Cost of Living Comparison Between Tunis and Kairouan Cost of Living Comparison Between Tunis and Kairouan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $753 per month in Tunis vs $562 in Kairouan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,160 per month in Tunis vs $869 in Kairouan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,568 per month in Tunis vs $1,176 in Kairouan, rent included.

Tunis costs about 34% more than Kairouan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tunis and Kairouan are more affordable than the global median – Tunis 43% lower, Kairouan 58% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tunis
Kairouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.15 TND 15.12
$2.39 TND 7.01
115.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.81 TND 75.8
$8.64 TND 25.36
198.73%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.97 TND 14.59
$3.33 TND 9.77
49.25%
Cappuccino
$1.03 TND 3.02
$0.77 TND 2.25
33.77%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 TND 2.11
$0.61 TND 1.78
18.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 TND 0.76
$0.13 TND 0.38
100.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 TND 5.03
$1.49 TND 4.38
14.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 TND 8.00
$1.91 TND 5.60
42.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tunis
Kairouan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.46 TND 1.36
$0.49 TND 1.45
-6.12%
White Bread (500g)
$0.21 TND 0.61
$0.08 TND 0.23
162.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.74 TND 5.11
$1.55 TND 4.55
12.26%
Eggs
$1.55 TND 4.54
$1.50 TND 4.39
3.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.51 TND 30.84
$11.35 TND 33.31
-7.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.08 TND 17.84
$5.61 TND 16.47
8.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.68 TND 43.07
$11.94 TND 35.03
22.95%
Apples (1kg)
$2.07 TND 6.09
$2.18 TND 6.39
-5.05%
Banana (1kg)
$3.70 TND 10.86
$2.30 TND 6.76
60.87%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.16 TND 3.41
$1.00 TND 2.94
16.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.70 TND 2.05
$0.74 TND 2.16
-5.41%
Potato (1kg)
$0.76 TND 2.24
$0.69 TND 2.03
10.14%
Onion (1kg)
$0.64 TND 1.88
$0.73 TND 2.13
-12.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.43 TND 1.26
$0.49 TND 1.42
-12.24%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 TND 0.92
$0.27 TND 0.80
14.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32 TND 9.76
$3.35 TND 9.84
-0.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.56 TND 19.25
$6.63 TND 19.47
-1.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 TND 3.92
$1.14 TND 3.35
16.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 TND 4.60
$1.07 TND 3.14
46.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Tunis
Kairouan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 TND 0.96
$0.33 TND 0.97
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$14.05 TND 41.22
$10.13 TND 29.74
38.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.30 TND 0.87
$0.31 TND 0.92
-3.23%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 TND 0.91
$0.33 TND 0.98
-6.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.47 TND 10.17
$7.38 TND 21.66
-52.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 TND 2.43
$0.79 TND 2.31
5.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.6K TND 119.2K
$36.3K TND 106.4K
12.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.3K TND 109.5K
$34.5K TND 101.2K
8.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tunis
Kairouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$58.9 TND 173
$46.19 TND 136
27.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.03 TND 29.45
$9.78 TND 28.71
2.56%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.43 TND 62.9
$14.61 TND 42.88
46.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tunis
Kairouan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.06 TND 100.0
$23.96 TND 70.3
42.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.23 TND 41.74
$12.48 TND 36.61
14.02%
Cinema Ticket
$5.50 TND 16.13
$4.63 TND 13.58
18.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tunis
Kairouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$112 TND 329
$107 TND 313
5.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,306 TND 9,701
$2,475 TND 7,263
33.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tunis
Kairouan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.17 TND 133
$23.83 TND 69.9
89.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.2 TND 177
$44.37 TND 130
35.72%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.8 TND 284
$47.47 TND 139
103.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.0 TND 235
$63.8 TND 187
25.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tunis
Kairouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$278 TND 817
$115 TND 339
140.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$174 TND 510
$134 TND 392
30.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$491 TND 1,441
$373 TND 1,093
31.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$292 TND 856
$274 TND 803
6.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,517 TND 4,450
$968 TND 2,842
56.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$784 TND 2,301
$568 TND 1,668
37.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tunis
Kairouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$359 TND 1,055
$326 TND 956
10.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.96
13.6
-19.41%

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

Last update for Tunis: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kairouan: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $278 in Tunis versus $115 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 10% higher in Tunis, 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 $26.00 in Tunis versus $9.00 in Kairouan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $199 vs $178 – 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
Tunis vs Kairouan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tunis and in Kairouan compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $753 in Tunis, $562 in Kairouan – roughly 34% apart. Tunis costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tunis compared to Kairouan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,130 per month in Tunis and $842 in Kairouan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tunis 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 Tunis and in Kairouan?
Public transport costs about 39% less in Kairouan. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tunis and Kairouan?
Kindergarten costs $112 per month in Tunis and $107 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 Tunis compared to Kairouan?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $753 in Tunis and $562 in Kairouan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Tunis 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 Tunis 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 Tunis and Kairouan?
If budget matters most, go with Kairouan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tunis makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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