😐A single person spends $578 per month in Mataram vs $565 in Kairouan, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $867 per month in Mataram vs $885 in Kairouan, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,157 per month in Mataram vs $1,205 in Kairouan, rent included.
😐Mataram costs about 2% more than Kairouan, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊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
$1.06Rp 19.1K
$2.31TND 6.73
-54.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.01Rp 197.3K
$8.61TND 25.12
27.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.35Rp 42.2K
$3.49TND 10.18
-32.66%
Cappuccino
$1.87Rp 33.5K
$0.76TND 2.22
146.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54Rp 9,705
$0.65TND 1.88
-16.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36Rp 6,486
$0.16TND 0.45
125.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.54Rp 45.4K
$1.55TND 4.52
63.87%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.77Rp 67.5K
$1.90TND 5.54
98.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54Rp 27.6K
$0.49TND 1.43
214.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.67Rp 30.0K
$0.07TND 0.20
2285.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.83Rp 14.9K
$1.51TND 4.39
-45.03%
Eggs
$1.43Rp 25.5K
$1.56TND 4.55
-8.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.19Rp 57.2K
$11.33TND 33.06
-71.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.59Rp 64.2K
$5.61TND 16.35
-36.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.10Rp 109.3K
$11.88TND 34.65
-48.65%
Apples(1kg)
$1.64Rp 29.4K
$2.17TND 6.33
-24.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.26Rp 22.7K
$2.31TND 6.74
-45.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85Rp 33.2K
$1.06TND 3.08
74.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.75Rp 13.4K
$0.68TND 1.99
10.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84Rp 15.0K
$0.66TND 1.93
27.27%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88Rp 33.7K
$0.76TND 2.21
147.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.48Rp 8,621
$0.48TND 1.41
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.34Rp 6,097
$0.25TND 0.73
36.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.80Rp 32.2K
$3.46TND 10.08
-47.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.23Rp 272.9K
$7.69TND 22.44
98.05%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.39Rp 42.8K
$1.10TND 3.22
117.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80Rp 68.1K
$1.10TND 3.21
245.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.64Rp 11.4K
$0.33TND 0.96
93.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.26Rp 327.2K
$10.14TND 29.58
80.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.51Rp 9,057
$0.31TND 0.91
64.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29Rp 5,136
$0.31TND 0.90
-6.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.99Rp 53.5K
$7.54TND 22.00
-60.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64Rp 11.5K
$0.81TND 2.36
-20.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2KRp 415.3M
$35.7KTND 104.2K
-35.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KRp 486.3M
$35.0KTND 102.2K
-22.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.4Rp 902.3K
$44.74TND 131
12.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.25Rp 76.2K
$9.56TND 27.88
-55.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.16Rp 343.3K
$14.54TND 42.41
31.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.28Rp 470.9K
$24.12TND 70.4
8.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.75Rp 138.9K
$12.59TND 36.72
-38.44%
Cinema Ticket
$2.19Rp 39.2K
$4.65TND 13.57
-52.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$90.9Rp 1.6M
$107TND 313
-15.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,244Rp 76.0M
$2,445TND 7,132
73.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.49Rp 671.7K
$23.49TND 68.5
59.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.39Rp 437.0K
$44.61TND 130
-45.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.0Rp 1.1M
$48.02TND 140
27.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.32Rp 722.3K
$66.1TND 193
-39.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$77.1Rp 1.4M
$117TND 342
-34.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$127Rp 2.3M
$133TND 388
-4.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.8M
$376TND 1,096
-58.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$257Rp 4.6M
$274TND 800
-6.48%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,135Rp 20.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$700Rp 12.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$197Rp 3.5M
$339TND 988
-41.95%
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Kairouan: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $77.1 in Mataram versus $117 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 72% 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. Groceries tell a different story – $176 in Mataram vs $179 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 Kairouan compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $578 in Mataram, $565 in Kairouan – roughly 2% apart. Mataram 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 $867 per month in Mataram and $848 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 80% 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 $90.9 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 vs Kairouan?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $578 in Mataram and $565 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.