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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $649 per month in Sfax vs $562 in Mahdia, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,001 per month in Sfax vs $897 in Mahdia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,353 per month in Sfax vs $1,232 in Mahdia, rent included.

Sfax costs about 15% more than Mahdia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sfax and Mahdia are more affordable than the global median – Sfax 53% lower, Mahdia 59% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.43 TND 9.92
$2.63 TND 7.61
30.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.68 TND 59.8
$20.48 TND 59.2
0.98%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.04 TND 14.57
$4.85 TND 14.01
3.92%
Cappuccino
$0.76 TND 2.21
$0.94 TND 2.73
-19.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 TND 1.74
$0.61 TND 1.75
-1.64%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 TND 0.79
$0.19 TND 0.55
42.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.57 TND 4.55
$1.01 TND 2.93
55.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10 TND 6.07
$1.50 TND 4.33
40.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.51 TND 1.48
$0.45 TND 1.29
13.33%
White Bread (500g)
$0.23 TND 0.66
$0.27 TND 0.77
-14.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.39 TND 4.02
$1.36 TND 3.94
2.21%
Eggs
$1.67 TND 4.82
$1.64 TND 4.74
1.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.84 TND 37.12
$11.95 TND 34.56
7.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.69 TND 16.45
$5.24 TND 15.16
8.59%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.27 TND 41.28
$14.99 TND 43.33
-4.80%
Apples (1kg)
$1.79 TND 5.17
$2.84 TND 8.21
-36.97%
Banana (1kg)
$3.24 TND 9.36
$2.94 TND 8.49
10.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.08 TND 3.12
$1.47 TND 4.26
-26.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.74 TND 2.14
$0.75 TND 2.16
-1.33%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 TND 2.21
$0.64 TND 1.85
18.75%
Onion (1kg)
$0.78 TND 2.25
$0.35 TND 1.02
122.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 TND 1.71
$0.42 TND 1.20
40.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33 TND 0.94
$0.32 TND 0.94
3.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 TND 11.46
$3.60 TND 10.42
10.00%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.64 TND 19.20
$3.52 TND 10.18
88.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15 TND 3.31
$1.59 TND 4.59
-27.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11 TND 3.20
$1.30 TND 3.75
-14.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.17 TND 0.50
$0.33 TND 0.94
-48.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.28 TND 29.71
$13.45 TND 38.90
-23.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.31 TND 0.89
$0.32 TND 0.93
-3.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 TND 1.02
$0.28 TND 0.81
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.73 TND 22.35
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 TND 2.59
$0.90 TND 2.60
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K TND 107.3K
$40.8K TND 118.0K
-9.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3K TND 102.0K
$41.4K TND 119.6K
-14.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.02 TND 133
$56.6 TND 164
-18.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.74 TND 28.15
$7.52 TND 21.74
29.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.80 TND 42.80
$20.75 TND 60.0
-28.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.02 TND 81.0
$21.02 TND 60.8
33.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.20 TND 20.82
$7.52 TND 21.75
-4.26%
Cinema Ticket
$4.59 TND 13.28
$7.02 TND 20.29
-34.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$99.7 TND 288
$111 TND 320
-9.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,463 TND 7,123
$1,027 TND 2,968
139.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.92 TND 124
$40.31 TND 117
6.47%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.95 TND 107
$34.83 TND 101
6.09%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$116 TND 336
$79.2 TND 229
46.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.6 TND 195
$24.10 TND 69.7
180.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$194 TND 561
$130 TND 376
49.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$140 TND 406
$102 TND 295
37.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$339 TND 981
$300 TND 867
13.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$217 TND 626
$177 TND 512
22.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,037 TND 2,998
$676 TND 1,953
53.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$746 TND 2,158
$203 TND 586
268.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$332 TND 960
$236 TND 682
40.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.6
10.33
31.66%

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

Last update for Sfax: August 31, 2026

Last update for Mahdia: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $194 in Sfax versus $130 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 41% 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 $21.00 in Sfax versus $20.00 in Mahdia. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $193 – making Mahdia 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
Sfax vs Mahdia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mahdia cheaper than Sfax?
Yes – Sfax is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $973 per month in Sfax and $843 in Mahdia. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $99.7 per month in Sfax and $111 in Mahdia. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Sfax and in Mahdia?
Groceries cost about 2% more in Sfax, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 enough for either Sfax or Mahdia?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $649 in Sfax and $562 in Mahdia, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Sfax or Mahdia more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Sfax or Mahdia?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.

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