Cost of living in Tunisia
If you're planning on relocating from the United Kingdom to Tunisia it’s important to build a realistic budget based on the cost of living in your chosen destination. The cost of everyday life, from rent and utilities, to childcare and education, tax and other unavoidable costs, can vary enormously based on market forces, the strength of the local economy and government policies.
Read on as we explore key information about the differences in cost of living between Tunisia & the United Kingdom, focusing on everything from the costs of food, healthcare, entertainment and more.
What contributes to the cost of living between Tunisia & the United Kingdom?
In this guide we look at differences in cost of living between Tunisia & the United Kingdom, so you can start to build up a budget to cover your costs when you relocate. Cost of living is highly personalised, and can depend on the things you like to do, food you like to eat, type of home you want to live in, and so on. Naturally, living in a new country with a family, paying for a larger property, education and healthcare, would cost significantly more than an international student looking only to cover basic expenses during a relatively short term stay.
To help you plan your spending we’ve covered different common expenses in Tunisia such as transport, healthcare, childcare and entertainment. Read on for more detail on each.
Pro tip: Use our international payment comparison tools to work out the best options for you to send international payments to and from Tunisia & the United Kingdom with low fees and great rates.
Is Tunisia expensive?
Based on data from Numbeo, the cost of living in Tunisia is 57.3% lower vs the United Kingdom when you take into account daily spending without rent.
Once you include rent into your calculations, the cost of living in Tunisia is 65.1% lower vs the United Kingdom.
If you look just at rent, the cost of rent in Tunisia is 84.7% lower than the United Kingdom.
Your own exact cost of living will depend on many different factors including your lifestyle, hobbies and even health - this guide can help you build up your own budget to live comfortably in your new home.
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Transport in Tunisia
Getting around will be an important cost to consider when living in Tunisia. Whether you’re commuting to work, getting to school or travelling for pleasure, the costs of transport can vary widely from country to country, based on fuel and vehicle prices, and the availability of public transport, taxis, and ride hailing services.
| Transport | United Kingdom | Tunisia | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| One way ticket (local transport) | £2.4 (د.ت10) | £0.3 (د.ت1) | -89.6% |
| Monthly pass (local transport) | £70 (د.ت280) | £7.5 (د.ت30) | -89.3% |
| Taxi start | £3.8 (د.ت15) | £0.2 (د.ت1) | -94.1% |
| Taxi (1km) | £1.7 (د.ت7) | £0.3 (د.ت1) | -84.8% |
| Taxi (1 hour waiting) | £20 (د.ت80) | £3 (د.ت12) | -85% |
| Gas (1 Litre) | £1.5 (د.ت6) | £0.6 (د.ت2) | -56.2% |
Utilities (monthly) in Tunisia
No matter where you choose to live in Tunisia you’ll need to pay utility bills for electricity, gas, water and other similar services. Utility costs are often dictated, or capped, by government policies, as well as market forces, which can mean that what you pay in one country is quite different to another. Here’s a look at utility costs in Tunisia as an example.
| Item | United Kingdom | Tunisia | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bills (electricity, gas, water) for 85m2 Apartment | £239.1 (د.ت956) | £39.9 (د.ت160) | -83.3% |
| Mobile Phone Contract (Calls and 10GB+ Data) | £12.8 (د.ت51) | £7.4 (د.ت30) | -41.7% |
| Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data) | £31 (د.ت124) | £15.2 (د.ت61) | -51.1% |
Grocery costs in Tunisia
Daily grocery costs and availability changes depending on the country you’re in, with factors like the proportion of foods that are imported making a big difference. When you’re in Tunisia you’ll need to think about building a suitable food budget for your personal tastes, and based on the costs of items you buy often.
| Item | United Kingdom | Tunisia | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk (1 Litre) | £1.2 (د.ت5) | £0.4 (د.ت2) | -71.2% |
| Loaf of fresh bread | £1.2 (د.ت5) | £0.1 (د.ت0) | -89.6% |
| Rice (1kg) | £1.7 (د.ت7) | £1.1 (د.ت4) | -31.4% |
| 12 eggs (regular) | £3 (د.ت12) | £1.2 (د.ت5) | -59.9% |
| Local cheese (1kg) | £7.2 (د.ت29) | £8 (د.ت32) | 11.3% |
| Chicken fillets (1kg) | £6.6 (د.ت26) | £4.5 (د.ت18) | -32.3% |
| Beef (1kg) | £10.4 (د.ت42) | £10.1 (د.ت40) | -2.8% |
| Apples (1kg) | £2.2 (د.ت9) | £1.4 (د.ت6) | -35.1% |
| Bananas (1kg) | £1.2 (د.ت5) | £2.4 (د.ت10) | 96.9% |
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Accommodation in Tunisia
If you’re moving to Tunisia you’ll likely need to rent a place to live. No matter where in the world you choose to reside, the costs of rent tend to make up a huge slice of your monthly budget. That said, you can often bring down the overall costs of renting by choosing a less central location or by sharing with others.
| Accommodation | United Kingdom | Tunisia | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apartment (1 bedroom) City Centre | £1031.3 (د.ت4,123) | £165.9 (د.ت663) | -83.9% |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of City Centre | £836.9 (د.ت3,346) | £110.9 (د.ت443) | -86.8% |
| Apartment (3 bedroom) City Centre | £1724.4 (د.ت6,894) | £288.2 (د.ت1,152) | -83.3% |
| Apartment (3 bedroom) Outside of City Centre | £1358.1 (د.ت5,430) | £194.4 (د.ت777) | -85.7% |
Salaries in Tunisia
The amount of money you have in your pocket when you’re living in Tunisia is a function of both the salary you can earn, and the amount of tax you need to pay on your income. As taxes can be structured quite differently from one country to the next it’s crucial to get a realistic idea of the amount you’ll lose in taxes - and so the amount you have for spending - before you move.
| Salary | United Kingdom | Tunisia | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average monthly salary (after tax) | £2373.6 (د.ت9,489) | £240.8 (د.ت963) | -89.9% |
Education and childcare in Tunisia
For people moving to Tunisia with a family, the costs of education and childcare will be an important budget line. Childcare, school fees and university costs can be a huge proportion of your annual budget, particularly when you’re outside of your home country, and may not have access to government funded educational institutions. Here’s a look at some common costs in Tunisia to help your research.
| Childcare | United Kingdom | Tunisia | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child | £1249.9 (د.ت4,997) | £69.0 (د.ت276) | -94.5% |
| International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child | £15402.6 (د.ت61,578) | £2028.0 (د.ت8,108) | -86.8% |
Entertainment and eating out in Tunisia
Don’t forget to include discretionary spending on entertainment and personal care to your budget for Tunisia. While your own spending in this area will be unique, planning to have some money for fun activities can help you settle into your new home, make new friends and relax into your new life.
| Entertainment | United Kingdom | Tunisia | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee (1 Adult) | £33.8 (د.ت135) | £20.7 (د.ت83) | -38.8% |
| Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend) | £11.4 (د.ت46) | £8.9 (د.ت36) | -22.4% |
| Cinema, International Release, 1 ticket | £10 (د.ت40) | £3.8 (د.ت15) | -62.4% |
| Eating out | United Kingdom | Tunisia | % difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal out (cheap restaurant) | £15 (د.ت60) | £2.5 (د.ت10) | -83.3% |
| Meal for 2 (mid-range restaurant), 3 courses | £65 (د.ت260) | £15 (د.ت60) | -76.9% |
| Meal at McDonalds (or equivalent) | £7.5 (د.ت30) | £3.8 (د.ت15) | -49.9% |
| Local Beer (0.5 litres) | £5 (د.ت20) | £1.3 (د.ت5) | -74.9% |
| Imported Beer (0.33 litre) | £2.5 (د.ت10) | £1 (د.ت4) | -59.8% |
| Cappuccino (regular) | £3.4 (د.ت14) | £0.7 (د.ت3) | -79.7% |
| Coke/Pepsi (0.33 litre) | £1.8 (د.ت7) | £0.5 (د.ت2) | -72.4% |
| Water (0.33 litre) | £1.3 (د.ت5) | £0.2 (د.ت1) | -83.2% |
Exchange rates between the United Kingdom & Tunisia
Understanding the differences in exchange rate between the United Kingdom & Tunisia is important to allow you to manage your money across currencies. Looking at historical data and trends for the TND/GBP exchange rate can help you understand how far your funds will go once you move.
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Conclusion
Understanding the differences in cost of living between Tunisia & the United Kingdom is important for anyone who plans to relocate - either for a short period of work or study, or on a long term basis. By understanding how different costs may be for day to day essentials, you can plan your budget effectively and make sure you hit the ground running in your new home.
If you live an international lifestyle, our currency conversion and international payment comparison tools are the perfect way to help you manage your money across currencies. Use our guides and calculators to figure out the cheapest and most convenient ways to spend in your new country, and to send international payments to and from Tunisia & the United Kingdom with low fees and great rates.