Measurement units Temperature, distance and clock format
Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Sfax and Ben Arous
For one person, living is cheaper in Sfax: $626 a month against $698 in Ben Arous, rent and utilities included – about $860 less a year. Other living expenses 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 Ben Arous actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $626 per month in Sfax vs $698 in Ben Arous, rent included.
Sfax $626
Ben Arous $698
A couple spends around $983 per month in Sfax vs $1,098 in Ben Arous, rent included.
Sfax $983
Ben Arous $1,098
A family of three spends $1,341 per month in Sfax vs $1,497 in Ben Arous, rent included.
Sfax $1,341
Ben Arous $1,497
🙂
Sfax is about 10% cheaper than Ben Arous, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.
📊
Both Sfax and Ben Arous are more affordable than the global median – Sfax54% lower, Ben Arous48% lower.
Currency
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🍽 Eating Out
Sfax
Ben Arous
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.39TND 10.14
$5.31TND 15.90
-36.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.15TND 60.3
$19.81TND 59.3
1.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.98TND 14.92
$5.06TND 15.14
-1.58%
Cappuccino
$0.70TND 2.08
$1.16TND 3.48
-39.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63TND 1.89
$0.65TND 1.95
-3.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25TND 0.74
$0.27TND 0.81
-7.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.62TND 4.85
$1.65TND 4.95
-1.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95TND 5.83
$2.04TND 6.12
-4.41%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sfax
Ben Arous
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.46TND 1.38
$0.52TND 1.54
-11.54%
White Bread(500g)
$0.22TND 0.66
$0.10TND 0.29
120.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.36TND 4.08
$1.70TND 5.08
-20.00%
Eggs
$1.55TND 4.63
$1.48TND 4.43
4.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.52TND 37.51
$10.27TND 30.76
21.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.52TND 16.53
$5.91TND 17.70
-6.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.83TND 41.41
$17.19TND 51.5
-19.55%
Apples(1kg)
$1.81TND 5.43
$1.67TND 5.01
8.38%
Banana(1kg)
$3.14TND 9.41
$4.47TND 13.38
-29.75%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.05TND 3.14
$0.95TND 2.84
10.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.68TND 2.04
$0.80TND 2.41
-15.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.81TND 2.42
$0.90TND 2.69
-10.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.83TND 2.47
$0.66TND 1.97
25.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.58TND 1.74
$0.52TND 1.56
11.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.35TND 1.04
$0.31TND 0.93
12.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.73TND 11.17
$3.49TND 10.46
6.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.88TND 20.60
$6.62TND 19.82
3.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13TND 3.39
$1.00TND 2.99
13.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09TND 3.26
$1.23TND 3.68
-11.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Sfax
Ben Arous
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.18TND 0.53
$0.38TND 1.14
-52.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.97TND 29.87
$13.56TND 40.61
-26.47%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.33TND 0.99
$0.31TND 0.93
6.45%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31TND 0.94
$0.31TND 0.92
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.21TND 21.59
$1.75TND 5.23
312.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80TND 2.39
$0.86TND 2.58
-6.98%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.1KTND 108.0K
$39.9KTND 119.6K
-9.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4KTND 103.1K
$23.0KTND 69.0K
49.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sfax
Ben Arous
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.55TND 133
$53.9TND 162
-17.39%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.71TND 29.09
$9.87TND 29.56
-1.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.70TND 44.02
$20.83TND 62.4
-29.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sfax
Ben Arous
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.24TND 81.6
$32.08TND 96.1
-15.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.12TND 21.32
$16.52TND 49.46
-56.90%
Cinema Ticket
$4.65TND 13.91
$5.11TND 15.29
-9.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sfax
Ben Arous
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$98.6TND 295
$61.0TND 183
61.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,480TND 7,427
$1,947TND 5,830
27.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sfax
Ben Arous
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.87TND 125
$43.31TND 130
-3.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.55TND 106
$60.2TND 180
-40.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112TND 337
$85.8TND 257
31.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.2TND 201
$46.95TND 141
43.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sfax
Ben Arous
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$195TND 584
$209TND 626
-6.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$133TND 399
$156TND 467
-14.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$335TND 1,002
$386TND 1,155
-13.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$214TND 641
$267TND 799
-19.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,014TND 3,037
$933TND 2,795
8.64%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$720TND 2,156
$415TND 1,243
73.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sfax
Ben Arous
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$333TND 996
$247TND 739
34.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.6
10.5
29.52%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sfax: October 11, 2026
Last update for Ben Arous: October 13, 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 30.8%
Ben Arous
$204 29.3% ↑ 6%$11
🏠Accommodation & Living
Sfax
$133 21.3%
Ben Arous
$156 22.4% ↑ 17.1%$23
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Sfax
$116 18.5%
Ben Arous
$106 15.2% ↓ 8.1%$9.4
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sfax
$69 11%
Ben Arous
$85 12.1% ↑ 22.7%$16
🍽Eating Out
Sfax
$66 10.5%
Ben Arous
$88 12.6% ↑ 32.9%$22
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Sfax
$37 5.8%
Ben Arous
$42 6.1% ↑ 15.8%$5.8
🚌Getting Around
Sfax
$13 2%
Ben Arous
$17 2.4% ↑ 34.4%$4.3
🛒Groceries & Markets
Sfax
$456 34%
Ben Arous
$489 32.7% ↑ 7.3%$33
🏠Accommodation & Living
Sfax
$214 16%
Ben Arous
$267 17.8% ↑ 24.5%$53
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Sfax
$257 19.2%
Ben Arous
$236 15.8% ↓ 8.1%$21
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sfax
$79 5.9%
Ben Arous
$95 6.3% ↑ 20.1%$16
🍽Eating Out
Sfax
$229 17.1%
Ben Arous
$275 18.3% ↑ 19.8%$45
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Sfax
$80 6%
Ben Arous
$101 6.8% ↑ 26.1%$21
🚌Getting Around
Sfax
$26 1.9%
Ben Arous
$35 2.3% ↑ 35.6%$9.1
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $195 in Sfax versus $209 in Ben Arous. 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 35% higher in Sfax, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Sfax versus $20.00 in Ben Arous. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $204 – making Sfax the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Ben Arous: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Sfax and in Ben Arous compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $626 in Sfax, $698 in Ben Arous – roughly 12% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in eating out.
What salary covers living expenses in Sfax compared to Ben Arous?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $938 per month in Sfax and $1,047 in Ben Arous. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Sfax and Ben Arous?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Sfax, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $20.00 in Sfax and $20.00 in Ben Arous. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Sfax or Ben Arous?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $626 in Sfax and $698 in Ben Arous. That's a gap of about 12%.
How far does $1,200 go in Sfax compared to Ben Arous?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $626 in Sfax and $698 in Ben Arous, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Sfax or Ben Arous?
Families tend to lean toward Sfax – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Sfax or Ben Arous 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 Sfax and Ben Arous?
If budget matters most, go with Sfax. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ben Arous makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.