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 $641 in Western Sahara.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $992 in Tunisia versus $1,013 in Western Sahara.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,365 in Tunisia versus $1,384 in Western Sahara.

Living in Tunisia costs about 3% less than in Western Sahara on average.

Both countries sit below the global median: Tunisia 53% lower, Western Sahara 52% lower.

Internal cost variation is higher in Tunisia: monthly costs span $456 to $775, compared to $641$641 in Western Sahara. City choice carries more weight in Tunisia.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tunisia
Western Sahara
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.44 TND 10.09
$3.92 MAD 36.58
-12.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.06 TND 58.9
$29.26 MAD 273
-31.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.01 TND 14.70
$4.78 MAD 44.58
4.81%
Cappuccino
$0.97 TND 2.84
$1.60 MAD 14.89
-39.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 TND 1.81
$0.52 MAD 4.89
19.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29 TND 0.86
$0.31 MAD 2.93
-6.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 TND 5.06
$3.51 MAD 32.76
-51.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.35 TND 6.89
$4.77 MAD 44.46
-50.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tunisia
Western Sahara
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.51 TND 1.48
$0.79 MAD 7.36
-35.44%
White Bread (500g)
$0.18 TND 0.54
$0.60 MAD 5.62
-70.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.57 TND 4.60
$1.80 MAD 16.80
-12.78%
Eggs
$1.64 TND 4.81
$1.37 MAD 12.76
19.71%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.79 TND 31.68
$11.54 MAD 108
-6.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.10 TND 17.91
$3.44 MAD 32.03
77.33%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.17 TND 41.60
$9.42 MAD 87.8
50.42%
Apples (1kg)
$1.91 TND 5.60
$1.52 MAD 14.14
25.66%
Banana (1kg)
$3.00 TND 8.81
$1.14 MAD 10.61
163.16%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.11 TND 3.26
$0.68 MAD 6.34
63.24%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.78 TND 2.29
$0.56 MAD 5.25
39.29%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 TND 2.03
$0.48 MAD 4.47
43.75%
Onion (1kg)
$0.62 TND 1.82
$0.36 MAD 3.39
72.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.48 TND 1.40
$0.91 MAD 8.46
-47.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.30 TND 0.88
$0.56 MAD 5.27
-46.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.34 TND 9.79
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$6.69 TND 19.63
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 TND 3.66
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 TND 3.98
$3.51 MAD 32.74
-61.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Tunisia
Western Sahara
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 TND 1.03
$0.60 MAD 5.58
-41.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.24 TND 30.04
$11.75 MAD 110
-12.85%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.29 TND 0.85
$0.76 MAD 7.10
-61.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 TND 0.90
$0.64 MAD 5.99
-51.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.14 TND 12.14
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 TND 2.58
$1.28 MAD 11.93
-31.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.4K TND 118.6K
$39.1K MAD 364.4K
3.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.0K TND 108.6K
$26.4K MAD 246.1K
40.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tunisia
Western Sahara
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$54.3 TND 159
$33.34 MAD 311
62.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.19 TND 29.91
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.61 TND 57.6
$22.48 MAD 210
-12.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tunisia
Western Sahara
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.04 TND 82.3
$22.92 MAD 214
22.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.74 TND 37.40
$35.39 MAD 330
-64.00%
Cinema Ticket
$5.43 TND 15.94
$3.49 MAD 32.57
55.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tunisia
Western Sahara
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$95.6 TND 280
$290 MAD 2,702
-67.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,733 TND 8,020
$3,502 MAD 32.7K
-21.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tunisia
Western Sahara
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.03 TND 123
$34.23 MAD 319
22.79%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.5 TND 154
$58.3 MAD 544
-10.00%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.8 TND 287
$76.5 MAD 713
27.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.7 TND 216
$81.6 MAD 760
-9.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tunisia
Western Sahara
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$235 TND 690
$350 MAD 3,261
-32.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$156 TND 457
$177 MAD 1,649
-11.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$403 TND 1,182
$702 MAD 6,545
-42.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$272 TND 797
$289 MAD 2,697
-6.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,029 TND 3,021
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$619 TND 1,816
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tunisia
Western Sahara
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$321 TND 942
-
-
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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Western Sahara: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $198 in Tunisia, $349 in Western Sahara. Capital cities: $278 in Tunis vs $349 in Laayoune.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 76% higher in Western Sahara.

Dining out costs 53% more in Western Sahara.

Public transport is 20% more expensive 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 $616 per month in Tunisia and $641 in Western Sahara, there's a 4% 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?
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.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Western Sahara 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.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Tunisia or in Western Sahara?
In Tunisia, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Western Sahara it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Tunisia or to 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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