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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $614 per month in Sfax vs $575 in Mahdia, rent included.

A couple spends around $998 per month in Sfax vs $880 in Mahdia, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,382 per month in Sfax vs $1,185 in Mahdia, rent included.

Sfax costs about 7% more than Mahdia, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sfax and Mahdia are more affordable than the global median – Sfax 54% lower, Mahdia 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.32 TND 9.63
$2.59 TND 7.52
28.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.66 TND 60.0
$20.57 TND 59.7
0.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.42 TND 9.94
$3.38 TND 9.81
1.18%
Cappuccino
$0.76 TND 2.19
$0.71 TND 2.05
7.04%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 TND 1.86
$0.57 TND 1.65
12.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 TND 0.73
$0.21 TND 0.62
19.05%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.56 TND 4.53
$0.99 TND 2.89
57.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 TND 5.50
$1.49 TND 4.32
26.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.54 TND 1.58
$0.44 TND 1.27
22.73%
White Bread (500g)
$0.18 TND 0.52
$0.18 TND 0.53
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 TND 4.49
$1.53 TND 4.45
1.31%
Eggs
$1.66 TND 4.81
$1.57 TND 4.55
5.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.33 TND 32.90
$11.17 TND 32.43
1.43%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.62 TND 16.32
$5.57 TND 16.17
0.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.48 TND 39.13
$13.32 TND 38.68
1.20%
Apples (1kg)
$2.22 TND 6.44
$2.26 TND 6.56
-1.77%
Banana (1kg)
$2.97 TND 8.64
$2.83 TND 8.21
4.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.02 TND 2.95
$1.01 TND 2.93
0.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.70 TND 2.03
$0.69 TND 2.01
1.45%
Potato (1kg)
$0.80 TND 2.33
$0.66 TND 1.90
21.21%
Onion (1kg)
$0.75 TND 2.19
$0.32 TND 0.94
134.38%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.49 TND 1.42
$0.32 TND 0.94
53.12%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 TND 0.89
$0.31 TND 0.90
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.48 TND 10.10
$3.53 TND 10.25
-1.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.69 TND 19.41
$3.45 TND 10.02
93.91%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 TND 3.21
$1.14 TND 3.31
-2.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 TND 3.20
$1.10 TND 3.19
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.18 TND 0.53
$0.35 TND 1.03
-48.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.29 TND 29.88
$10.07 TND 29.24
2.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.30 TND 0.87
$0.30 TND 0.87
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 TND 0.88
$0.24 TND 0.70
25.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.31 TND 21.23
$7.66 TND 22.23
-4.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 TND 2.42
$0.81 TND 2.35
2.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K TND 101.9K
$35.4K TND 102.9K
-0.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.1K TND 99.1K
$34.7K TND 100.7K
-1.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$46.04 TND 134
$46.34 TND 135
-0.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.67 TND 28.09
$9.81 TND 28.49
-1.43%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$14.90 TND 43.25
$14.97 TND 43.48
-0.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.11 TND 78.7
$20.99 TND 61.0
29.16%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.31 TND 21.24
$7.56 TND 21.95
-3.31%
Cinema Ticket
$4.51 TND 13.09
$4.60 TND 13.37
-1.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$106 TND 309
$109 TND 317
-2.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,494 TND 7,241
$1,007 TND 2,925
147.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.42 TND 129
$45.01 TND 131
-1.31%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.53 TND 126
$34.01 TND 98.8
27.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 TND 290
$103 TND 299
-2.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.8 TND 191
$23.42 TND 68.0
180.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$187 TND 544
$142 TND 411
32.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$133 TND 386
$134 TND 389
-0.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$333 TND 966
$289 TND 839
15.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$248 TND 721
$159 TND 462
56.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,031 TND 2,994
$1,030 TND 2,992
0.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$663 TND 1,924
$645 TND 1,873
2.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sfax
Mahdia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$322 TND 936
$238 TND 691
35.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.6
13.6
-

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

Last update for Sfax: May 31, 2026

Last update for Mahdia: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $187 in Sfax versus $142 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 35% 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 $21.00 in Mahdia. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Sfax vs $178 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
Is Mahdia cheaper than Sfax?
Yes – Sfax is pricier by about 7%, 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 $921 per month in Sfax and $863 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 $106 per month in Sfax and $109 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 Mahdia?
Groceries cost about 7% 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 $614 in Sfax and $575 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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