😐A single person spends $626 per month in Mataram vs $601 in Kairouan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $978 per month in Mataram vs $937 in Kairouan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,330 per month in Mataram vs $1,274 in Kairouan, rent included.
😐Mataram costs about 4% more than Kairouan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Mataram and Kairouan are more affordable than the global median – Mataram55% lower, Kairouan56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.03Rp 18.1K
$2.77TND 7.99
-62.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.16Rp 161.3K
$15.96TND 46.05
-42.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.28Rp 57.7K
$5.05TND 14.59
-35.05%
Cappuccino
$1.51Rp 26.5K
$0.75TND 2.18
101.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 7,983
$0.64TND 1.86
-29.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33Rp 5,825
$0.28TND 0.81
17.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.71Rp 47.6K
$1.66TND 4.80
63.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43Rp 60.4K
$2.11TND 6.09
62.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.36Rp 23.9K
$0.50TND 1.43
172.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51Rp 26.6K
$0.08TND 0.23
1787.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 15.3K
$1.40TND 4.03
-37.86%
Eggs
$1.48Rp 26.1K
$1.51TND 4.36
-1.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.52Rp 132.4K
$12.89TND 37.20
-41.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.91Rp 51.3K
$5.58TND 16.10
-47.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60Rp 133.8K
$12.23TND 35.29
-37.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.23Rp 39.3K
$1.80TND 5.20
23.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.28Rp 22.4K
$2.24TND 6.47
-42.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75Rp 30.8K
$1.12TND 3.23
56.25%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.23Rp 21.6K
$0.72TND 2.07
70.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32Rp 23.2K
$0.71TND 2.04
85.92%
Onion(1kg)
$2.01Rp 35.3K
$0.79TND 2.27
154.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73Rp 12.8K
$0.55TND 1.58
32.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,177
$0.25TND 0.72
64.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.78Rp 48.9K
$3.47TND 10.02
-19.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.79Rp 366.0K
$6.68TND 19.28
211.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86Rp 32.7K
$1.15TND 3.32
61.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02Rp 53.1K
$1.10TND 3.18
174.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,173
$0.31TND 0.89
-6.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.72TND 33.81
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.50Rp 8,777
$0.32TND 0.93
56.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33Rp 5,807
$0.35TND 1.02
-5.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.88Rp 50.6K
$7.37TND 21.26
-60.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.58Rp 10.3K
$0.75TND 2.17
-22.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KRp 402.3M
$37.0KTND 106.8K
-38.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9KRp 544.2M
$35.5KTND 102.4K
-12.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$68.9Rp 1.2M
$46.79TND 135
47.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.02Rp 70.8K
$9.87TND 28.48
-59.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.52Rp 343.7K
$15.14TND 43.69
28.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.37Rp 358.7K
$23.57TND 68.0
-13.58%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.63Rp 151.9K
$13.80TND 39.83
-37.46%
Cinema Ticket
$2.79Rp 49.1K
$4.66TND 13.44
-40.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.1Rp 1.7M
$100TND 290
-6.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,667Rp 135.0M
$2,509TND 7,239
205.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.72Rp 787.3K
$23.64TND 68.2
89.17%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.49Rp 519.3K
$37.06TND 107
-20.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.1Rp 1.3M
$47.27TND 136
56.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.8Rp 1.3M
$69.4TND 200
4.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$227Rp 4.0M
$118TND 341
92.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$137Rp 2.4M
$146TND 421
-5.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$563Rp 9.9M
$385TND 1,110
46.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$370Rp 6.5M
$274TND 790
35.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,194Rp 21.0M
$891TND 2,570
34.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$662Rp 11.6M
$684TND 1,974
-3.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$227Rp 4.0M
$339TND 979
-33.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.46
13.6
-30.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mataram: September 7, 2026
Last update for Kairouan: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $227 in Mataram versus $118 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 49% 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 $9.00 in Mataram versus $16.00 in Kairouan. Groceries tell a different story – $203 in Mataram vs $181 in Kairouan – so Kairouan 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: $626 in Mataram, $601 in Kairouan – roughly 4% apart. Mataram costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Mataram compared to Kairouan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $938 per month in Mataram and $902 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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Mataram and $16.00 in Kairouan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 12% more in Mataram, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How far does $1,200 go in Mataram compared to Kairouan?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $626 in Mataram and $601 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.