Cost of Living Comparison Between Sfax and Mahdia Cost of Living Comparison Between Sfax and Mahdia

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $607 per month in Sfax vs $573 in Mahdia, rent included.

A couple spends around $984 per month in Sfax vs $873 in Mahdia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,360 per month in Sfax vs $1,174 in Mahdia, rent included.

Sfax costs about 6% more than Mahdia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sfax and Mahdia are more affordable than the global median – Sfax 55% lower, Mahdia 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.37 TND 9.85

$2.47 TND 7.24

36.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.38 TND 59.6

$20.41 TND 59.7

-0.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.30 TND 9.67

$3.40 TND 9.96

-2.94%

Cappuccino

$0.78 TND 2.27

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

$0.64 TND 1.89

$0.57 TND 1.67

12.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 TND 0.73

$0.22 TND 0.63

13.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 TND 4.55

$1.00 TND 2.93

56.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 TND 5.61

$1.56 TND 4.57

23.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.53 TND 1.56

$0.44 TND 1.27

20.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.16 TND 0.46

$0.20 TND 0.57

-20.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.50 TND 4.38

$1.56 TND 4.56

-3.85%

Eggs

$1.58 TND 4.63

$1.60 TND 4.68

-1.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.15 TND 32.62

$11.46 TND 33.52

-2.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.76 TND 16.84

$5.62 TND 16.44

2.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.29 TND 38.88

$13.74 TND 40.19

-3.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.23 TND 6.53

$2.18 TND 6.37

2.29%

Banana (1kg)

$2.95 TND 8.64

$2.82 TND 8.26

4.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.05 TND 3.08

$1.04 TND 3.04

0.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.69 TND 2.03

$0.69 TND 2.02

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 TND 2.35

$0.70 TND 2.04

14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.77 TND 2.25

$0.33 TND 0.96

133.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 TND 1.50

$0.35 TND 1.03

45.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 TND 0.90

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.60 TND 10.55

$3.47 TND 10.16

3.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.65 TND 19.46

$3.34 TND 9.78

99.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.10 TND 3.22

$1.10 TND 3.21

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 TND 3.08

$1.10 TND 3.21

-4.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 TND 0.61

$0.33 TND 0.95

-36.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.10 TND 29.56

$10.09 TND 29.53

0.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.32 TND 0.95

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 TND 0.97

$0.24 TND 0.70

37.50%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.59 TND 22.22

$7.25 TND 21.22

4.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 TND 2.40

$0.77 TND 2.25

6.49%

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

$36.3K TND 106.2K

$35.5K TND 103.7K

2.34%

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

$35.0K TND 102.5K

$34.6K TND 101.2K

1.36%

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

$45.93 TND 134

$46.47 TND 136

-1.16%

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

$9.42 TND 27.57

$9.40 TND 27.51

0.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.56 TND 42.61

$14.59 TND 42.68

-0.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.04 TND 79.1

$21.16 TND 61.9

27.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.49 TND 21.92

$7.61 TND 22.26

-1.58%

Cinema Ticket

$4.67 TND 13.68

$4.54 TND 13.27

2.86%

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

$110 TND 322

$110 TND 320

0.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,482 TND 7,262

$997 TND 2,919

148.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.06 TND 129

$45.44 TND 133

-3.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.10 TND 129

$34.20 TND 100

28.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 TND 297

$101 TND 295

0.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.1 TND 190

$23.50 TND 68.8

176.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$187 TND 546

$144 TND 422

29.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$134 TND 391

$133 TND 390

0.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 TND 984

$288 TND 843

16.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$249 TND 729

$158 TND 462

57.79%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,017 TND 2,977

$672 TND 1,967

51.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$647 TND 1,893

$206 TND 602

214.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$327 TND 957

$238 TND 696

37.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.6

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

Last update for Sfax: July 14, 2026

Last update for Mahdia: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $187 in Sfax versus $144 in Mahdia. 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 38% higher in Sfax, 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 $20.00 in Sfax versus $20.00 in Mahdia. Groceries tell a different story – $188 in Sfax vs $180 in Mahdia – so Mahdia wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Mahdia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sfax is pricier by about 6%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $910 per month in Sfax and $860 in Mahdia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mahdia, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $110 per month in Sfax and $110 in Mahdia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Sfax, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $607 in Sfax and $573 in Mahdia, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Mahdia – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Mahdia. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sfax makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.