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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $846 per month in Tunis vs $594 in Kairouan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,296 per month in Tunis vs $944 in Kairouan, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,746 per month in Tunis vs $1,294 in Kairouan, rent included.

Tunis costs about 43% more than Kairouan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tunis and Kairouan are more affordable than the global median – Tunis 38% lower, Kairouan 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tunis
Kairouan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.71 TND 13.66
$2.68 TND 7.76
75.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.29 TND 64.7
$16.29 TND 47.25
36.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.19 TND 17.95
$5.01 TND 14.53
23.55%
Cappuccino
$1.10 TND 3.20
$0.72 TND 2.08
52.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 TND 2.35
$0.60 TND 1.75
35.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 TND 1.15
$0.28 TND 0.81
42.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.67 TND 4.84
$1.65 TND 4.80
1.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 TND 7.69
$2.03 TND 5.90
30.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tunis
Kairouan
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.52 TND 1.50
$0.46 TND 1.33
13.04%
White Bread (500g)
$0.36 TND 1.06
$0.08 TND 0.24
350.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 TND 5.08
$1.38 TND 4.02
26.81%
Eggs
$1.80 TND 5.22
$1.58 TND 4.59
13.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.20 TND 29.60
$12.75 TND 36.99
-20.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.93 TND 17.19
$5.70 TND 16.53
4.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.56 TND 51.0
$12.12 TND 35.16
44.88%
Apples (1kg)
$2.13 TND 6.17
$1.81 TND 5.25
17.68%
Banana (1kg)
$5.17 TND 14.98
$2.24 TND 6.50
130.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.18 TND 3.44
$1.11 TND 3.22
6.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.82 TND 2.38
$0.76 TND 2.21
7.89%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 TND 2.47
$0.67 TND 1.94
26.87%
Onion (1kg)
$0.62 TND 1.80
$0.79 TND 2.28
-21.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.51 TND 1.47
$0.56 TND 1.61
-8.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 TND 0.90
$0.27 TND 0.79
14.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.87 TND 11.22
$3.35 TND 9.71
15.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.76 TND 19.61
$6.94 TND 20.14
-2.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 TND 3.67
$1.15 TND 3.34
10.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57 TND 4.56
$1.11 TND 3.22
41.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Tunis
Kairouan
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 TND 1.02
$0.33 TND 0.95
6.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.78 TND 48.67
$10.27 TND 29.78
63.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.30 TND 0.86
$0.32 TND 0.94
-6.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 TND 0.97
$0.33 TND 0.95
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$1.87 TND 5.42
$7.57 TND 21.94
-75.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 TND 2.57
$0.81 TND 2.35
9.88%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.6K TND 117.7K
$37.6K TND 108.9K
8.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.7K TND 106.3K
$36.4K TND 105.5K
0.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tunis
Kairouan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$68.1 TND 198
$46.09 TND 134
47.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.00 TND 26.10
$9.69 TND 28.11
-7.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.77 TND 60.3
$15.15 TND 43.93
37.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tunis
Kairouan
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.48 TND 100
$24.20 TND 70.2
42.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.80 TND 40.02
$14.18 TND 41.13
-2.68%
Cinema Ticket
$6.23 TND 18.07
$4.57 TND 13.25
36.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tunis
Kairouan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$113 TND 329
$98.4 TND 285
15.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,295 TND 9,557
$2,464 TND 7,148
33.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tunis
Kairouan
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.44 TND 141
$24.04 TND 69.7
101.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$64.0 TND 185
$37.01 TND 107
72.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 TND 310
$47.89 TND 139
122.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.3 TND 250
$68.8 TND 200
25.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tunis
Kairouan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$371 TND 1,076
$118 TND 343
213.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$244 TND 708
$158 TND 459
54.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$610 TND 1,769
$371 TND 1,076
64.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$397 TND 1,152
$274 TND 794
45.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,494 TND 4,333
$978 TND 2,836
52.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$773 TND 2,244
$632 TND 1,832
22.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tunis
Kairouan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$357 TND 1,037
$337 TND 977
6.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.28
13.6
-24.41%

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

Last update for Tunis: September 13, 2026

Last update for Kairouan: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $371 in Tunis 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 6% 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 $22.00 in Tunis versus $16.00 in Kairouan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $219 vs $182 – 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: $846 in Tunis, $594 in Kairouan – roughly 43% 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 $1,269 per month in Tunis and $891 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 63% 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 $113 per month in Tunis and $98.4 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 $846 in Tunis and $594 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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