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: $618 in Tunisia versus $712 in China.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $993 in Tunisia versus $1,131 in China.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,367 in Tunisia versus $1,550 in China.

Living in Tunisia costs about 13% less than in China on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Tunisia 54% lower, China 47% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in China: monthly costs span $532 to $1,192, compared to $460$774 in Tunisia. City choice carries more weight in China.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tunisia
China
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 TND 9.75
$2.86 ¥19.35
20.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.35 TND 57.7
$23.44 ¥159
-13.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.98 TND 14.12
$4.84 ¥32.75
2.89%
Cappuccino
$0.90 TND 2.56
$3.11 ¥21.06
-71.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.63 TND 1.79
$0.44 ¥3.00
43.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 TND 0.75
$0.29 ¥1.99
-6.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 TND 4.84
$0.98 ¥6.64
74.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 TND 6.57
$2.05 ¥13.88
13.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tunisia
China
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.47 TND 1.32
$1.84 ¥12.47
-74.46%
White Bread (500g)
$0.17 TND 0.47
$1.62 ¥10.94
-89.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 TND 4.28
$0.93 ¥6.28
62.37%
Eggs
$1.64 TND 4.65
$1.63 ¥11.03
0.61%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.72 TND 30.39
$13.15 ¥89.0
-18.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.82 TND 16.49
$3.26 ¥22.09
78.53%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.05 TND 39.82
$10.62 ¥71.9
32.30%
Apples (1kg)
$1.94 TND 5.50
$1.80 ¥12.19
7.78%
Banana (1kg)
$2.90 TND 8.22
$1.30 ¥8.77
123.08%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.14 TND 3.24
$1.46 ¥9.90
-21.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.73 TND 2.06
$1.20 ¥8.15
-39.17%
Potato (1kg)
$0.68 TND 1.92
$0.76 ¥5.14
-10.53%
Onion (1kg)
$0.59 TND 1.66
$0.88 ¥5.93
-32.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.47 TND 1.35
$0.57 ¥3.86
-17.54%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32 TND 0.91
$0.54 ¥3.63
-40.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45 TND 9.77
$3.42 ¥23.17
0.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.79 TND 19.24
$11.75 ¥79.5
-42.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 TND 3.48
$0.80 ¥5.40
53.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 TND 3.73
$1.62 ¥10.95
-18.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Tunisia
China
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 TND 1.01
$0.43 ¥2.94
-18.60%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.99 TND 28.31
$20.47 ¥139
-51.20%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.29 TND 0.81
$1.36 ¥9.24
-78.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 TND 0.87
$0.35 ¥2.39
-11.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.17 TND 11.81
$6.50 ¥43.97
-35.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 TND 2.52
$1.12 ¥7.59
-20.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.0K TND 116.2K
$19.5K ¥131.8K
110.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K TND 103.5K
$16.9K ¥114.1K
116.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tunisia
China
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.5 TND 151
$51.7 ¥350
3.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.88 TND 27.99
$10.17 ¥68.8
-2.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.52 TND 55.3
$11.16 ¥75.5
74.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tunisia
China
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.50 TND 77.9
$39.62 ¥268
-30.59%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.39 TND 35.09
$14.53 ¥98.3
-14.73%
Cinema Ticket
$5.51 TND 15.62
$6.38 ¥43.19
-13.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tunisia
China
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$97.4 TND 276
$407 ¥2,756
-76.08%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,743 TND 7,772
$17.8K ¥120.7K
-84.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tunisia
China
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.39 TND 117
$45.53 ¥308
-9.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.3 TND 154
$32.31 ¥219
68.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.5 TND 276
$72.6 ¥491
34.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.8 TND 212
$74.4 ¥504
0.55%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tunisia
China
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$239 TND 676
$443 ¥2,996
-46.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$154 TND 437
$258 ¥1,747
-40.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$401 TND 1,135
$910 ¥6,162
-55.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$273 TND 772
$543 ¥3,677
-49.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,036 TND 2,935
$4,934 ¥33.4K
-79.01%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$621 TND 1,760
$2,398 ¥16.2K
-74.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tunisia
China
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$322 TND 913
$1,065 ¥7,205
-69.72%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.33
4.06
179.06%

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

Last update for Tunisia: July 13, 2026

Last update for China: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $197 in Tunisia, $287 in China. Capital cities: $278 in Tunis vs $894 in Beijing (Pekin).

National salary averages: $310 in Tunisia, $855 in China. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 46% higher in China.

Dining out costs 11% more in China.

Public transport is 80% 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 $862 per month in China and $617 in Tunisia, there's a 40% 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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