Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kairouan Cost of Living Comparison Between Phuket and Kairouan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,265 per month in Phuket vs $567 in Kairouan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,297 per month in Phuket vs $894 in Kairouan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,329 per month in Phuket vs $1,221 in Kairouan, rent included.

Phuket costs about 123% more than Kairouan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Phuket and Kairouan are more affordable than the global median – Phuket 6% lower, Kairouan 58% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Phuket
Kairouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.70 ฿154
$2.40 TND 6.95
95.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$45.37 ฿1,483
$8.57 TND 24.83
429.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.43 ฿276
$3.43 TND 9.94
145.77%
Cappuccino
$2.93 ฿95.7
$0.72 TND 2.07
306.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.69 ฿22.42
$0.60 TND 1.73
15.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 ฿12.00
$0.16 TND 0.46
131.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 ฿78.7
$1.50 TND 4.33
60.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.72 ฿122
$1.97 TND 5.70
88.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Phuket
Kairouan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.23 ฿73.0
$0.48 TND 1.39
364.58%
White Bread (500g)
$1.83 ฿59.9
$0.08 TND 0.24
2187.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 ฿70.9
$1.49 TND 4.32
45.64%
Eggs
$2.21 ฿72.4
$1.54 TND 4.45
43.51%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$19.74 ฿645
$11.45 TND 33.16
72.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 ฿119
$5.73 TND 16.60
-36.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.53 ฿442
$12.06 TND 34.93
12.19%
Apples (1kg)
$3.28 ฿107
$2.17 TND 6.30
51.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 ฿52.7
$2.32 TND 6.73
-30.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 ฿78.7
$1.01 TND 2.92
138.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.08 ฿68.1
$0.73 TND 2.12
184.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.53 ฿49.97
$0.71 TND 2.07
115.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.48 ฿48.41
$0.76 TND 2.21
94.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 ฿32.32
$0.51 TND 1.48
94.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 ฿16.68
$0.25 TND 0.72
104.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.41 ฿144
$3.42 TND 9.90
28.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.38 ฿634
$7.51 TND 21.76
158.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 ฿58.1
$1.09 TND 3.15
63.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 ฿88.7
$1.09 TND 3.16
148.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Phuket
Kairouan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.37 ฿44.83
$0.36 TND 1.03
280.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.39 ฿372
$10.13 TND 29.35
12.44%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.02 ฿98.7
$0.29 TND 0.83
941.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.99 ฿32.51
$0.31 TND 0.89
219.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$14.10 ฿461
$7.37 TND 21.33
91.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 ฿44.55
$0.80 TND 2.32
70.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K ฿921.9K
$35.7K TND 103.4K
-21.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K ฿1.1M
$34.8K TND 100.7K
-5.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Phuket
Kairouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$122 ฿3,978
$44.95 TND 130
170.75%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 ฿444
$9.68 TND 28.04
40.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.31 ฿599
$14.90 TND 43.16
22.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Phuket
Kairouan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$60.2 ฿1,969
$23.62 TND 68.4
154.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.14 ฿560
$12.93 TND 37.44
32.56%
Cinema Ticket
$8.69 ฿284
$4.44 TND 12.85
95.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Phuket
Kairouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$693 ฿22.7K
$108 TND 313
541.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.7K ฿512.8K
$2,493 TND 7,219
529.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Phuket
Kairouan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.5 ฿1,946
$24.09 TND 69.8
147.11%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.77 ฿1,137
$44.45 TND 129
-21.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$115 ฿3,746
$47.09 TND 136
143.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.3 ฿2,723
$66.1 TND 191
26.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Phuket
Kairouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$613 ฿20.0K
$117 TND 338
425.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$437 ฿14.3K
$133 TND 386
228.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,094 ฿68.5K
$372 TND 1,078
462.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,509 ฿49.3K
$268 TND 775
463.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,749 ฿122.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,616 ฿85.5K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Phuket
Kairouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$508 ฿16.6K
$329 TND 954
54.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.33
13.6
-60.81%

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

Last update for Phuket: June 2, 2026

Last update for Kairouan: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $613 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 54% 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 $45.00 in Phuket versus $9.00 in Kairouan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $181 – 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 Kairouan compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,265 in Phuket, $567 in Kairouan – roughly 123% 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 $1,898 per month in Phuket and $851 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 Kairouan?
Public transport costs about 12% 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 $693 per month in Phuket and $108 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 $567, than in Phuket at $1,265. 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 $567 in Kairouan to $1,265 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.

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