Sfax vs Dahab: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Dahab costs roughly 10.5x less than Sfax. Sfax leads on digital nomad infrastructure. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Dahab is approximately 1% less expensive than Sfax based on cost of living including rent. This makes Dahab a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Dahab has a FIRE Score of 85/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 68, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Dahab is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Sfax
Sfax is a cheap place to live, with a 1-bedroom in the center at $192/mo and a comfortable single lifestyle at $467/mo, but the average local net salary of $328/mo means most residents are not living comfortably. The overall expat score of 78/100 and FIRE score of 80/100 look strong on paper, yet the retiree score of 53/100 and digital nomad score of 57/100 tell the real story: limited English, a very small expat community, and fair healthcare make this a tough sell for anyone who needs a soft landing. Come for the low rent and the $3 restaurant meals, stay only if you are self-sufficient, patient with limited English, and genuinely comfortable being one of very few foreigners in town.
About Tunisia
Best for retirees on a tight budget, as Tunisia offers a retirement visa (Carte de séjour). A one-bedroom apartment in the city center averages just $241.52/month, making it a very affordable option in Africa. However, limited English proficiency and a low English-speaking doctor availability create significant daily hurdles for non-Arabic speakers.
$2,636/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Dahab
Dahab is a shoestring legend that earns its reputation: a 1-bedroom in the center runs $191/mo, utilities $18/mo, and an inexpensive restaurant meal $4, so a single adult can live on a budget tier total of $216/mo. The catch is that the average monthly net salary is $134/mo, which means almost nobody here is getting rich locally, and the retiree score of 59/100 reflects a healthcare system rated only Fair. Come for the diving, the 25 Mbps internet, and the digital nomad score of 66/100, but treat it as a cheap base rather than a place to build a career or grow old.
About Egypt
Political stability of -0.98 and no digital nomad visa rule this out for remote workers wanting a straightforward path. But retirees on tight budgets get a real deal: $338/mo living costs, $147 rent, and no dedicated retirement visa. This is for budget-focused retirees who can handle bureaucratic friction, not remote-work nomads or safety-first movers.
$2,680/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Sfax | Dahab |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $191.98 | $190.98 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $134.88 | $128.91 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $333.04 | $525.2 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $215.01 | $315.12 |
| Safety Index | 65 | 68 |
| Internet Speed | 40Mbps | 25Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Sfax | Dahab |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $385/mo | $351/mo |
| Excluding rent | $250/mo | $222/mo |
| Rent | $135/mo | $129/mo |
| Groceries | $93.00/mo | $90.00/mo |
| Dining out | $33.00/mo | $38.00/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $45.00/mo | $44.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $69.00/mo | $42.00/mo |
| Transport | $10.00/mo | $8.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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