😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $642 in Western Sahara versus $619 in Tunisia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,014 in Western Sahara versus $996 in Tunisia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,385 in Western Sahara versus $1,372 in Tunisia.
😐Living in Western Sahara is roughly 4% more expensive than Tunisia on average.
📊Both countries sit below the global median: Western Sahara52% lower, Tunisia54% lower.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Western Sahara: monthly costs span $642 to $642, compared to $468–$778 in Tunisia. City choice carries more weight in Western Sahara.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.75MAD 34.70
$3.46TND 10.00
8.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.66MAD 265
$20.01TND 57.8
43.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.51MAD 41.74
$5.12TND 14.79
-11.91%
Cappuccino
$1.67MAD 15.47
$0.98TND 2.82
70.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52MAD 4.79
$0.62TND 1.80
-16.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34MAD 3.15
$0.27TND 0.77
25.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.52MAD 32.58
$1.71TND 4.95
105.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68MAD 43.27
$2.32TND 6.70
101.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.82MAD 7.63
$0.51TND 1.48
60.78%
White Bread(500g)
$0.56MAD 5.22
$0.17TND 0.50
229.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MAD 17.32
$1.51TND 4.35
23.84%
Eggs
$1.37MAD 12.67
$1.57TND 4.53
-12.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.60MAD 107
$10.83TND 31.28
7.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42MAD 31.61
$5.91TND 17.07
-42.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.11MAD 84.3
$13.79TND 39.84
-33.94%
Apples(1kg)
$1.49MAD 13.74
$1.95TND 5.63
-23.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18MAD 10.95
$2.94TND 8.48
-59.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.72MAD 6.63
$1.15TND 3.31
-37.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.60MAD 5.53
$0.78TND 2.25
-23.08%
Potato(1kg)
$0.44MAD 4.12
$0.70TND 2.02
-37.14%
Onion(1kg)
$0.37MAD 3.39
$0.59TND 1.69
-37.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.98MAD 9.02
$0.48TND 1.39
104.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57MAD 5.25
$0.30TND 0.86
90.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.46TND 10.01
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$6.76TND 19.54
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.25TND 3.60
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54MAD 32.74
$1.36TND 3.94
160.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.56MAD 5.15
$0.32TND 0.94
75.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.48MAD 106
$10.05TND 29.06
14.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.73MAD 6.74
$0.29TND 0.83
151.72%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.70MAD 6.47
$0.33TND 0.95
112.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$3.97TND 11.47
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.25MAD 11.52
$0.89TND 2.57
40.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.1KMAD 370.9K
$40.4KTND 116.6K
-0.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KMAD 247.5K
$36.5KTND 105.6K
-26.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$33.35MAD 308
$53.7TND 155
-37.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$9.83TND 28.40
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.51MAD 208
$19.53TND 56.4
15.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.04MAD 213
$28.17TND 81.4
-18.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.33MAD 327
$12.52TND 36.18
182.19%
Cinema Ticket
$3.57MAD 33.03
$5.30TND 15.31
-32.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$290MAD 2,682
$96.6TND 279
200.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,486MAD 32.2K
$2,718TND 7,855
28.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.85MAD 322
$41.36TND 120
-15.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.6MAD 542
$53.1TND 153
10.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.0MAD 693
$99.8TND 288
-24.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.7MAD 755
$74.1TND 214
10.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$348MAD 3,217
$232TND 671
49.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$172MAD 1,595
$153TND 443
12.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$687MAD 6,354
$399TND 1,153
72.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$289MAD 2,672
$272TND 787
6.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,063TND 3,073
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$651TND 1,881
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$334TND 966
-
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: April 27, 2026
Last update for Tunisia: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $354 in Western Sahara, $198 in Tunisia. Capital cities: $354 in Laayoune vs $280 in Tunis.
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
Western Sahara vs Tunisia: 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.
Western Sahara vs other spots: cost of living compared