Cost of Living Comparison Between Msaken and Sfax Cost of Living Comparison Between Msaken and Sfax

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $670 in Msaken versus $614 in Sfax.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,077 in Msaken versus $998 in Sfax.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,483 in Msaken versus $1,382 in Sfax.

Living in Msaken is roughly 9% more expensive than Sfax, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Msaken 50% lower, Sfax 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.96 TND 14.42

$3.32 TND 9.63

49.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.14 TND 70.1

$20.66 TND 60.0

16.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 TND 14.69

$3.42 TND 9.94

47.95%

Cappuccino

$1.02 TND 2.97

$0.76 TND 2.19

34.21%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 TND 2.02

$0.64 TND 1.86

7.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 TND 0.84

$0.25 TND 0.73

16.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.17 TND 3.41

$1.56 TND 4.53

-25.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 TND 8.01

$1.89 TND 5.50

46.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.49 TND 1.43

$0.54 TND 1.58

-9.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.17 TND 0.48

$0.18 TND 0.52

-5.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 TND 3.75

$1.55 TND 4.49

-16.77%

Eggs

$1.67 TND 4.86

$1.66 TND 4.81

0.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$12.06 TND 35.00

$11.33 TND 32.90

6.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.33 TND 18.37

$5.62 TND 16.32

12.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.76 TND 39.95

$13.48 TND 39.13

2.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.09 TND 6.06

$2.22 TND 6.44

-5.86%

Banana (1kg)

$3.20 TND 9.30

$2.97 TND 8.64

7.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.12 TND 3.26

$1.02 TND 2.95

9.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.75 TND 2.19

$0.70 TND 2.03

7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$0.70 TND 2.02

$0.80 TND 2.33

-12.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.59 TND 1.71

$0.75 TND 2.19

-21.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 TND 1.17

$0.49 TND 1.42

-18.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.29 TND 0.84

$0.31 TND 0.89

-6.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.43 TND 9.96

$3.48 TND 10.10

-1.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.93 TND 17.23

$6.69 TND 19.41

-11.36%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.15 TND 3.35

$1.11 TND 3.21

3.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 TND 3.86

$1.10 TND 3.20

20.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.35 TND 1.03

$0.18 TND 0.53

94.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.97 TND 28.96

$10.29 TND 29.88

-3.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.31 TND 0.89

$0.30 TND 0.87

3.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 TND 0.89

$0.30 TND 0.88

3.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.49 TND 10.14

$7.31 TND 21.23

-52.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 TND 2.56

$0.83 TND 2.42

6.02%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$40.0K TND 116.1K

$35.1K TND 101.9K

13.92%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.9K TND 104.1K

$34.1K TND 99.1K

5.04%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$58.2 TND 169

$46.04 TND 134

26.48%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.99 TND 28.99

$9.67 TND 28.09

3.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.91 TND 54.9

$14.90 TND 43.25

26.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.79 TND 69.1

$27.11 TND 78.7

-12.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.54 TND 36.42

$7.31 TND 21.24

71.55%

Cinema Ticket

$5.32 TND 15.44

$4.51 TND 13.09

17.96%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$106 TND 308

$106 TND 309

-0.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,137 TND 9,109

$2,494 TND 7,241

25.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.07 TND 119

$44.42 TND 129

-7.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.7 TND 176

$43.53 TND 126

39.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 TND 293

$100 TND 290

0.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.2 TND 230

$65.8 TND 191

20.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$195 TND 566

$187 TND 544

3.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 TND 395

$133 TND 386

2.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$373 TND 1,083

$333 TND 966

12.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 TND 780

$248 TND 721

8.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$987 TND 2,866

$1,031 TND 2,994

-4.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$715 TND 2,076

$663 TND 1,924

7.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$248 TND 719

$322 TND 936

-23.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.96

13.6

-19.41%

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

Last update for Msaken: June 2, 2026

Last update for Sfax: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $195 in Msaken and $187 in Sfax. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sfax pays 30% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $24.00 in Msaken vs $21.00 in Sfax for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $194 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

Msaken vs Sfax: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sfax is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Sfax earns 30% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $195 in Msaken versus $187 in Sfax. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Sfax runs roughly 3% less than in Msaken. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $106 in Msaken versus $106 in Sfax. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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.

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.

Safety-wise, Msaken 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.

Expats usually find Sfax gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Msaken. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.