😐A single person spends $710 per month in Sousse vs $567 in Kairouan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,145 per month in Sousse vs $894 in Kairouan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,580 per month in Sousse vs $1,221 in Kairouan, rent included.
😐Sousse costs about 25% more than Kairouan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Sousse and Kairouan are more affordable than the global median – Sousse47% lower, Kairouan58% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.84TND 11.15
$2.40TND 6.97
60.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.99TND 69.7
$8.57TND 24.89
179.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.18TND 15.04
$3.43TND 9.97
51.02%
Cappuccino
$0.96TND 2.80
$0.72TND 2.08
33.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70TND 2.05
$0.60TND 1.73
16.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29TND 0.83
$0.16TND 0.46
81.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.17TND 3.39
$1.50TND 4.34
-22.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60TND 4.64
$1.97TND 5.72
-18.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.50TND 1.45
$0.48TND 1.40
4.17%
White Bread(500g)
$0.18TND 0.52
$0.08TND 0.24
125.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32TND 3.85
$1.49TND 4.33
-11.41%
Eggs
$1.74TND 5.05
$1.54TND 4.46
12.99%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.93TND 34.65
$11.45TND 33.24
4.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.57TND 16.16
$5.73TND 16.64
-2.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.79TND 40.04
$12.06TND 35.02
14.34%
Apples(1kg)
$1.56TND 4.54
$2.17TND 6.31
-28.11%
Banana(1kg)
$3.20TND 9.28
$2.32TND 6.75
37.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92TND 2.67
$1.01TND 2.92
-8.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.63TND 1.82
$0.73TND 2.13
-13.70%
Potato(1kg)
$0.65TND 1.88
$0.71TND 2.07
-8.45%
Onion(1kg)
$0.64TND 1.85
$0.76TND 2.21
-15.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.44TND 1.28
$0.51TND 1.48
-13.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32TND 0.93
$0.25TND 0.72
28.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.52TND 10.23
$3.42TND 9.93
2.92%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.16TND 14.99
$7.51TND 21.81
-31.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19TND 3.45
$1.09TND 3.16
9.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08TND 3.15
$1.09TND 3.17
-0.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30TND 0.88
$0.36TND 1.03
-16.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.08TND 29.26
$10.13TND 29.42
-0.49%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.32TND 0.93
$0.29TND 0.83
10.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48TND 1.41
$0.31TND 0.89
54.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.95TND 17.28
$7.37TND 21.39
-19.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.88TND 2.55
$0.80TND 2.32
10.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.1KTND 136.7K
$35.7KTND 103.7K
31.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.6KTND 103.2K
$34.8KTND 100.9K
2.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$65.4TND 190
$44.95TND 131
45.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.03TND 32.04
$9.68TND 28.11
13.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.56TND 53.9
$14.90TND 43.27
24.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.23TND 79.1
$23.62TND 68.6
15.28%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.80TND 77.8
$12.93TND 37.54
107.27%
Cinema Ticket
$6.61TND 19.20
$4.44TND 12.88
48.87%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$105TND 306
$108TND 314
-2.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,235TND 9,393
$2,493TND 7,238
29.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.75TND 121
$24.09TND 70.0
73.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.2TND 175
$44.45TND 129
35.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$150TND 434
$47.09TND 137
217.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.7TND 237
$66.1TND 192
23.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$244TND 707
$117TND 339
108.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$167TND 484
$133TND 387
25.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$437TND 1,269
$372TND 1,080
17.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$324TND 942
$268TND 777
21.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,001TND 2,906
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$648TND 1,880
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$393TND 1,141
$329TND 956
19.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
12
13.6
-11.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sousse: June 1, 2026
Last update for Kairouan: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $244 in Sousse versus $117 in Kairouan. 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 19% higher in Sousse, 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 $24.00 in Sousse versus $9.00 in Kairouan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $181 – making Kairouan 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
Sousse vs Kairouan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Sousse and Kairouan compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $710 in Sousse, $567 in Kairouan – roughly 25% apart. Sousse costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Sousse compared to Kairouan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,066 per month in Sousse and $851 in Kairouan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Sousse and Kairouan?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kairouan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do commuting costs compare in Sousse and Kairouan?
Public transport costs about 0% less in Kairouan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Sousse and Kairouan?
Kindergarten costs $105 per month in Sousse and $108 in Kairouan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How far does $1,200 go in Sousse vs Kairouan?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $710 in Sousse and $567 in Kairouan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Sousse or Kairouan?
Families tend to lean toward Kairouan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Sousse or Kairouan safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Sousse and Kairouan?
If budget matters most, go with Kairouan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sousse makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.