Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Manouba and Cape Town

For one person, living is cheaper in Manouba: $651 a month against $1,586 in Cape Town, rent and utilities included – about $11,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Manouba
🇹🇳 Tunisia
$651
/mo nomad
Cape Town
🇿🇦 South Africa
$1,586
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Manouba and in Cape Town

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Manouba and in Cape Town actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $651 per month in Manouba vs $1,586 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Manouba $651
  • Cape Town $1,586

A couple spends around $1,024 per month in Manouba vs $2,425 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Manouba $1,024
  • Cape Town $2,425

A family of three spends $1,396 per month in Manouba vs $3,263 in Cape Town, rent included.

  • Manouba $1,396
  • Cape Town $3,263

Manouba is about 59% cheaper than Cape Town, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Manouba sits 52% below the global median, while Cape Town is 17% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manouba
Cape Town
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.33 TND 9.97
$12.14 R 200
-72.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.92 TND 59.7
$45.34 R 747
-56.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.14 TND 18.38
$5.88 R 96.9
4.42%
Cappuccino
$1.11 TND 3.34
$2.50 R 41.18
-55.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 TND 1.88
$1.27 R 20.94
-50.39%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 TND 0.81
$0.98 R 16.14
-72.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.55 TND 4.64
$2.99 R 49.33
-48.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 TND 7.05
$3.72 R 61.4
-36.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manouba
Cape Town
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.46 TND 1.38
$1.30 R 21.40
-64.62%
White Bread (500g)
$0.22 TND 0.66
$1.25 R 20.68
-82.40%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.31 TND 3.92
$2.23 R 36.76
-41.26%
Eggs
$1.55 TND 4.63
$3.11 R 51.2
-50.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.27 TND 30.75
$9.06 R 149
13.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.45 TND 16.31
$6.92 R 114
-21.24%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.79 TND 41.32
$9.30 R 153
48.28%
Apples (1kg)
$1.84 TND 5.52
$1.84 R 30.25
-
Banana (1kg)
$3.16 TND 9.45
$1.96 R 32.29
61.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.08 TND 3.24
$1.67 R 27.45
-35.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.74 TND 2.21
$2.17 R 35.70
-65.90%
Potato (1kg)
$0.77 TND 2.29
$1.57 R 25.81
-50.96%
Onion (1kg)
$0.61 TND 1.84
$1.48 R 24.45
-58.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.53 TND 1.60
$1.30 R 21.41
-59.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34 TND 1.03
$1.13 R 18.60
-69.91%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.72 TND 11.15
$3.60 R 59.3
3.33%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.74 TND 20.18
$6.15 R 101
9.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 TND 3.55
$1.38 R 22.66
-13.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08 TND 3.22
$2.14 R 35.20
-49.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Manouba
Cape Town
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 TND 0.95
$1.50 R 24.65
-78.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.95 TND 29.81
$60.8 R 1,001
-83.62%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.30 TND 0.89
$0.59 R 9.71
-49.15%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 TND 1.00
$1.50 R 24.65
-78.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.85 TND 5.54
$5.11 R 84.2
-63.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 TND 2.67
$1.55 R 25.50
-42.58%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0K TND 110.7K
$36.2K R 596.5K
2.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K TND 104.7K
$31.2K R 514.8K
11.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manouba
Cape Town
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.48 TND 133
$114 R 1,883
-61.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.22 TND 27.61
$28.91 R 476
-68.11%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.44 TND 61.2
$39.73 R 654
-48.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manouba
Cape Town
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.56 TND 79.6
$49.01 R 808
-45.81%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.42 TND 37.19
$10.99 R 181
13.01%
Cinema Ticket
$5.31 TND 15.90
$9.15 R 151
-41.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manouba
Cape Town
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$97.3 TND 291
$259 R 4,264
-62.41%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,444 TND 7,319
$6,794 R 111.9K
-64.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manouba
Cape Town
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.75 TND 128
$56.2 R 926
-23.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.55 TND 109
$32.41 R 534
12.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 TND 303
$121 R 1,987
-16.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.8 TND 203
$108 R 1,781
-37.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manouba
Cape Town
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$208 TND 624
$1,021 R 16.8K
-79.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$155 TND 465
$717 R 11.8K
-78.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$372 TND 1,115
$1,824 R 30.1K
-79.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$268 TND 804
$1,327 R 21.9K
-79.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$957 TND 2,866
$2,391 R 39.4K
-59.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$619 TND 1,854
$1,542 R 25.4K
-59.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manouba
Cape Town
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$1,639 R 27.0K
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.28
10.97
-6.29%

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

Last update for Manouba: October 10, 2026

Last update for Cape Town: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Manouba
$185
Cape Town
$225 21.5% $40
Accommodation & Living
Manouba
$155
Cape Town
$717 361% $562
Clothing & Footwear
Manouba
$112
Cape Town
$143 27.8% $31
Eating Out
Manouba
$74
Cape Town
$176 137% $102
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manouba
$74
Cape Town
$183 147% $109
Sport & Entertainment
Manouba
$37
Cape Town
$67 81.1% $30
Getting Around
Manouba
$13
Cape Town
$75 467% $62

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $208 in Manouba versus $1,021 in Cape Town. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Manouba versus $45.00 in Cape Town. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $225 – making Manouba the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇹🇳 Manouba
🇿🇦 Cape Town
🕒 Local time
15:26 3:26 PM
16:26 4:26 PM
1 h ahead of Manouba
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
58,792
3,740,026 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

ZAR, USD, EUR to TND – Tunisian Dinar Converter

Tunisian Dinar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 2.99 TND (1 TND = 0.334 USD). 1 EUR = 3.37 TND (1 TND = 0.297 EUR).

South African Rand exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 16.48 ZAR (100 ZAR = 6.07 USD). 1 EUR = 18.52 ZAR (100 ZAR = 5.4 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Manouba Cape Town 7,910 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Manouba
  • Cape Town

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
Manouba vs Cape Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Manouba or Cape Town?
Cape Town costs about 144% more than Manouba, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from eating out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Manouba and in Cape Town?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $977 per month in Manouba and $2,379 in Cape Town. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Manouba or Cape Town?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Manouba, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Manouba compared to Cape Town?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $651 in Manouba and $1,586 in Cape Town. That's a gap of about 144%.
How expensive is transport in Manouba compared to Cape Town?
Public transport costs about 511% less in Manouba. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Manouba or in Cape Town?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Manouba, where all-in costs run around $651, than in Cape Town at $1,586. In Manouba it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cape Town it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Manouba or Cape Town?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Manouba costs $651 versus $1,586 in Cape Town. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Manouba or to Cape Town?
If budget matters most, go with Manouba. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cape Town makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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