Cost of Living Comparison Between Monastir and Sfax Cost of Living Comparison Between Monastir and Sfax

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $678 in Monastir versus $628 in Sfax.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,094 in Monastir versus $1,001 in Sfax.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,510 in Monastir versus $1,374 in Sfax.

Living in Monastir is roughly 8% more expensive than in Sfax, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Monastir 49% lower, Sfax 53% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monastir
Sfax
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.95 TND 11.57
$3.42 TND 10.00
15.50%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.15 TND 70.7
$20.35 TND 59.6
18.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.21 TND 15.25
$3.38 TND 9.89
54.14%
Cappuccino
$0.88 TND 2.57
$0.78 TND 2.27
12.82%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 TND 2.02
$0.65 TND 1.89
6.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 TND 0.84
$0.25 TND 0.74
16.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.66 TND 4.85
$1.51 TND 4.42
9.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81 TND 5.31
$1.92 TND 5.62
-5.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monastir
Sfax
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.47 TND 1.37
$0.53 TND 1.56
-11.32%
White Bread (500g)
$0.15 TND 0.44
$0.18 TND 0.53
-16.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.73 TND 5.06
$1.54 TND 4.51
12.34%
Eggs
$1.56 TND 4.57
$1.59 TND 4.66
-1.89%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.36 TND 36.17
$11.11 TND 32.53
11.25%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.09 TND 17.82
$5.74 TND 16.81
6.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.05 TND 41.14
$13.68 TND 40.04
2.70%
Apples (1kg)
$1.57 TND 4.60
$2.14 TND 6.25
-26.64%
Banana (1kg)
$3.08 TND 9.01
$2.95 TND 8.64
4.41%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.93 TND 2.73
$1.05 TND 3.07
-11.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.75 TND 2.20
$0.74 TND 2.15
1.35%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 TND 2.06
$0.75 TND 2.19
-6.67%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 TND 1.86
$0.77 TND 2.25
-16.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.43 TND 1.25
$0.48 TND 1.39
-10.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 TND 0.92
$0.33 TND 0.97
-6.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.35 TND 9.80
$3.47 TND 10.15
-3.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$5.14 TND 15.05
$6.90 TND 20.20
-25.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 TND 3.65
$1.09 TND 3.18
14.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.38 TND 4.05
$1.07 TND 3.12
28.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Monastir
Sfax
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 TND 1.05
$0.21 TND 0.61
71.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.43 TND 33.46
$10.36 TND 30.32
10.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.32 TND 0.95
$0.32 TND 0.95
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 TND 0.90
$0.33 TND 0.98
-6.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.37 TND 9.86
$7.48 TND 21.89
-54.95%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 TND 2.40
$0.88 TND 2.58
-6.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.3K TND 118.1K
$35.3K TND 103.2K
14.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.3K TND 106.2K
$34.7K TND 101.7K
4.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monastir
Sfax
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$57.8 TND 169
$45.35 TND 133
27.43%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.03 TND 29.36
$9.52 TND 27.88
5.36%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.26 TND 53.5
$14.89 TND 43.60
22.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monastir
Sfax
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.02 TND 61.6
$27.70 TND 81.1
-24.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.89 TND 20.16
$7.53 TND 22.03
-8.50%
Cinema Ticket
$5.31 TND 15.54
$4.47 TND 13.08
18.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monastir
Sfax
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$107 TND 314
$109 TND 320
-1.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,171 TND 9,283
$2,511 TND 7,352
26.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monastir
Sfax
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.00 TND 135
$45.47 TND 133
1.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.2 TND 179
$44.31 TND 130
38.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 TND 331
$102 TND 298
11.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.0 TND 240
$63.8 TND 187
28.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monastir
Sfax
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$203 TND 594
$189 TND 553
7.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$138 TND 403
$132 TND 387
3.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$477 TND 1,395
$331 TND 968
44.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$276 TND 808
$248 TND 725
11.47%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,251 TND 3,661
$1,002 TND 2,933
24.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$614 TND 1,796
$638 TND 1,868
-3.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monastir
Sfax
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$354 TND 1,035
$321 TND 941
10.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11
13.6
-19.12%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Monastir: July 20, 2026

Last update for Sfax: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $203 in Monastir and $189 in Sfax. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Monastir pays 10% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $24.00 in Monastir vs $20.00 in Sfax for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $191 vs $190 per month, with Sfax cheaper across the board.

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
Monastir vs Sfax: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sfax cheaper than Monastir?
Sfax is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Monastir or Sfax?
Average pay runs 10% higher in Monastir, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Monastir and Sfax?
Rent for a central apartment: $203 in Monastir versus $189 in Sfax. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Monastir and in Sfax?
All in, you'll spend $678 per month in Monastir versus $628 in Sfax – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Sfax runs roughly 10% less than in Monastir. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,200 enough for either Monastir or Sfax?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Sfax gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Monastir or in Sfax?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Monastir or Sfax?
Safety-wise, Monastir and Sfax are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Sfax gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Monastir. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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