND 106.7K
13.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mahdia
Sfax
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$56.7TND 170
$45.22TND 135
25.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.30TND 21.87
$9.34TND 27.97
-21.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.30TND 60.8
$14.60TND 43.72
39.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mahdia
Sfax
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.78TND 62.2
$27.56TND 82.6
-24.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.50TND 22.46
$7.11TND 21.31
5.49%
Cinema Ticket
$6.76TND 20.25
$4.42TND 13.23
52.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mahdia
Sfax
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$109TND 326
$99.7TND 299
9.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$998TND 2,989
$2,451TND 7,341
-59.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mahdia
Sfax
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.75TND 116
$43.15TND 129
-10.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.18TND 102
$36.69TND 110
-6.84%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5TND 235
$111TND 333
-29.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$23.12TND 69.2
$68.4TND 205
-66.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mahdia
Sfax
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$129TND 385
$195TND 585
-34.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$99.7TND 298
$138TND 414
-27.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$300TND 899
$340TND 1,017
-11.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$174TND 521
$218TND 654
-20.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$681TND 2,041
$997TND 2,986
-31.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$202TND 604
$730TND 2,187
-72.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mahdia
Sfax
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$236TND 707
$331TND 992
-28.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.33
13.6
-24.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mahdia: October 19, 2026
Last update for Sfax: October 19, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Mahdia
$189 33.7%
Sfax
$193 30.6% ↑ 2.1%$4
🏠Accommodation & Living
Mahdia
$100 17.8%
Sfax
$138 21.9% ↑ 38.6%$38
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mahdia
$84 15%
Sfax
$69 11% ↓ 18%$15
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Mahdia
$79 14%
Sfax
$117 18.5% ↑ 48.5%$38
🍽Eating Out
Mahdia
$59 10.4%
Sfax
$65 10.4% ↑ 11.8%$6.9
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Mahdia
$34 6.1%
Sfax
$36 5.8% ↑ 6.1%$2.1
🚌Getting Around
Mahdia
$16 2.9%
Sfax
$13 2% ↓ 20.5%$3.3
🛒Groceries & Markets
Mahdia
$452 37.3%
Sfax
$458 34% ↑ 1.2%$5.5
🏠Accommodation & Living
Mahdia
$174 14.3%
Sfax
$218 16.2% ↑ 25.5%$44
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mahdia
$92 7.6%
Sfax
$79 5.8% ↓ 14.3%$13
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Mahdia
$175 14.4%
Sfax
$259 19.3% ↑ 48.5%$85
🍽Eating Out
Mahdia
$212 17.5%
Sfax
$226 16.8% ↑ 6.6%$14
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Mahdia
$76 6.3%
Sfax
$80 5.9% ↑ 5%$3.8
🚌Getting Around
Mahdia
$33 2.7%
Sfax
$26 1.9% ↓ 21%$6.9
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $129 in Mahdia versus $195 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 40% 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 $20.00 in Mahdia versus $20.00 in Sfax. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $189 vs $193 – making Mahdia the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Mahdia vs Sfax: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sfax cheaper than Mahdia?
Yes – Sfax is pricier by about 13%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $841 per month in Mahdia and $948 in Sfax. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mahdia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $109 per month in Mahdia and $99.7 in Sfax. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Mahdia and in Sfax?
Groceries cost about 2% more in Sfax, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 enough for either Mahdia or Sfax?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $561 in Mahdia and $632 in Sfax, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Mahdia or Sfax more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Mahdia – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Mahdia or Sfax?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mahdia. 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.