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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Mataram 57% lower, Kairouan 58% lower.

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

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