😐A single person spends $791 per month in Sousse vs $608 in Kairouan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,259 per month in Sousse vs $956 in Kairouan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,728 per month in Sousse vs $1,305 in Kairouan, rent included.
😐Sousse costs about 30% more than Kairouan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Sousse and Kairouan are more affordable than the global median – Sousse42% lower, Kairouan56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.69TND 13.56
$2.74TND 7.92
71.17%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.29TND 70.2
$16.55TND 47.84
46.77%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.19TND 17.90
$5.30TND 15.32
16.79%
Cappuccino
$1.06TND 3.07
$0.79TND 2.29
34.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77TND 2.23
$0.66TND 1.90
16.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36TND 1.05
$0.26TND 0.75
38.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74TND 5.03
$1.67TND 4.83
4.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.70TND 4.90
$2.03TND 5.86
-16.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.48TND 1.40
$0.49TND 1.42
-2.04%
White Bread(500g)
$0.15TND 0.43
$0.08TND 0.22
87.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.30TND 3.76
$1.38TND 4.00
-5.80%
Eggs
$1.64TND 4.75
$1.57TND 4.54
4.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.02TND 40.54
$12.92TND 37.36
8.51%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.80TND 16.77
$5.85TND 16.90
-0.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.39TND 41.60
$12.26TND 35.45
17.37%
Apples(1kg)
$1.92TND 5.55
$1.89TND 5.46
1.59%
Banana(1kg)
$3.84TND 11.09
$2.29TND 6.63
67.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.08TND 3.13
$1.06TND 3.07
1.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.78TND 2.24
$0.76TND 2.20
2.63%
Potato(1kg)
$0.89TND 2.57
$0.72TND 2.08
23.61%
Onion(1kg)
$0.75TND 2.17
$0.79TND 2.29
-5.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.43TND 1.25
$0.55TND 1.59
-21.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.33TND 0.96
$0.27TND 0.78
22.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.73TND 10.78
$3.35TND 9.69
11.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.17TND 14.96
$6.99TND 20.22
-26.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99TND 2.88
$1.20TND 3.48
-17.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19TND 3.44
$1.08TND 3.12
10.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.35TND 1.02
$0.35TND 1.01
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.17TND 29.41
$10.36TND 29.96
-1.83%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.31TND 0.91
$0.30TND 0.86
3.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.66TND 1.91
$0.35TND 1.02
88.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.03TND 11.64
$7.44TND 21.51
-45.83%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85TND 2.45
$0.82TND 2.38
3.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.2KTND 116.4K
$40.7KTND 117.7K
-1.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.7KTND 109.0K
$37.4KTND 108.3K
0.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$77.2TND 223
$45.77TND 132
68.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.94TND 37.43
$10.04TND 29.04
28.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.80TND 51.5
$15.31TND 44.28
16.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.44TND 85.1
$23.75TND 68.7
23.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.74TND 80.2
$14.15TND 40.92
96.04%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65TND 19.22
$4.57TND 13.22
45.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$98.3TND 284
$112TND 324
-12.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,033TND 8,771
$2,517TND 7,277
20.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.89TND 136
$23.76TND 68.7
97.35%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.3TND 192
$45.13TND 130
46.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$154TND 446
$47.92TND 139
222.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107TND 310
$65.3TND 189
64.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$247TND 713
$117TND 339
110.16%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$167TND 484
$159TND 459
5.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$535TND 1,546
$390TND 1,127
37.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$349TND 1,009
$284TND 821
22.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$997TND 2,883
$976TND 2,822
2.14%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$641TND 1,853
$634TND 1,832
1.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$398TND 1,151
$339TND 981
17.31%
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: August 30, 2026
Last update for Kairouan: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $247 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 17% 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 $17.00 in Kairouan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $201 vs $185 – 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 in Kairouan compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $791 in Sousse, $608 in Kairouan – roughly 30% 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 $1,186 per month in Sousse and $911 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 in Kairouan?
Public transport costs about 2% 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 $98.3 per month in Sousse and $112 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 compared to Kairouan?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $791 in Sousse and $608 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.