Cost of Living Comparison Between Tunisia and Western Sahara Cost of Living Comparison Between Tunisia and Western Sahara

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $619 in Tunisia versus $642 in Western Sahara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $996 in Tunisia versus $1,014 in Western Sahara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,372 in Tunisia versus $1,385 in Western Sahara.

Living in Tunisia costs about 4% less than in Western Sahara on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Tunisia 54% lower, Western Sahara 52% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in Tunisia: monthly costs span $468 to $778, compared to $642$642 in Western Sahara. City choice carries more weight in Tunisia.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tunisia
Western Sahara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.46 TND 10.00
$3.75 MAD 34.70
-7.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.01 TND 57.8
$28.66 MAD 265
-30.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.12 TND 14.79
$4.51 MAD 41.74
13.53%
Cappuccino
$0.98 TND 2.82
$1.67 MAD 15.47
-41.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 TND 1.80
$0.52 MAD 4.79
19.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 TND 0.77
$0.34 MAD 3.15
-20.59%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.71 TND 4.95
$3.52 MAD 32.58
-51.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.32 TND 6.70
$4.68 MAD 43.27
-50.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tunisia
Western Sahara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.51 TND 1.48
$0.82 MAD 7.63
-37.80%
White Bread (500g)
$0.17 TND 0.50
$0.56 MAD 5.22
-69.64%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.51 TND 4.35
$1.87 MAD 17.32
-19.25%
Eggs
$1.57 TND 4.53
$1.37 MAD 12.67
14.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.83 TND 31.28
$11.60 MAD 107
-6.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.91 TND 17.07
$3.42 MAD 31.61
72.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.79 TND 39.84
$9.11 MAD 84.3
51.37%
Apples (1kg)
$1.95 TND 5.63
$1.49 MAD 13.74
30.87%
Banana (1kg)
$2.94 TND 8.48
$1.18 MAD 10.95
149.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.15 TND 3.31
$0.72 MAD 6.63
59.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.78 TND 2.25
$0.60 MAD 5.53
30.00%
Potato (1kg)
$0.70 TND 2.02
$0.44 MAD 4.12
59.09%
Onion (1kg)
$0.59 TND 1.69
$0.37 MAD 3.39
59.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 TND 1.39
$0.98 MAD 9.02
-51.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 TND 0.86
$0.57 MAD 5.25
-47.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.46 TND 10.01
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$6.76 TND 19.54
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 TND 3.60
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 TND 3.94
$3.54 MAD 32.74
-61.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Tunisia
Western Sahara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 TND 0.94
$0.56 MAD 5.15
-42.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.05 TND 29.06
$11.48 MAD 106
-12.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.29 TND 0.83
$0.73 MAD 6.74
-60.27%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 TND 0.95
$0.70 MAD 6.47
-52.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.97 TND 11.47
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.89 TND 2.57
$1.25 MAD 11.52
-28.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.4K TND 116.6K
$40.1K MAD 370.9K
0.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K TND 105.6K
$26.8K MAD 247.5K
36.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tunisia
Western Sahara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$53.7 TND 155
$33.35 MAD 308
61.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.83 TND 28.40
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.53 TND 56.4
$22.51 MAD 208
-13.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tunisia
Western Sahara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.17 TND 81.4
$23.04 MAD 213
22.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.52 TND 36.18
$35.33 MAD 327
-64.56%
Cinema Ticket
$5.30 TND 15.31
$3.57 MAD 33.03
48.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tunisia
Western Sahara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$96.6 TND 279
$290 MAD 2,682
-66.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,718 TND 7,855
$3,486 MAD 32.2K
-22.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tunisia
Western Sahara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.36 TND 120
$34.85 MAD 322
18.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1 TND 153
$58.6 MAD 542
-9.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.8 TND 288
$75.0 MAD 693
33.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.1 TND 214
$81.7 MAD 755
-9.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tunisia
Western Sahara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$232 TND 671
$348 MAD 3,217
-33.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$153 TND 443
$172 MAD 1,595
-11.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$399 TND 1,153
$687 MAD 6,354
-41.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$272 TND 787
$289 MAD 2,672
-5.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,063 TND 3,073
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$651 TND 1,881
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tunisia
Western Sahara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$334 TND 966
-
-
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 25, 2026

Last update for Western Sahara: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $198 in Tunisia, $354 in Western Sahara. Capital cities: $280 in Tunis vs $354 in Laayoune.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 79% higher in Western Sahara.

Dining out costs 53% more in Western Sahara.

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 Western Sahara: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Tunisia and Western Sahara?
At $623 per month in Tunisia and $642 in Western Sahara, there's a 3% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Tunisia 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.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Western Sahara beats Tunisia across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Tunisia or Western Sahara?
In Tunisia, $1,000 covers most cities easily. In Western Sahara, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Tunisia or Western Sahara?
It depends on what you're after. Tunisia wins on affordability; Western Sahara may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

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