Cost of Living Comparison Between Tunisia and Mali Cost of Living Comparison Between Tunisia and Mali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $616 in Tunisia versus $249 in Mali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $991 in Tunisia versus $415 in Mali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,366 in Tunisia versus $580 in Mali.

Living in Tunisia is roughly 147% more expensive than Mali on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Tunisia 54% lower, Mali 81% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in Mali: monthly costs span $0 to $910, compared to $460$780 in Tunisia. City choice carries more weight in Mali.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tunisia
Mali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.43 TND 9.89
$6.54 F CFA 3,669
-47.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.08 TND 57.8
$37.26 F CFA 20.9K
-46.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.18 TND 14.92
$6.37 F CFA 3,577
-18.68%
Cappuccino
$0.92 TND 2.64
$1.87 F CFA 1,049
-50.80%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 TND 1.96
$0.79 F CFA 442
-13.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 TND 0.84
$0.56 F CFA 312
-48.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 TND 4.92
$2.35 F CFA 1,320
-27.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 TND 6.88
$21.40 F CFA 12.0K
-88.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tunisia
Mali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.47 TND 1.36
$2.32 F CFA 1,300
-79.74%
White Bread (500g)
$0.18 TND 0.52
$3.36 F CFA 1,883
-94.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.55 TND 4.46
-
-
Eggs
$1.57 TND 4.51
$4.63 F CFA 2,596
-66.09%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.92 TND 31.44
$17.57 F CFA 9,860
-37.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.10 TND 17.56
$16.93 F CFA 9,499
-63.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.79 TND 39.71
$13.51 F CFA 7,582
2.07%
Apples (1kg)
$1.88 TND 5.41
$3.19 F CFA 1,789
-41.07%
Banana (1kg)
$2.90 TND 8.35
$1.41 F CFA 794
105.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.14 TND 3.29
$2.90 F CFA 1,627
-60.69%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.73 TND 2.10
$2.39 F CFA 1,341
-69.46%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 TND 1.99
$1.65 F CFA 926
-58.18%
Onion (1kg)
$0.61 TND 1.76
$1.83 F CFA 1,028
-66.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.45 TND 1.28
$0.10 F CFA 54.7
350.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32 TND 0.93
$2.35 F CFA 1,321
-86.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.34 TND 9.63
$0.94 F CFA 530
255.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.15 TND 20.60
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23 TND 3.55
$1.46 F CFA 822
-15.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.32 TND 3.80
$1.35 F CFA 760
-2.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Tunisia
Mali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 TND 1.02
$4.65 F CFA 2,610
-92.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.06 TND 28.97
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.29 TND 0.82
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 TND 0.89
$1.23 F CFA 689
-74.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.04 TND 11.62
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 TND 2.54
$1.19 F CFA 669
-26.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.0K TND 118.0K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.2K TND 104.4K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tunisia
Mali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$52.6 TND 151
$150 F CFA 83.9K
-64.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.07 TND 29.01
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.88 TND 57.3
$57.8 F CFA 32.4K
-65.62%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tunisia
Mali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.92 TND 80.4
$66.1 F CFA 37.1K
-57.75%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.43 TND 35.79
$3.96 F CFA 2,219
213.89%
Cinema Ticket
$5.36 TND 15.45
$5.58 F CFA 3,132
-3.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tunisia
Mali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.9 TND 273
$77.5 F CFA 43.5K
22.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,700 TND 7,775
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tunisia
Mali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.83 TND 120
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.3 TND 153
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$98.5 TND 284
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.9 TND 213
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tunisia
Mali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$232 TND 669
$177 F CFA 99.2K
31.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$157 TND 453
$81.2 F CFA 45.6K
93.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$400 TND 1,151
$414 F CFA 232.1K
-3.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$276 TND 794
$306 F CFA 171.5K
-9.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,061 TND 3,055
$9,983 F CFA 5.6M
-89.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$632 TND 1,820
$853 F CFA 478.6K
-25.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tunisia
Mali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$340 TND 980
$258 F CFA 144.9K
31.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.33
0
-

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

Last update for Tunisia: April 21, 2026

Last update for Mali: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $198 in Tunisia, $44 in Mali. Capital cities: $272 in Tunis vs $176 in Bamako.

National salary averages: $318 in Tunisia, $266 in Mali. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 350% higher in Tunisia.

Dining out costs 122% more in Tunisia.

Salaries are 20% higher in Tunisia, giving Mali stronger purchasing power.

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 Mali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Mali or Tunisia?
At $455 per month in Mali and $620 in Tunisia, there's a 36% 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: Mali or Tunisia?
Mali is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 Mali and Tunisia?
Rent in Tunisia beats Mali 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 $1,200 go in Mali vs Tunisia?
In Mali, $1,200 covers most cities easily. In Tunisia, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in Mali and Tunisia?
It depends on what you're after. Mali wins on affordability; Tunisia may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

Tunisia vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries