😐A single person spends $725 per month in Sousse vs $574 in Kairouan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,179 per month in Sousse vs $888 in Kairouan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,632 per month in Sousse vs $1,201 in Kairouan, rent included.
😐Sousse costs about 26% more than Kairouan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Sousse and Kairouan are more affordable than the global median – Sousse46% lower, Kairouan57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.01TND 11.74
$2.33TND 6.83
72.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$23.39TND 68.4
$8.45TND 24.71
176.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.17TND 15.11
$3.45TND 10.09
49.86%
Cappuccino
$0.89TND 2.61
$0.71TND 2.06
25.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67TND 1.95
$0.65TND 1.89
3.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31TND 0.91
$0.15TND 0.45
106.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.16TND 3.38
$1.49TND 4.35
-22.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56TND 4.57
$1.90TND 5.57
-17.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.49TND 1.44
$0.45TND 1.32
8.89%
White Bread(500g)
$0.17TND 0.49
$0.08TND 0.24
112.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32TND 3.86
$1.53TND 4.49
-13.73%
Eggs
$1.69TND 4.94
$1.48TND 4.32
14.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.23TND 35.77
$11.38TND 33.30
7.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.60TND 16.38
$5.44TND 15.92
2.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.91TND 40.71
$11.72TND 34.30
18.69%
Apples(1kg)
$1.58TND 4.62
$2.14TND 6.26
-26.17%
Banana(1kg)
$3.22TND 9.41
$2.33TND 6.82
38.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.92TND 2.69
$1.04TND 3.04
-11.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.63TND 1.84
$0.70TND 2.05
-10.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.70TND 2.04
$0.65TND 1.90
7.69%
Onion(1kg)
$0.59TND 1.72
$0.72TND 2.10
-18.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.40TND 1.18
$0.52TND 1.52
-23.08%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32TND 0.94
$0.25TND 0.73
28.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.54TND 10.36
$3.41TND 9.98
3.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.04TND 14.74
$6.87TND 20.10
-26.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18TND 3.46
$1.10TND 3.21
7.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.06TND 3.10
$1.07TND 3.13
-0.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.31TND 0.90
$0.35TND 1.04
-11.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.06TND 29.43
$10.06TND 29.45
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.32TND 0.93
$0.31TND 0.91
3.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.49TND 1.43
$0.33TND 0.97
48.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.00TND 17.57
$7.51TND 21.96
-20.11%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82TND 2.40
$0.74TND 2.16
10.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$47.0KTND 137.6K
$35.0KTND 102.4K
34.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.8KTND 107.6K
$34.1KTND 99.9K
7.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.7TND 186
$46.06TND 135
38.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.06TND 32.38
$9.77TND 28.59
13.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.22TND 53.3
$14.80TND 43.30
23.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.64TND 77.9
$23.48TND 68.7
13.46%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.09TND 79.3
$12.92TND 37.81
109.67%
Cinema Ticket
$6.41TND 18.77
$4.55TND 13.32
40.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$106TND 311
$109TND 319
-2.59%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,225TND 9,437
$2,475TND 7,242
30.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.09TND 120
$24.18TND 70.8
69.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.3TND 176
$43.89TND 128
37.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$153TND 449
$48.36TND 142
217.12%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.5TND 247
$65.8TND 192
28.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$240TND 703
$118TND 344
104.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$164TND 480
$134TND 392
22.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$435TND 1,272
$373TND 1,090
16.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$322TND 942
$275TND 805
17.03%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,006TND 2,944
$951TND 2,783
5.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$633TND 1,853
$695TND 2,035
-8.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sousse
Kairouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$382TND 1,117
$325TND 952
17.36%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Kairouan: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $240 in Sousse versus $118 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 $23.00 in Sousse versus $8.00 in Kairouan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $176 – 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: $725 in Sousse, $574 in Kairouan – roughly 26% 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 $1,088 per month in Sousse and $861 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 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 $106 per month in Sousse and $109 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 $725 in Sousse and $574 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.