🙂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 – Mataram58% lower, Kairouan58% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.11Rp 20.1K
$2.39TND 7.05
-53.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.00Rp 198.9K
$8.64TND 25.50
27.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.28Rp 41.2K
$3.33TND 9.83
-31.53%
Cappuccino
$1.80Rp 32.6K
$0.77TND 2.26
133.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,885
$0.61TND 1.79
-9.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36Rp 6,545
$0.13TND 0.38
176.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.63Rp 47.6K
$1.49TND 4.41
76.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67Rp 66.3K
$1.91TND 5.63
92.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.53Rp 27.7K
$0.49TND 1.46
212.24%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61Rp 29.2K
$0.08TND 0.24
1912.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.76Rp 13.8K
$1.55TND 4.57
-50.97%
Eggs
$1.37Rp 24.8K
$1.50TND 4.42
-8.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.31Rp 59.8K
$11.35TND 33.50
-70.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.59Rp 64.9K
$5.61TND 16.56
-36.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.99Rp 108.4K
$11.94TND 35.23
-49.83%
Apples(1kg)
$1.72Rp 31.1K
$2.18TND 6.43
-21.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.22Rp 22.0K
$2.30TND 6.79
-46.96%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89Rp 34.2K
$1.00TND 2.96
89.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.75Rp 13.5K
$0.74TND 2.17
1.35%
Potato(1kg)
$0.84Rp 15.2K
$0.69TND 2.04
21.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80Rp 32.6K
$0.73TND 2.14
146.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.48Rp 8,653
$0.49TND 1.43
-2.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32Rp 5,704
$0.27TND 0.80
18.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.78Rp 32.1K
$3.35TND 9.89
-46.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$15.33Rp 277.1K
$6.63TND 19.58
131.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.36Rp 42.7K
$1.14TND 3.37
107.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58Rp 64.7K
$1.07TND 3.15
234.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63Rp 11.5K
$0.33TND 0.97
90.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.41Rp 332.9K
$10.13TND 29.91
81.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.51Rp 9,200
$0.31TND 0.92
64.52%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,671
$0.33TND 0.99
-6.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.08Rp 55.7K
$7.38TND 21.79
-58.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.69Rp 12.4K
$0.79TND 2.32
-12.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3KRp 421.3M
$36.3KTND 107.0K
-35.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5KRp 497.5M
$34.5KTND 101.8K
-20.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.4Rp 911.1K
$46.19TND 136
9.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.32Rp 78.2K
$9.78TND 28.87
-55.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.37Rp 350.3K
$14.61TND 43.12
32.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.95Rp 487.3K
$23.96TND 70.7
12.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.48Rp 135.2K
$12.48TND 36.82
-40.06%
Cinema Ticket
$2.10Rp 38.1K
$4.63TND 13.65
-54.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$91.5Rp 1.7M
$107TND 314
-14.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,217Rp 76.2M
$2,475TND 7,304
70.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.84Rp 666.2K
$23.83TND 70.3
54.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.43Rp 441.7K
$44.37TND 131
-44.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.5Rp 1.1M
$47.47TND 140
29.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.48Rp 731.9K
$63.8TND 188
-36.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$76.8Rp 1.4M
$115TND 341
-33.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$128Rp 2.3M
$134TND 394
-4.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$153Rp 2.8M
$373TND 1,099
-58.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$259Rp 4.7M
$274TND 808
-5.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,155Rp 20.9M
$968TND 2,858
19.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$679Rp 12.3M
$568TND 1,677
19.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$192Rp 3.5M
$326TND 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.