Cost of Living Comparison Between Sfax and MahdiaCost 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 – Sfax53% lower, Mahdia59% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.43TND 9.92
$2.63TND 7.61
30.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.68TND 59.8
$20.48TND 59.2
0.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.04TND 14.57
$4.85TND 14.01
3.92%
Cappuccino
$0.76TND 2.21
$0.94TND 2.73
-19.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60TND 1.74
$0.61TND 1.75
-1.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27TND 0.79
$0.19TND 0.55
42.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.57TND 4.55
$1.01TND 2.93
55.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10TND 6.07
$1.50TND 4.33
40.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.51TND 1.48
$0.45TND 1.29
13.33%
White Bread(500g)
$0.23TND 0.66
$0.27TND 0.77
-14.81%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39TND 4.02
$1.36TND 3.94
2.21%
Eggs
$1.67TND 4.82
$1.64TND 4.74
1.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.84TND 37.12
$11.95TND 34.56
7.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.69TND 16.45
$5.24TND 15.16
8.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.27TND 41.28
$14.99TND 43.33
-4.80%
Apples(1kg)
$1.79TND 5.17
$2.84TND 8.21
-36.97%
Banana(1kg)
$3.24TND 9.36
$2.94TND 8.49
10.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.08TND 3.12
$1.47TND 4.26
-26.53%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.74TND 2.14
$0.75TND 2.16
-1.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.76TND 2.21
$0.64TND 1.85
18.75%
Onion(1kg)
$0.78TND 2.25
$0.35TND 1.02
122.86%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.59TND 1.71
$0.42TND 1.20
40.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33TND 0.94
$0.32TND 0.94
3.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96TND 11.46
$3.60TND 10.42
10.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.64TND 19.20
$3.52TND 10.18
88.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.15TND 3.31
$1.59TND 4.59
-27.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.11TND 3.20
$1.30TND 3.75
-14.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.17TND 0.50
$0.33TND 0.94
-48.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.28TND 29.71
$13.45TND 38.90
-23.57%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.31TND 0.89
$0.32TND 0.93
-3.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35TND 1.02
$0.28TND 0.81
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.73TND 22.35
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90TND 2.59
$0.90TND 2.60
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1KTND 107.3K
$40.8KTND 118.0K
-9.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3KTND 102.0K
$41.4KTND 119.6K
-14.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.02TND 133
$56.6TND 164
-18.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.74TND 28.15
$7.52TND 21.74
29.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.80TND 42.80
$20.75TND 60.0
-28.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$28.02TND 81.0
$21.02TND 60.8
33.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.20TND 20.82
$7.52TND 21.75
-4.26%
Cinema Ticket
$4.59TND 13.28
$7.02TND 20.29
-34.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$99.7TND 288
$111TND 320
-9.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,463TND 7,123
$1,027TND 2,968
139.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.92TND 124
$40.31TND 117
6.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.95TND 107
$34.83TND 101
6.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$116TND 336
$79.2TND 229
46.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.6TND 195
$24.10TND 69.7
180.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$194TND 561
$130TND 376
49.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$140TND 406
$102TND 295
37.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$339TND 981
$300TND 867
13.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$217TND 626
$177TND 512
22.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,037TND 2,998
$676TND 1,953
53.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$746TND 2,158
$203TND 586
268.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$332TND 960
$236TND 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.