😐A single person spends $1,253 per month in Phuket vs $608 in Kairouan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,043 per month in Phuket vs $956 in Kairouan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,833 per month in Phuket vs $1,305 in Kairouan, rent included.
😐Phuket costs about 106% more than Kairouan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Phuket and Kairouan are more affordable than the global median – Phuket9% lower, Kairouan56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kairouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.56฿150
$2.74TND 7.92
66.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.62฿1,073
$16.55TND 47.84
97.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.90฿293
$5.30TND 15.32
67.92%
Cappuccino
$2.80฿92.3
$0.79TND 2.29
254.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88฿28.96
$0.66TND 1.90
33.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49฿16.09
$0.26TND 0.75
88.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39฿78.6
$1.67TND 4.83
43.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.71฿122
$2.03TND 5.86
82.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kairouan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79฿58.8
$0.49TND 1.42
265.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44฿47.43
$0.08TND 0.22
1700.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.58฿52.1
$1.38TND 4.00
14.49%
Eggs
$2.13฿70.0
$1.57TND 4.54
35.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$19.92฿655
$12.92TND 37.36
54.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.43฿113
$5.85TND 16.90
-41.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.33฿373
$12.26TND 35.45
-7.59%
Apples(1kg)
$2.95฿97.0
$1.89TND 5.46
56.08%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72฿56.6
$2.29TND 6.63
-24.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.32฿76.5
$1.06TND 3.07
118.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.08฿68.5
$0.76TND 2.20
173.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47฿48.37
$0.72TND 2.08
104.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36฿44.68
$0.79TND 2.29
72.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.10฿36.15
$0.55TND 1.59
100.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57฿18.90
$0.27TND 0.78
111.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.27฿140
$3.35TND 9.69
27.46%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.42฿606
$6.99TND 20.22
163.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87฿61.6
$1.20TND 3.48
55.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92฿96.1
$1.08TND 3.12
170.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kairouan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.22฿73.0
$0.35TND 1.01
534.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.90฿753
$10.36TND 29.96
121.04%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.03฿99.7
$0.30TND 0.86
910.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.07฿35.34
$0.35TND 1.02
205.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.93฿129
$7.44TND 21.51
-47.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49฿49.09
$0.82TND 2.38
81.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.1K฿892.5K
$40.7KTND 117.7K
-33.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K฿903.2K
$37.4KTND 108.3K
-26.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kairouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103฿3,382
$45.77TND 132
124.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.99฿362
$10.04TND 29.04
9.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.51฿576
$15.31TND 44.28
14.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kairouan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.5฿1,761
$23.75TND 68.7
125.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.20฿368
$14.15TND 40.92
-20.85%
Cinema Ticket
$7.48฿246
$4.57TND 13.22
63.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kairouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$557฿18.3K
$112TND 324
397.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.9K฿390.0K
$2,517TND 7,277
370.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kairouan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.1฿2,108
$23.76TND 68.7
169.65%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.07฿957
$45.13TND 130
-35.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.0฿3,157
$47.92TND 139
100.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3฿2,972
$65.3TND 189
38.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kairouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$730฿24.0K
$117TND 339
522.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$500฿16.4K
$159TND 459
215.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,090฿68.8K
$390TND 1,127
436.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,209฿39.8K
$284TND 821
325.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,596฿118.3K
$976TND 2,822
268.43%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,512฿82.7K
$634TND 1,832
296.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kairouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$503฿16.6K
$339TND 981
48.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.57
13.6
-59.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Phuket: August 31, 2026
Last update for Kairouan: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $730 in Phuket 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 48% higher in Phuket, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Phuket versus $17.00 in Kairouan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $273 vs $185 – making Kairouan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Phuket vs Kairouan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Phuket and in Kairouan compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,253 in Phuket, $608 in Kairouan – roughly 106% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Phuket compared to Kairouan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,880 per month in Phuket and $911 in Kairouan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Phuket 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 Phuket and in Kairouan?
Public transport costs about 121% less in Kairouan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Phuket and Kairouan?
Kindergarten costs $557 per month in Phuket and $112 in Kairouan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kairouan, where all-in costs run around $608, than in Phuket at $1,253. In Kairouan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Phuket and Kairouan?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $608 in Kairouan to $1,253 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Phuket 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 Phuket and Kairouan?
If budget matters most, go with Kairouan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.