Cost of Living Comparison Between Sfax and Msaken Cost of Living Comparison Between Sfax and Msaken

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $614 in Sfax versus $670 in Msaken.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $998 in Sfax versus $1,077 in Msaken.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,382 in Sfax versus $1,483 in Msaken.

Living in Sfax costs roughly 8% less than in Msaken, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sfax 54% lower, Msaken 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.32 TND 9.63

$4.96 TND 14.42

-33.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.66 TND 60.0

$24.14 TND 70.1

-14.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.42 TND 9.94

$5.06 TND 14.69

-32.41%

Cappuccino

$0.76 TND 2.19

$1.02 TND 2.97

-25.49%

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

$0.64 TND 1.86

$0.69 TND 2.02

-7.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 TND 0.73

$0.29 TND 0.84

-13.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.56 TND 4.53

$1.17 TND 3.41

33.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 TND 5.50

$2.76 TND 8.01

-31.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.54 TND 1.58

$0.49 TND 1.43

10.20%

White Bread (500g)

$0.18 TND 0.52

$0.17 TND 0.48

5.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.55 TND 4.49

$1.29 TND 3.75

20.16%

Eggs

$1.66 TND 4.81

$1.67 TND 4.86

-0.60%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.33 TND 32.90

$12.06 TND 35.00

-6.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.62 TND 16.32

$6.33 TND 18.37

-11.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.48 TND 39.13

$13.76 TND 39.95

-2.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.22 TND 6.44

$2.09 TND 6.06

6.22%

Banana (1kg)

$2.97 TND 8.64

$3.20 TND 9.30

-7.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.02 TND 2.95

$1.12 TND 3.26

-8.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.70 TND 2.03

$0.75 TND 2.19

-6.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 TND 2.33

$0.70 TND 2.02

14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.75 TND 2.19

$0.59 TND 1.71

27.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.49 TND 1.42

$0.40 TND 1.17

22.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.31 TND 0.89

$0.29 TND 0.84

6.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.48 TND 10.10

$3.43 TND 9.96

1.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.69 TND 19.41

$5.93 TND 17.23

12.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 TND 3.21

$1.15 TND 3.35

-3.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 TND 3.20

$1.33 TND 3.86

-17.29%

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

$9.97 TND 28.96

3.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.30 TND 0.87

$0.31 TND 0.89

-3.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.30 TND 0.88

$0.31 TND 0.89

-3.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.31 TND 21.23

$3.49 TND 10.14

109.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 TND 2.42

$0.88 TND 2.56

-5.68%

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

$35.1K TND 101.9K

$40.0K TND 116.1K

-12.22%

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

$34.1K TND 99.1K

$35.9K TND 104.1K

-4.80%

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

$46.04 TND 134

$58.2 TND 169

-20.93%

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

$9.67 TND 28.09

$9.99 TND 28.99

-3.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.90 TND 43.25

$18.91 TND 54.9

-21.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.11 TND 78.7

$23.79 TND 69.1

13.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.31 TND 21.24

$12.54 TND 36.42

-41.71%

Cinema Ticket

$4.51 TND 13.09

$5.32 TND 15.44

-15.23%

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

$106 TND 309

$106 TND 308

0.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,494 TND 7,241

$3,137 TND 9,109

-20.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.42 TND 129

$41.07 TND 119

8.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.53 TND 126

$60.7 TND 176

-28.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 TND 290

$101 TND 293

-0.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.8 TND 191

$79.2 TND 230

-16.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$187 TND 544

$195 TND 566

-3.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$133 TND 386

$136 TND 395

-2.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$333 TND 966

$373 TND 1,083

-10.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$248 TND 721

$269 TND 780

-7.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,031 TND 2,994

$987 TND 2,866

4.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$663 TND 1,924

$715 TND 2,076

-7.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$322 TND 936

$248 TND 719

30.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.6

10.96

24.09%

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

Last update for Sfax: May 31, 2026

Last update for Msaken: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $187 in Sfax and $195 in Msaken. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sfax pays 30% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $21.00 in Sfax vs $24.00 in Msaken for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $194 per month, with Sfax cheaper across the board.

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 Msaken: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sfax is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Sfax pays 30% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $187 in Sfax versus $195 in Msaken. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Sfax runs roughly 3% less than in Msaken. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $106 in Sfax versus $106 in Msaken. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Sfax gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Sfax and Msaken are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Sfax gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Msaken. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.