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: $659 in Tunisia versus $248 in Mali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,043 in Tunisia versus $405 in Mali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,426 in Tunisia versus $561 in Mali.

Living in Tunisia is roughly 166% more expensive than in Mali on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Tunisia 52% lower, Mali 82% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tunisia
Mali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.19 TND 12.16
$8.27 F CFA 4,726
-49.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.73 TND 60.1
$35.42 F CFA 20.2K
-41.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.18 TND 15.04
$8.06 F CFA 4,604
-35.73%
Cappuccino
$1.02 TND 2.96
$1.63 F CFA 929
-37.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 TND 1.88
$0.95 F CFA 542
-31.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 TND 0.87
$0.65 F CFA 373
-53.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 TND 5.05
$2.33 F CFA 1,329
-25.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03 TND 5.88
$20.70 F CFA 11.8K
-90.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tunisia
Mali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.52 TND 1.51
$1.89 F CFA 1,079
-72.49%
White Bread (500g)
$0.21 TND 0.61
$3.78 F CFA 2,162
-94.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.52 TND 4.40
-
-
Eggs
$1.64 TND 4.75
$5.96 F CFA 3,405
-72.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.98 TND 31.85
$18.11 F CFA 10.3K
-39.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.76 TND 16.71
$17.18 F CFA 9,819
-66.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.83 TND 43.03
$13.09 F CFA 7,480
13.29%
Apples (1kg)
$1.87 TND 5.42
$3.18 F CFA 1,816
-41.19%
Banana (1kg)
$3.58 TND 10.38
$1.42 F CFA 813
152.11%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.14 TND 3.30
$2.75 F CFA 1,570
-58.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.74 TND 2.16
$2.40 F CFA 1,372
-69.17%
Potato (1kg)
$0.80 TND 2.31
$1.66 F CFA 948
-51.81%
Onion (1kg)
$0.66 TND 1.92
$1.64 F CFA 935
-59.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.49 TND 1.41
$0.09 F CFA 48.94
444.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31 TND 0.89
$2.83 F CFA 1,616
-89.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.66 TND 10.61
$1.02 F CFA 585
258.82%
Wine (Bottle)
$6.72 TND 19.48
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27 TND 3.70
$1.47 F CFA 841
-13.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 TND 3.96
$1.31 F CFA 746
3.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Tunisia
Mali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 TND 1.03
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.33 TND 29.96
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.32 TND 0.94
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 TND 1.03
$1.25 F CFA 716
-72.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.13 TND 11.97
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 TND 2.55
$1.09 F CFA 624
-19.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.6K TND 114.9K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.7K TND 106.3K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tunisia
Mali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.0 TND 162
$147 F CFA 84.2K
-62.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.37 TND 30.08
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.25 TND 58.7
$66.2 F CFA 37.8K
-69.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tunisia
Mali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$27.27 TND 79.1
$71.1 F CFA 40.6K
-61.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.19 TND 35.36
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$5.37 TND 15.57
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tunisia
Mali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$84.5 TND 245
$79.6 F CFA 45.5K
6.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,782 TND 8,069
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tunisia
Mali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.21 TND 120
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.3 TND 158
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100.0 TND 290
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.5 TND 219
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tunisia
Mali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$229 TND 664
$178 F CFA 101.8K
28.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$161 TND 466
$81.1 F CFA 46.3K
98.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$399 TND 1,157
$491 F CFA 280.4K
-18.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$281 TND 814
$304 F CFA 174.0K
-7.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,045 TND 3,030
$9,924 F CFA 5.7M
-89.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$645 TND 1,870
$846 F CFA 483.5K
-23.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tunisia
Mali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$326 TND 947
$258 F CFA 147.5K
26.49%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.18
0
-

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

Last update for Tunisia: September 13, 2026

Last update for Mali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $207 in Tunisia, $43.00 in Mali. Capital cities: $371 in Tunis vs $174 in Bamako.

National salary averages: $314 in Tunisia, $261 in Mali. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 381% higher in Tunisia.

Dining out costs 111% more in Tunisia.

Salaries are 20% higher in Tunisia, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Mali.

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 $452 per month in Mali and $653 in Tunisia, there's a 44% 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?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Mali: 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 is consistently higher than in 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 compared to Tunisia?
In Mali, $1,200 covers most cities easily; in Tunisia 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 Mali and in 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.

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