Cost of Living Comparison Between Tunisia and China Cost of Living Comparison Between Tunisia and China

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $661 in Tunisia versus $719 in China.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,041 in Tunisia versus $1,145 in China.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,421 in Tunisia versus $1,570 in China.

Living in Tunisia costs about 8% less than in China on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Tunisia 52% lower, China 48% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in China: monthly costs span $458 to $1,247, compared to $456$853 in Tunisia. City choice carries more weight in China.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tunisia
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.15 TND 12.01
$2.90 ¥19.42
43.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.56 TND 59.5
$22.13 ¥148
-7.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.18 TND 14.98
$5.31 ¥35.57
-2.45%
Cappuccino
$0.94 TND 2.72
$2.99 ¥20.04
-68.56%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 TND 1.89
$0.48 ¥3.21
37.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 TND 0.87
$0.30 ¥2.03
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.70 TND 4.91
$1.02 ¥6.82
66.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 TND 5.82
$2.21 ¥14.81
-9.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tunisia
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.48 TND 1.40
$1.74 ¥11.66
-72.41%
White Bread (500g)
$0.21 TND 0.60
$1.68 ¥11.23
-87.50%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.52 TND 4.39
$0.96 ¥6.43
58.33%
Eggs
$1.61 TND 4.67
$1.54 ¥10.33
4.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.05 TND 31.94
$13.51 ¥90.5
-18.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.77 TND 16.68
$3.48 ¥23.32
65.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.66 TND 42.39
$11.34 ¥76.0
29.28%
Apples (1kg)
$1.88 TND 5.44
$1.88 ¥12.57
-
Banana (1kg)
$3.36 TND 9.71
$1.29 ¥8.67
160.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.19 TND 3.45
$1.52 ¥10.17
-21.71%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.75 TND 2.18
$1.27 ¥8.52
-40.94%
Potato (1kg)
$0.73 TND 2.11
$0.72 ¥4.83
1.39%
Onion (1kg)
$0.68 TND 1.97
$0.88 ¥5.89
-22.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.45 TND 1.30
$0.61 ¥4.06
-26.23%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 TND 0.89
$0.55 ¥3.72
-43.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.65 TND 10.56
$3.73 ¥25.01
-2.14%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.74 TND 19.49
$11.87 ¥79.5
-43.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 TND 3.60
$0.90 ¥6.03
38.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 TND 3.83
$1.68 ¥11.26
-21.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Tunisia
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 TND 1.03
$0.29 ¥1.94
20.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.22 TND 29.55
$22.23 ¥149
-54.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.30 TND 0.86
$1.52 ¥10.17
-80.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 TND 1.01
$0.37 ¥2.48
-5.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.12 TND 11.92
$7.33 ¥49.10
-43.79%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 TND 2.57
$1.22 ¥8.19
-27.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.8K TND 117.9K
$19.3K ¥129.4K
111.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.9K TND 103.9K
$17.1K ¥114.7K
109.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tunisia
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$55.5 TND 160
$53.8 ¥360
3.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.17 TND 29.40
$8.71 ¥58.4
16.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.07 TND 58.0
$10.93 ¥73.2
83.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tunisia
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.79 TND 77.5
$40.74 ¥273
-34.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.21 TND 35.30
$14.53 ¥97.3
-15.97%
Cinema Ticket
$5.51 TND 15.93
$6.55 ¥43.87
-15.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tunisia
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$85.9 TND 248
$457 ¥3,062
-81.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,765 TND 7,995
$19.5K ¥130.6K
-85.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tunisia
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.60 TND 123
$45.62 ¥306
-6.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.6 TND 161
$35.90 ¥241
54.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$101 TND 292
$76.1 ¥510
32.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.5 TND 218
$76.4 ¥512
-1.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tunisia
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$237 TND 685
$385 ¥2,578
-38.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$160 TND 464
$239 ¥1,601
-32.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$392 TND 1,133
$840 ¥5,627
-53.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$283 TND 819
$484 ¥3,242
-41.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,034 TND 2,988
$4,581 ¥30.7K
-77.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$651 TND 1,883
$2,266 ¥15.2K
-71.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tunisia
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$331 TND 958
$1,065 ¥7,137
-68.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.18
3.47
222.19%

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

Last update for Tunisia: August 31, 2026

Last update for China: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $209 in Tunisia, $294 in China. Capital cities: $381 in Tunis vs $959 in Beijing (Pekin).

National salary averages: $313 in Tunisia, $864 in China. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 41% higher in China.

Dining out costs 11% more in China.

Public transport is 70% more expensive in China.

Salaries are 176% higher in China, and purchasing power comes out stronger in China.

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
Tunisia vs China: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: China or Tunisia?
At $853 per month in China and $655 in Tunisia, there's a 30% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: China or Tunisia?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Tunisia: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
How do rents compare between China and Tunisia?
Rent in China is consistently higher than in Tunisia across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
How far does $1,000 go in China compared to Tunisia?
In Tunisia, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in China it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in China and in Tunisia?
It depends on what you're after: Tunisia wins on affordability; China may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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