For one person, living is cheaper in Tunisia: $681 a month against $2,727 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $24,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in the United States and in Tunisia
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in the United States and in Tunisia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,727 in the United States versus $681 in Tunisia.
United States $2,727
Tunisia $681
Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,009 in the United States versus $1,067 in Tunisia.
United States $4,009
Tunisia $1,067
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,291 in the United States versus $1,453 in Tunisia.
United States $5,291
Tunisia $1,453
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in the United States: monthly costs span $977 to $5,215, compared to $446–$846 in Tunisia. City choice carries more weight in the United States.
🌍
Living in the United States is roughly 300% more expensive than in Tunisia on average.
📊
The United States (101% above) and Tunisia (50% below) straddle the global median.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Tunisia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.73$19.73
$3.99TND 11.96
394.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.0$81.0
$20.01TND 59.9
304.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.98$11.98
$5.14TND 15.40
133.07%
Cappuccino
$5.59$5.59
$0.95TND 2.85
488.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78$2.78
$0.70TND 2.08
297.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.10$2.10
$0.32TND 0.97
556.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.98$5.98
$1.66TND 4.98
260.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92$7.92
$2.00TND 5.99
296.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Tunisia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.03$1.03
$0.50TND 1.51
106.00%
White Bread(500g)
$3.75$3.75
$0.21TND 0.63
1685.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$4.46$4.46
$1.43TND 4.27
211.89%
Eggs
$4.34$4.34
$1.55TND 4.64
180.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.75$12.75
$10.78TND 32.30
18.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$12.27$12.27
$5.77TND 17.28
112.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.29$17.29
$14.54TND 43.55
18.91%
Apples(1kg)
$5.31$5.31
$1.97TND 5.89
169.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.67$1.67
$3.42TND 10.25
-51.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.32$4.32
$1.12TND 3.35
285.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$5.03$5.03
$0.78TND 2.35
544.87%
Potato(1kg)
$2.81$2.81
$0.77TND 2.32
264.94%
Onion(1kg)
$3.05$3.05
$0.62TND 1.85
391.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.22$2.22
$0.45TND 1.35
393.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$2.35$2.35
$0.29TND 0.88
710.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$10.92$10.92
$3.60TND 10.77
203.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.87$14.87
$6.77TND 20.29
119.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10$2.10
$1.23TND 3.67
70.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62$3.62
$1.30TND 3.90
178.46%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Tunisia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.46$2.46
$0.35TND 1.06
602.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$65.7$65.7
$9.96TND 29.82
559.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.58$3.58
$0.29TND 0.85
1134.48%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90$1.90
$0.32TND 0.97
493.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.51$29.51
$3.91TND 11.71
654.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.02$1.02
$0.88TND 2.64
15.91%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K$28.3K
$39.4KTND 117.9K
-28.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.0K$26.0K
$36.8KTND 110.1K
-29.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Tunisia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$221$221
$55.1TND 165
300.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.3$61.3
$10.09TND 30.20
507.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.3$73.3
$19.94TND 59.7
267.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Tunisia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.89$44.89
$26.25TND 78.6
71.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.65$22.65
$11.62TND 34.80
94.92%
Cinema Ticket
$15.16$15.16
$5.29TND 15.85
186.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Tunisia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,471$1,471
$83.1TND 249
1670.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.0K$25.0K
$2,716TND 8,135
820.87%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Tunisia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5$53.5
$40.36TND 121
32.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.76$43.76
$53.3TND 160
-17.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.0$92.0
$99.0TND 297
-7.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114$114
$75.8TND 227
50.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Tunisia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,654$1,654
$224TND 671
637.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,332$1,332
$156TND 469
751.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,669$2,669
$386TND 1,157
591.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,207$2,207
$269TND 804
721.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,054$3,054
$1,020TND 3,054
199.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,522$2,522
$631TND 1,890
299.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Tunisia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,391$4,391
$321TND 962
1267.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.55
10.98
-40.35%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the United States: October 18, 2026
Last update for Tunisia: October 19, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
United States
$1.3K 48.9%
Tunisia
$156 23% ↓ 88.3%$1.2K
🛒Groceries & Markets
United States
$413 15.1%
Tunisia
$194 28.4% ↓ 53%$219
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$355 13%
Tunisia
$85 12.5% ↓ 76%$270
🍽Eating Out
United States
$326 12%
Tunisia
$75 11% ↓ 77%$251
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United States
$137 5%
Tunisia
$121 17.7% ↓ 11.5%$16
🚌Getting Around
United States
$89 3.3%
Tunisia
$13 2% ↓ 85%$75
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United States
$75 2.8%
Tunisia
$37 5.4% ↓ 51%$38
🏠Accommodation & Living
United States
$2.2K 41.7%
Tunisia
$269 18.5% ↓ 87.8%$1.9K
🛒Groceries & Markets
United States
$946 17.9%
Tunisia
$460 31.7% ↓ 51.4%$486
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$417 7.9%
Tunisia
$95 6.6% ↓ 77.2%$321
🍽Eating Out
United States
$1.1K 20.1%
Tunisia
$248 17.1% ↓ 76.7%$815
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
United States
$304 5.7%
Tunisia
$269 18.5% ↓ 11.5%$35
🚌Getting Around
United States
$182 3.4%
Tunisia
$27 1.9% ↓ 85%$155
🎉Sport & Entertainment
United States
$173 3.3%
Tunisia
$85 5.9% ↓ 50.7%$88
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $1,612 in the United States, $204 in Tunisia. Capital cities: $2,743 in Washington, DC vs $382 in Tunis.
💰National salary averages: $4,548 in the United States, $309 in Tunisia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 690% higher in the United States.
⭐Dining out costs 317% more in the United States.
⭐Public transport is 170% more expensive in the United States.
⭐Salaries are 1372% higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.
United States→Tunisia8,290 km≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
United States
Tunisia
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
United States vs Tunisia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Tunisia and the United States?
At $681 per month in Tunisia and $2,727 in the United States, there's a 300% 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 cheaper in Tunisia: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. 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 for a central one-bedroom averages $1,612 in the United States and $204 in Tunisia. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Tunisia or in the United States?
In Tunisia, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in the United States 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 the United States?
It depends on what you're after: Tunisia wins on affordability; the United States may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.
United States vs other spots: cost of living compared