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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $641 in Western Sahara versus $619 in Tunisia.

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

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

Living in Western Sahara is roughly 4% more expensive than in Tunisia on average.

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

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.92 MAD 36.58
$3.44 TND 10.09
13.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.26 MAD 273
$20.06 TND 58.9
45.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.78 MAD 44.58
$5.01 TND 14.70
-4.59%
Cappuccino
$1.60 MAD 14.89
$0.97 TND 2.84
64.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 MAD 4.89
$0.62 TND 1.81
-16.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 MAD 2.93
$0.29 TND 0.86
6.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.51 MAD 32.76
$1.72 TND 5.06
104.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.77 MAD 44.46
$2.35 TND 6.89
102.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.79 MAD 7.36
$0.51 TND 1.48
54.90%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 MAD 5.62
$0.18 TND 0.54
233.33%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.80 MAD 16.80
$1.57 TND 4.60
14.65%
Eggs
$1.37 MAD 12.76
$1.64 TND 4.81
-16.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.54 MAD 108
$10.79 TND 31.68
6.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.44 MAD 32.03
$6.10 TND 17.91
-43.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.42 MAD 87.8
$14.17 TND 41.60
-33.52%
Apples (1kg)
$1.52 MAD 14.14
$1.91 TND 5.60
-20.42%
Banana (1kg)
$1.14 MAD 10.61
$3.00 TND 8.81
-62.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.68 MAD 6.34
$1.11 TND 3.26
-38.74%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.56 MAD 5.25
$0.78 TND 2.29
-28.21%
Potato (1kg)
$0.48 MAD 4.47
$0.69 TND 2.03
-30.43%
Onion (1kg)
$0.36 MAD 3.39
$0.62 TND 1.82
-41.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.91 MAD 8.46
$0.48 TND 1.40
89.58%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 MAD 5.27
$0.30 TND 0.88
86.67%
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)
$3.51 MAD 32.74
$1.36 TND 3.98
158.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.60 MAD 5.58
$0.35 TND 1.03
71.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.75 MAD 110
$10.24 TND 30.04
14.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.76 MAD 7.10
$0.29 TND 0.85
162.07%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.64 MAD 5.99
$0.31 TND 0.90
106.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$4.14 TND 12.14
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 MAD 11.93
$0.88 TND 2.58
45.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.1K MAD 364.4K
$40.4K TND 118.6K
-3.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K MAD 246.1K
$37.0K TND 108.6K
-28.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$33.34 MAD 311
$54.3 TND 159
-38.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$10.19 TND 29.91
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.48 MAD 210
$19.61 TND 57.6
14.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.92 MAD 214
$28.04 TND 82.3
-18.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.39 MAD 330
$12.74 TND 37.40
177.79%
Cinema Ticket
$3.49 MAD 32.57
$5.43 TND 15.94
-35.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$290 MAD 2,702
$95.6 TND 280
203.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,502 MAD 32.7K
$2,733 TND 8,020
28.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.23 MAD 319
$42.03 TND 123
-18.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.3 MAD 544
$52.5 TND 154
11.11%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.5 MAD 713
$97.8 TND 287
-21.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.6 MAD 760
$73.7 TND 216
10.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$350 MAD 3,261
$235 TND 690
48.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$177 MAD 1,649
$156 TND 457
13.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$702 MAD 6,545
$403 TND 1,182
74.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$289 MAD 2,697
$272 TND 797
6.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,029 TND 3,021
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$619 TND 1,816
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$321 TND 942
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
11.33
-

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

Last update for Western Sahara: July 28, 2026

Last update for Tunisia: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

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

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
Western Sahara vs Tunisia: 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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