😐A single person spends $577 per month in Mataram vs $564 in Kairouan, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $888 per month in Mataram vs $893 in Kairouan, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,200 per month in Mataram vs $1,222 in Kairouan, rent included.
😐Mataram costs about 2% more than Kairouan, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Mataram and Kairouan are more affordable than the global median – Mataram57% lower, Kairouan58% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.05Rp 18.2K
$2.34TND 6.76
-55.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.02Rp 190.2K
$8.65TND 24.99
27.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.25Rp 38.8K
$3.32TND 9.60
-32.23%
Cappuccino
$1.87Rp 32.3K
$0.71TND 2.05
163.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,492
$0.60TND 1.73
-8.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36Rp 6,219
$0.14TND 0.41
157.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.63Rp 45.4K
$1.49TND 4.30
76.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78Rp 65.3K
$1.92TND 5.56
96.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56Rp 26.9K
$0.45TND 1.29
246.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68Rp 29.0K
$0.07TND 0.20
2300.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.83Rp 14.3K
$1.48TND 4.27
-43.92%
Eggs
$1.36Rp 23.5K
$1.55TND 4.47
-12.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.32Rp 57.3K
$11.47TND 33.14
-71.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.53Rp 60.9K
$5.54TND 16.02
-36.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.29Rp 108.7K
$11.75TND 33.95
-46.47%
Apples(1kg)
$1.70Rp 29.4K
$2.21TND 6.39
-23.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21Rp 20.9K
$2.24TND 6.47
-45.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86Rp 32.2K
$1.01TND 2.92
84.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.79Rp 13.6K
$0.74TND 2.14
6.76%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79Rp 13.7K
$0.69TND 2.00
14.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89Rp 32.6K
$0.78TND 2.24
142.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47Rp 8,149
$0.48TND 1.38
-2.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31Rp 5,422
$0.25TND 0.72
24.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.79Rp 31.0K
$3.46TND 9.99
-48.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.27Rp 281.0K
$7.55TND 21.83
115.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.46Rp 42.4K
$1.14TND 3.30
115.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80Rp 65.6K
$1.11TND 3.20
242.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63Rp 10.9K
$0.32TND 0.93
96.88%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.37Rp 317.2K
$10.24TND 29.59
79.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,253
$0.31TND 0.90
54.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29Rp 5,005
$0.33TND 0.96
-12.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.16Rp 54.5K
$7.62TND 22.01
-58.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.65Rp 11.2K
$0.76TND 2.19
-14.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4KRp 404.3M
$35.3KTND 102.1K
-33.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KRp 483.4M
$35.0KTND 101.1K
-19.93%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.2Rp 866.7K
$46.52TND 134
7.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.39Rp 75.9K
$9.71TND 28.06
-54.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.07Rp 329.3K
$14.99TND 43.32
27.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.67Rp 460.5K
$23.44TND 67.7
13.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.66Rp 132.2K
$12.84TND 37.11
-40.34%
Cinema Ticket
$2.10Rp 36.2K
$4.66TND 13.46
-54.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$90.8Rp 1.6M
$110TND 318
-17.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,319Rp 74.6M
$2,464TND 7,120
75.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.80Rp 635.4K
$23.79TND 68.8
54.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.84Rp 428.9K
$43.78TND 127
-43.26%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.1Rp 1.1M
$48.30TND 140
26.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.16Rp 693.5K
$64.6TND 187
-37.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$76.9Rp 1.3M
$116TND 335
-33.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$128Rp 2.2M
$133TND 385
-3.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.7M
$377TND 1,089
-58.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$265Rp 4.6M
$269TND 778
-1.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,199Rp 20.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$783Rp 13.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$202Rp 3.5M
$334TND 965
-39.34%
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Kairouan: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $76.9 in Mataram versus $116 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 65% higher in Kairouan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Mataram versus $9.00 in Kairouan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $178 – 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
Mataram vs Kairouan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Mataram and Kairouan compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $577 in Mataram, $564 in Kairouan – roughly 2% apart. Mataram costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Mataram compared to Kairouan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $865 per month in Mataram and $846 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 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 Mataram and Kairouan?
Public transport costs about 79% less in Kairouan. 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 $90.8 per month in Mataram and $110 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 vs Kairouan?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $577 in Mataram and $564 in Kairouan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Mataram or Kairouan?
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 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 Kairouan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Mataram makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.