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: $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 Sahara 52% lower, Tunisia 54% 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
$3.75 MAD 34.70
$3.46 TND 10.00
8.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.66 MAD 265
$20.01 TND 57.8
43.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.51 MAD 41.74
$5.12 TND 14.79
-11.91%
Cappuccino
$1.67 MAD 15.47
$0.98 TND 2.82
70.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 MAD 4.79
$0.62 TND 1.80
-16.13%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 MAD 3.15
$0.27 TND 0.77
25.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.52 MAD 32.58
$1.71 TND 4.95
105.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.68 MAD 43.27
$2.32 TND 6.70
101.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 MAD 7.63
$0.51 TND 1.48
60.78%
White Bread (500g)
$0.56 MAD 5.22
$0.17 TND 0.50
229.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 MAD 17.32
$1.51 TND 4.35
23.84%
Eggs
$1.37 MAD 12.67
$1.57 TND 4.53
-12.74%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.60 MAD 107
$10.83 TND 31.28
7.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.42 MAD 31.61
$5.91 TND 17.07
-42.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.11 MAD 84.3
$13.79 TND 39.84
-33.94%
Apples (1kg)
$1.49 MAD 13.74
$1.95 TND 5.63
-23.59%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 MAD 10.95
$2.94 TND 8.48
-59.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.72 MAD 6.63
$1.15 TND 3.31
-37.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.60 MAD 5.53
$0.78 TND 2.25
-23.08%
Potato (1kg)
$0.44 MAD 4.12
$0.70 TND 2.02
-37.14%
Onion (1kg)
$0.37 MAD 3.39
$0.59 TND 1.69
-37.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.98 MAD 9.02
$0.48 TND 1.39
104.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 MAD 5.25
$0.30 TND 0.86
90.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
-
$3.46 TND 10.01
-
Wine (Bottle)
-
$6.76 TND 19.54
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.25 TND 3.60
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54 MAD 32.74
$1.36 TND 3.94
160.29%
🚌 Getting Around
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.56 MAD 5.15
$0.32 TND 0.94
75.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.48 MAD 106
$10.05 TND 29.06
14.23%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.73 MAD 6.74
$0.29 TND 0.83
151.72%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.70 MAD 6.47
$0.33 TND 0.95
112.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$3.97 TND 11.47
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 MAD 11.52
$0.89 TND 2.57
40.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.1K MAD 370.9K
$40.4K TND 116.6K
-0.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K MAD 247.5K
$36.5K TND 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)
$33.35 MAD 308
$53.7 TND 155
-37.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
-
$9.83 TND 28.40
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.51 MAD 208
$19.53 TND 56.4
15.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.04 MAD 213
$28.17 TND 81.4
-18.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.33 MAD 327
$12.52 TND 36.18
182.19%
Cinema Ticket
$3.57 MAD 33.03
$5.30 TND 15.31
-32.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$290 MAD 2,682
$96.6 TND 279
200.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,486 MAD 32.2K
$2,718 TND 7,855
28.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.85 MAD 322
$41.36 TND 120
-15.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.6 MAD 542
$53.1 TND 153
10.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 MAD 693
$99.8 TND 288
-24.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.7 MAD 755
$74.1 TND 214
10.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$348 MAD 3,217
$232 TND 671
49.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$172 MAD 1,595
$153 TND 443
12.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$687 MAD 6,354
$399 TND 1,153
72.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$289 MAD 2,672
$272 TND 787
6.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$1,063 TND 3,073
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$651 TND 1,881
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Western Sahara
Tunisia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$334 TND 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.

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