Essentials
- Population
- Approximately 330,000 (City), 950,000 (Greater Sfax Area)
- Internet Speed
- Average 4G/LTE 25 Mbps; Fiber (Ooredoo/Tunisie Telecom) up to 100 Mbps in Nasria district
- Currency & Banking
- 1 TND ≈ 0.32 USD, 1 USD ≈ 3.12 TND; Local banks include BIAT and Amen Bank
- Tap Water
- Not recommended for drinking; buy bottled water like Sabrine or Safia (0.800 TND per 1.5L)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C and E sockets
- SIM Card
- Ooredoo, Tunisie Telecom, Orange (Approx. 20 TND for 25GB data)
- Banking for Expats
- BIAT (Banque Internationale Arabe de Tunisie) is best for foreigners; Revolut/Wise work at ATMs with fees
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and local sites like Tayara.tn
- Cashless Friendly
- Mainly cash-based; Cards accepted only in high-end hotels and supermarkets like Carrefour
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (Avg. $30/night) or Appart-hôtels in the Sfax El Jadida area
- Budget Accommodation
- Hotel Alexander (Rue Alexandre Dumas, ~45 TND/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- The Medina (historic center) or Beb Bhar (modern city gate region)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Nasria or Route de Gremda (modern residential areas with better connectivity)
- City
- Sfax, Sfax Governorate, Tunisia
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Co-Zi Coworking Cafe (Route de l'Afrane, km 2) - ~15 TND per day
- Best Cafe for Work
- Vintage Cafe (Route de Gremda) - quiet atmosphere, reliable Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- Events organized by Technopole Sfax and the Chamber of Commerce (CCIS)
- Social Events for Expats
- Sfax International Club meetings or language exchange meetups at the French Institute Sfax
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Bolt (widely used in Sfax) or Indriver; standard yellow taxis use meters starting at 0.540 TND
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Limited; informal rentals available through local Facebook groups or 'Velo Sfaxians'
- Best Beach Nearby
- Chaffar Beach (25 km south of Sfax city center)
- Top Regional Airline
- Tunisair Express (Flights from Sfax-Thyna International)
- Top International Airline
- Tunisair, Nouvelair
- Highway Access
- A1 Motorway connecting Sfax to Sousse and Tunis
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Sfax Railway Station (SNCFT) - direct lines to Tunis and Gabès
- Public Transport Passes
- Soretras Bus passes (monthly for ~35 TND), but taxis are preferred for convenience
- Regional Travel
- Louage (Shared Taxi) station at 'Bab Bhar' for fast travel to other cities
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Polyclinique El Bassatine (Route d'El Ain, km 1.5) - Private facility
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Sfax Yoga Center (Route de Teniour)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- California Gym (Sfax Mall, Route de Tunis) - High-end, ~110 TND/month
- Laundry Services
- Pressing El Hana (Nasria area)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Jumia Food or Monresto
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Marka Sfaxienne (Fish stew) or Sfaxian Couscous with Grouper
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Restaurant Le Corail (offers vegetable-based couscous and salads)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Pâtisserie Masmoudi (Famous for traditional Sfaxian almond pastries)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Central Market (Marché Central) in the Medina for fresh produce
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Jumia Tunisia (jumia.com.tn)
- Grocery Delivery
- Carrefour via the Jumia Food app
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Limited; mostly in 4-5 star hotels like Hotel Les Oliviers Palace
- Local Brewery
- Celtia (National beer), served at licensed hotel bars
- Wine Bars
- Le Grand Hotel bar (Avenue Habib Bourguiba)
- Street Food Stalls
- Beb Bhar sandwich stalls - try the 'Fricassé' or 'Chapati Sfaxien' (3 TND)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Pizza Town (Nasria) for Italian or Le Dragon for Asian
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- The Great Mosque of Sfax and the Ramparts of the Medina
- Museums & Art Venues
- Dar Jellouli Museum (Traditional Sfaxian house and arts)
- Historical Sites
- Thyna (Thenae) archaeological ruins
- Religious Sites
- Sidi Lyes Mosque (Medina)
- Annual Events
- Sfax International Fair (May), Sfax International Festival (Music in Summer)
- Cultural Districts
- The Medina (Historical) and Sfax El Jadida (Modern)
- Theater Venues
- Sfax Municipal Theater (Théâtre Municipal de Sfax)
- Local Markets
- Souq El Jemaa (Friday Market) and Souq Al-Hout (Fish Market)
- Music Scene
- Classical Malouf music performances at cultural cafes in the Medina
- Street Art
- Murals around the 'Chemin de fer' and near Sfax Technopole
- Cooking Classes
- Workshops occasionally held at Dar El Jeld or through local associations
- Art Galleries
- Galerie d'art Mohamed Fellah
- Historic Buildings
- The Sfax Town Hall (Hotel de Ville) - colonial architecture
- Local Heritage
- Olive Oil production - Sfax is the heart of Tunisia's olive industry
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Kerkennah Islands (Take the Loud ferry from Sfax port, 1-hour trip, 1 TND)
- National Parks Nearby
- Bou-Hedma National Park (Approx. 2 hours drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The 'Corniche' of Sfax (Sidi Mansour) for seaside walking
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Top of the Medina walls looking over the city harbor
- Birdwatching Locations
- Thyna Salines (Salt marshes) - home to flamingos
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Remote sections of Chaffar Beach (permit may be required for large groups)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Rapid-Poste (Tunisie Telecom) - very reliable; Aramex Sfax
- Tech Repair Services
- Galerie 7 (Route de Tunis) - hub for smartphone and laptop repairs
- Table Tennis Spots
- Sfax Sports Complex (Cité Sportive)
- Language Classes
- Institut Français de Sfax (French); Bourguiba School (Arabic)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Sfax Public Library (Near the Railway Station)
- Community Centers
- Maison de Culture Bab Bhar
- Gaming Lounges
- The Rift Gaming Center (Nasria district)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Not available (Gambling is strictly regulated/prohibited)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 2,200 TND per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 88,000 TND)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 1,600 TND per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 64,000 TND)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 2,000 TND per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 120,000 TND)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 1,400 TND per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 84,000 TND)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 1,900 TND per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 152,000 TND)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 1,300 TND per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 104,000 TND)
- Corporate Tax
- 15% (standard rate for most sectors)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10%
- Tax System
- Residence-based; residents taxed on worldwide income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35% (for income over 50,000 TND)
- VAT
- 19% standard rate; 7% or 13% for specific goods
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, Tunisian residents may be taxed on undistributed income of foreign entities in low-tax jurisdictions
- Property Tax
- Yes, 'Taxe d'habitation', calculated based on property size and location
- Property Transaction Tax
- 6% Registration duty for real estate transfers
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; however, income from foreign sources for non-residents is generally not taxed in Tunisia