😐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
$3.92MAD 36.58
$3.44TND 10.09
13.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$29.26MAD 273
$20.06TND 58.9
45.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.78MAD 44.58
$5.01TND 14.70
-4.59%
Cappuccino
$1.60MAD 14.89
$0.97TND 2.84
64.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52MAD 4.89
$0.62TND 1.81
-16.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31MAD 2.93
$0.29TND 0.86
6.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.51MAD 32.76
$1.72TND 5.06
104.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.77MAD 44.46
$2.35TND 6.89
102.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.79MAD 7.36
$0.51TND 1.48
54.90%
White Bread(500g)
$0.60MAD 5.62
$0.18TND 0.54
233.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.80MAD 16.80
$1.57TND 4.60
14.65%
Eggs
$1.37MAD 12.76
$1.64TND 4.81
-16.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.54MAD 108
$10.79TND 31.68
6.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.44MAD 32.03
$6.10TND 17.91
-43.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.42MAD 87.8
$14.17TND 41.60
-33.52%
Apples(1kg)
$1.52MAD 14.14
$1.91TND 5.60
-20.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.14MAD 10.61
$3.00TND 8.81
-62.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.68MAD 6.34
$1.11TND 3.26
-38.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.56MAD 5.25
$0.78TND 2.29
-28.21%
Potato(1kg)
$0.48MAD 4.47
$0.69TND 2.03
-30.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.36MAD 3.39
$0.62TND 1.82
-41.94%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.91MAD 8.46
$0.48TND 1.40
89.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56MAD 5.27
$0.30TND 0.88
86.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.34TND 9.79
-
Wine(Bottle)
-
$6.69TND 19.63
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.25TND 3.66
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.51MAD 32.74
$1.36TND 3.98
158.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.60MAD 5.58
$0.35TND 1.03
71.43%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.75MAD 110
$10.24TND 30.04
14.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.76MAD 7.10
$0.29TND 0.85
162.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.64MAD 5.99
$0.31TND 0.90
106.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$4.14TND 12.14
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28MAD 11.93
$0.88TND 2.58
45.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.1KMAD 364.4K
$40.4KTND 118.6K
-3.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4KMAD 246.1K
$37.0KTND 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)
$33.34MAD 311
$54.3TND 159
-38.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$10.19TND 29.91
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.48MAD 210
$19.61TND 57.6
14.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.92MAD 214
$28.04TND 82.3
-18.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.39MAD 330
$12.74TND 37.40
177.79%
Cinema Ticket
$3.49MAD 32.57
$5.43TND 15.94
-35.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$290MAD 2,702
$95.6TND 280
203.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,502MAD 32.7K
$2,733TND 8,020
28.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.23MAD 319
$42.03TND 123
-18.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.3MAD 544
$52.5TND 154
11.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.5MAD 713
$97.8TND 287
-21.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.6MAD 760
$73.7TND 216
10.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$350MAD 3,261
$235TND 690
48.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$177MAD 1,649
$156TND 457
13.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$702MAD 6,545
$403TND 1,182
74.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$289MAD 2,697
$272TND 797
6.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,029TND 3,021
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$619TND 1,816
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$321TND 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.
Western Sahara vs other spots: cost of living compared