Djerba, Tunisia

Djerba sits just off the southeastern coast of Tunisia, a low-lying island whose highest point rises only 10 m above sea level, and it keeps time on the Africa/Tunis clock. The climate is Mediterranean: hot, dry summers from June through September give way to mild winters, so beach lovers find year-round sunshine with minimal rainfall. Expats tend to settle in three places. Djerba Houmt Souk, the island's main town, offers the fullest range of services. Midoun puts you closer to the resort strip and the eastern beaches. Aghir, quieter and smaller, appeals to those who want the sea at the end of the street. Population stands at 176 thousand, and the expat community is small, so newcomers recognize familiar faces quickly.

The money side is where Djerba surprises people. A one-bedroom apartment in the city center rents for $117/mo, while the same outside the center drops to $67/mo. Three-bedroom places run $273/mo in the center and $207/mo outside it. Utilities come to $23/mo, internet $15/mo, and a mobile phone plan $9/mo. A gym membership costs $17/mo. Eating out is cheap: an inexpensive restaurant meal is $3 per person, a mid-range three-course dinner for two is $20, and a cappuccino is $1. Numbeo puts monthly costs excluding rent at $450/mo for a single person and $1,350/mo for a family of four. Budget, mid-range, and comfortable tiers for a single adult, rent included, land at $181/mo, $259/mo, and $352/mo. Against that, the average monthly net salary locally is $278/mo, and the cost of living index reads 35/100 with New York City at 100. Internet averages 25 Mbps.

Safety is a genuine selling point. The safety index is 65/100 and the crime index is 35/100, where lower is safer. Air quality sits at 45, lower being better. Healthcare quality is rated fair. English proficiency is limited, which matters more for daily errands than for emergencies, and the small expat community means you will lean on French, Arabic, or a translation app more often than you might expect.

The route in is straightforward: Djerba-Zarzis International Airport, code DJE, lies 11 km from the island's center. For stays beyond the usual tourist window, the Temporary Residence Permit, known as the Carte de séjour, is the relevant program. The overall expat score is 76/100, with a FIRE score of 78/100, a retiree score of 56/100, and a digital nomad score of 60/100. That mix points to a clear audience: budget-focused remote workers, early retirees stretching a fixed income, and anyone who wants Mediterranean beach life at a fraction of what southern Europe charges, provided they can accept limited English, a small social circle, and wages that stay low for those earning locally.