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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Mataram 55% lower, Kairouan 56% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.03 Rp 18.1K
$2.77 TND 7.99
-62.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.16 Rp 161.3K
$15.96 TND 46.05
-42.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.28 Rp 57.7K
$5.05 TND 14.59
-35.05%
Cappuccino
$1.51 Rp 26.5K
$0.75 TND 2.18
101.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 Rp 7,983
$0.64 TND 1.86
-29.69%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 Rp 5,825
$0.28 TND 0.81
17.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.71 Rp 47.6K
$1.66 TND 4.80
63.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43 Rp 60.4K
$2.11 TND 6.09
62.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.36 Rp 23.9K
$0.50 TND 1.43
172.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.51 Rp 26.6K
$0.08 TND 0.23
1787.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.87 Rp 15.3K
$1.40 TND 4.03
-37.86%
Eggs
$1.48 Rp 26.1K
$1.51 TND 4.36
-1.99%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.52 Rp 132.4K
$12.89 TND 37.20
-41.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.91 Rp 51.3K
$5.58 TND 16.10
-47.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 Rp 133.8K
$12.23 TND 35.29
-37.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 39.3K
$1.80 TND 5.20
23.89%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 Rp 22.4K
$2.24 TND 6.47
-42.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
$1.12 TND 3.23
56.25%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.23 Rp 21.6K
$0.72 TND 2.07
70.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.32 Rp 23.2K
$0.71 TND 2.04
85.92%
Onion (1kg)
$2.01 Rp 35.3K
$0.79 TND 2.27
154.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.73 Rp 12.8K
$0.55 TND 1.58
32.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 Rp 7,177
$0.25 TND 0.72
64.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.78 Rp 48.9K
$3.47 TND 10.02
-19.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.79 Rp 366.0K
$6.68 TND 19.28
211.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 Rp 32.7K
$1.15 TND 3.32
61.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02 Rp 53.1K
$1.10 TND 3.18
174.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,173
$0.31 TND 0.89
-6.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$11.72 TND 33.81
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.50 Rp 8,777
$0.32 TND 0.93
56.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 Rp 5,807
$0.35 TND 1.02
-5.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.88 Rp 50.6K
$7.37 TND 21.26
-60.92%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.58 Rp 10.3K
$0.75 TND 2.17
-22.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9K Rp 402.3M
$37.0K TND 106.8K
-38.26%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.9K Rp 544.2M
$35.5K TND 102.4K
-12.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$68.9 Rp 1.2M
$46.79 TND 135
47.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.02 Rp 70.8K
$9.87 TND 28.48
-59.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.52 Rp 343.7K
$15.14 TND 43.69
28.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.37 Rp 358.7K
$23.57 TND 68.0
-13.58%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.63 Rp 151.9K
$13.80 TND 39.83
-37.46%
Cinema Ticket
$2.79 Rp 49.1K
$4.66 TND 13.44
-40.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.1 Rp 1.7M
$100 TND 290
-6.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,667 Rp 135.0M
$2,509 TND 7,239
205.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.72 Rp 787.3K
$23.64 TND 68.2
89.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.49 Rp 519.3K
$37.06 TND 107
-20.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.1 Rp 1.3M
$47.27 TND 136
56.78%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.8 Rp 1.3M
$69.4 TND 200
4.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$227 Rp 4.0M
$118 TND 341
92.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$137 Rp 2.4M
$146 TND 421
-5.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$563 Rp 9.9M
$385 TND 1,110
46.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$370 Rp 6.5M
$274 TND 790
35.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,194 Rp 21.0M
$891 TND 2,570
34.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$662 Rp 11.6M
$684 TND 1,974
-3.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mataram
Kairouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$227 Rp 4.0M
$339 TND 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.

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