For one person, living is cheaper in Sfax: $620 a month against $1,806 in Athens, rent and utilities included – about $14,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sfax and in Athens actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $620 in Sfax versus $1,806 in Athens.
Sfax $620
Athens $1,806
Estimated couple costs with rent: $975 in Sfax versus $2,731 in Athens.
Sfax $975
Athens $2,731
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,329 in Sfax versus $3,656 in Athens.
Sfax $1,329
Athens $3,656
🌍
Living in Sfax costs roughly 66% less than in Athens, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
The two cities straddle the global median: Sfax is 54% below, Athens is 35% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Sfax
Athens
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.43TND 10.24
$16.66€14.85
-79.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.82TND 59.1
$66.2€59.0
-70.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.03TND 15.02
$11.06€9.86
-54.52%
Cappuccino
$0.71TND 2.10
$4.14€3.69
-82.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58TND 1.73
$2.80€2.50
-79.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27TND 0.81
$0.57€0.51
-52.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.56TND 4.66
$5.64€5.03
-72.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02TND 6.03
$5.46€4.86
-63.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sfax
Athens
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.50TND 1.49
$1.96€1.74
-74.49%
White Bread(500g)
$0.24TND 0.72
$1.41€1.25
-82.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38TND 4.12
$2.83€2.53
-51.24%
Eggs
$1.56TND 4.64
$5.04€4.49
-69.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.32TND 36.76
$15.35€13.68
-19.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.76TND 17.18
$10.34€9.22
-44.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.97TND 41.70
$18.97€16.92
-26.36%
Apples(1kg)
$1.77TND 5.29
$2.17€1.93
-18.43%
Banana(1kg)
$3.08TND 9.18
$1.91€1.70
61.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.04TND 3.11
$1.38€1.23
-24.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.68TND 2.04
$2.20€1.96
-69.09%
Potato(1kg)
$0.81TND 2.42
$1.10€0.98
-26.36%
Onion(1kg)
$0.77TND 2.29
$1.13€1.00
-31.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.58TND 1.72
$1.10€0.98
-47.27%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35TND 1.03
$0.83€0.74
-57.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.87TND 11.53
$5.60€4.99
-30.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.51TND 19.41
$10.19€9.08
-36.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19TND 3.56
$2.18€1.95
-45.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.04TND 3.10
$2.45€2.18
-57.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Sfax
Athens
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18TND 0.55
$1.38€1.23
-86.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.98TND 29.77
$30.87€27.52
-67.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.33TND 1.00
$4.37€3.90
-92.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34TND 1.03
$1.04€0.93
-67.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.56TND 22.56
$17.11€15.26
-55.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83TND 2.47
$2.31€2.06
-64.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5KTND 109.0K
$28.0K€24.9K
30.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KTND 104.2K
$28.0K€25.0K
24.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sfax
Athens
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.47TND 133
$210€187
-78.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.43TND 28.14
$26.70€23.80
-64.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.85TND 44.31
$30.13€26.86
-50.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sfax
Athens
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.37TND 81.7
$54.6€48.68
-49.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.32TND 21.85
$26.03€23.21
-71.88%
Cinema Ticket
$4.46TND 13.30
$10.78€9.61
-58.63%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sfax
Athens
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$98.6TND 294
$575€513
-82.86%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,470TND 7,370
$13.1K€11.7K
-81.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sfax
Athens
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.94TND 128
$93.2€83.1
-53.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.43TND 109
$40.68€36.27
-10.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114TND 340
$104€92.8
9.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.2TND 198
$128€114
-48.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sfax
Athens
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$194TND 579
$756€674
-74.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135TND 404
$652€582
-79.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$340TND 1,013
$1,294€1,153
-73.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$217TND 649
$1,163€1,037
-81.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,020TND 3,043
$4,008€3,574
-74.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$745TND 2,224
$3,452€3,078
-78.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sfax
Athens
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$327TND 976
$1,243€1,109
-73.69%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.6
4.48
203.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sfax: October 4, 2026
Last update for Athens: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Sfax
$193 30.7%
Athens
$315 17.6% ↑ 62.9%$121
🏠Accommodation & Living
Sfax
$135 21.5%
Athens
$652 36.5% ↑ 382%$517
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Sfax
$117 18.6%
Athens
$165 9.2% ↑ 41.2%$48
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sfax
$69 10.9%
Athens
$267 14.9% ↑ 288%$198
🍽Eating Out
Sfax
$66 10.5%
Athens
$269 15% ↑ 306%$202
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Sfax
$36 5.8%
Athens
$76 4.3% ↑ 110%$40
🚌Getting Around
Sfax
$13 2%
Athens
$46 2.6% ↑ 260%$33
🛒Groceries & Markets
Sfax
$458 34%
Athens
$737 19.9% ↑ 61.1%$280
🏠Accommodation & Living
Sfax
$217 16.1%
Athens
$1.2K 31.4% ↑ 435%$945
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Sfax
$259 19.3%
Athens
$366 9.9% ↑ 41.2%$107
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sfax
$78 5.8%
Athens
$293 7.9% ↑ 275%$215
🍽Eating Out
Sfax
$229 17%
Athens
$873 23.6% ↑ 282%$644
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Sfax
$80 5.9%
Athens
$178 4.8% ↑ 123%$98
🚌Getting Around
Sfax
$26 1.9%
Athens
$95 2.6% ↑ 265%$69
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $194 in Sfax and $756 in Athens. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Athens pays 280% 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: $20.00 in Sfax vs $66.0 in Athens for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $193 vs $315 per month, with Sfax cheaper across the board.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Sfax vs Athens: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Sfax or Athens?
Sfax wins on cost – living expenses run 191% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sfax the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Sfax or in Athens?
On paper, salaries run 280% lower in Athens. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Sfax compared to Athens?
Rent for a central apartment: $194 in Sfax versus $756 in Athens. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Sfax and in Athens?
Dining out is cheaper in Sfax – a meal for two runs $20.00 versus $66.0 in Athens. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Sfax compared to Athens?
All in, you'll spend $620 per month in Sfax versus $1,806 in Athens – a 191% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Sfax or in Athens?
At $620 in Sfax versus $1,806 in Athens, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Sfax but tight or insufficient in Athens. The gap between the two cities makes Sfax the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Sfax or Athens?
Both work as nomad bases, but Sfax delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $620 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Sfax hard to pass up.
How safe is Sfax compared to Athens?
Safety-wise, Sfax and Athens 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 more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Sfax gentler on the wallet – expenses run 191% less than in Athens. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.