Cost of Living Comparison Between Mataram and Kairouan Cost of Living Comparison Between Mataram and Kairouan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $558 per month in Mataram vs $562 in Kairouan, rent included.

A couple spends around $861 per month in Mataram vs $869 in Kairouan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,163 per month in Mataram vs $1,176 in Kairouan, rent included.

Mataram is about 1% cheaper than Kairouan, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.11 Rp 20.1K
$2.39 TND 7.05
-53.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.00 Rp 198.9K
$8.64 TND 25.50
27.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.28 Rp 41.2K
$3.33 TND 9.83
-31.53%
Cappuccino
$1.80 Rp 32.6K
$0.77 TND 2.26
133.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,885
$0.61 TND 1.79
-9.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 Rp 6,545
$0.13 TND 0.38
176.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.63 Rp 47.6K
$1.49 TND 4.41
76.51%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 Rp 66.3K
$1.91 TND 5.63
92.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.53 Rp 27.7K
$0.49 TND 1.46
212.24%
White Bread (500g)
$1.61 Rp 29.2K
$0.08 TND 0.24
1912.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
$1.55 TND 4.57
-50.97%
Eggs
$1.37 Rp 24.8K
$1.50 TND 4.42
-8.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$3.31 Rp 59.8K
$11.35 TND 33.50
-70.84%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.59 Rp 64.9K
$5.61 TND 16.56
-36.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.99 Rp 108.4K
$11.94 TND 35.23
-49.83%
Apples (1kg)
$1.72 Rp 31.1K
$2.18 TND 6.43
-21.10%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 Rp 22.0K
$2.30 TND 6.79
-46.96%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 Rp 34.2K
$1.00 TND 2.96
89.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$0.74 TND 2.17
1.35%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 Rp 15.2K
$0.69 TND 2.04
21.74%
Onion (1kg)
$1.80 Rp 32.6K
$0.73 TND 2.14
146.58%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 Rp 8,653
$0.49 TND 1.43
-2.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32 Rp 5,704
$0.27 TND 0.80
18.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.78 Rp 32.1K
$3.35 TND 9.89
-46.87%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.33 Rp 277.1K
$6.63 TND 19.58
131.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.36 Rp 42.7K
$1.14 TND 3.37
107.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58 Rp 64.7K
$1.07 TND 3.15
234.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.63 Rp 11.5K
$0.33 TND 0.97
90.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$18.41 Rp 332.9K
$10.13 TND 29.91
81.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.51 Rp 9,200
$0.31 TND 0.92
64.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 Rp 5,671
$0.33 TND 0.99
-6.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.08 Rp 55.7K
$7.38 TND 21.79
-58.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.69 Rp 12.4K
$0.79 TND 2.32
-12.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3K Rp 421.3M
$36.3K TND 107.0K
-35.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K Rp 497.5M
$34.5K TND 101.8K
-20.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$50.4 Rp 911.1K
$46.19 TND 136
9.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.32 Rp 78.2K
$9.78 TND 28.87
-55.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.37 Rp 350.3K
$14.61 TND 43.12
32.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.95 Rp 487.3K
$23.96 TND 70.7
12.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.48 Rp 135.2K
$12.48 TND 36.82
-40.06%
Cinema Ticket
$2.10 Rp 38.1K
$4.63 TND 13.65
-54.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$91.5 Rp 1.7M
$107 TND 314
-14.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,217 Rp 76.2M
$2,475 TND 7,304
70.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.84 Rp 666.2K
$23.83 TND 70.3
54.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.43 Rp 441.7K
$44.37 TND 131
-44.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$61.5 Rp 1.1M
$47.47 TND 140
29.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.48 Rp 731.9K
$63.8 TND 188
-36.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$76.8 Rp 1.4M
$115 TND 341
-33.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$128 Rp 2.3M
$134 TND 394
-4.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$153 Rp 2.8M
$373 TND 1,099
-58.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$259 Rp 4.7M
$274 TND 808
-5.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,155 Rp 20.9M
$968 TND 2,858
19.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$679 Rp 12.3M
$568 TND 1,677
19.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$192 Rp 3.5M
$326 TND 962
-41.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9
13.6
-33.82%

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

Last update for Mataram: July 26, 2026

Last update for Kairouan: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $76.8 in Mataram versus $115 in Kairouan. 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 70% higher in Kairouan, 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 $11.00 in Mataram versus $9.00 in Kairouan. Groceries tell a different story – $174 in Mataram vs $178 in Kairouan – so Mataram wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Mataram vs Kairouan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Mataram and in Kairouan compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $558 in Mataram, $562 in Kairouan – roughly 1% apart. Kairouan costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Mataram compared to Kairouan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $836 per month in Mataram and $842 in Kairouan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Mataram and Kairouan?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mataram, 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 Mataram and in Kairouan?
Public transport costs about 82% less in Mataram. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Mataram and Kairouan?
Kindergarten costs $91.5 per month in Mataram and $107 in Kairouan. 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 Mataram compared to Kairouan?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $558 in Mataram and $562 in Kairouan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Mataram or Kairouan?
Families tend to lean toward Mataram – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Mataram or Kairouan 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 Mataram and Kairouan?
If budget matters most, go with Mataram. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kairouan makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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