The Tunisian dinar (TND) divides into 1000 millimes. As of 2024, one US dollar exchanges for approximately 3.1 dinars, one euro for approximately 3.4 dinars, and one British pound for approximately 3.9 dinars. The Central Bank of Tunisia sets official rates daily. Currency export and import restrictions apply—travelers may bring in unlimited foreign currency but must declare amounts exceeding 5000 dinars equivalent upon entry. Taking Tunisian dinars out of the country is illegal except in small amounts not exceeding 500 dinars. Exchange offices at Tunis-Carthage International Airport operate during all flight arrivals, though rates run slightly higher than city banks. Major banks include Banque de Tunisie, Société Tunisienne de Banque, and BIAT, with branches in Tunis, Sfax, Sousse, and other cities keeping standard hours of 0800 to 1500 Monday through Friday during winter, closing at 1100 on Fridays. ATMs dispense dinars in denominations up to 50 TND notes and accept Visa and Mastercard networks widely, though machines in smaller towns like Tozeur and Gabès occasionally run empty on weekends. Banks charge withdrawal fees ranging from 3 to 7 dinars per transaction depending on the institution and card network.
Street currency exchangers operate illegally and offer rates marginally better than official channels, primarily in the Medina of Tunis and near the Zitouna Mosque, but transactions carry legal risk and counterfeit note exposure. Hotels exchange currency at rates typically 5 to 8 percent below bank rates. The black market expanded following the 2011 Jasmine Revolution when the dinar depreciated sharply, but gaps between official and unofficial rates have narrowed since 2016. Travelers checks from American Express and Thomas Cook can be cashed at major bank branches in Tunis and Sousse but have become uncommon since 2010. Credit cards see acceptance in hotels rated three stars and above, restaurants in Tunis, Hammamet, and Sidi Bou Said, and larger shops, but cash remains necessary for medinas, public transport, smaller restaurants, and all transactions outside major cities. Contactless payment infrastructure exists in Tunis malls and international chain locations but has not penetrated beyond the capital region meaningfully.
A budget daily rate in Tunisia runs 60 to 90 dinars (roughly 19 to 29 USD) covering hostel dormitory accommodation, street food meals, local transport, and free or low-cost attractions. Mid-range travelers spend 150 to 250 dinars daily (48 to 81 USD) for private room guesthouses, sit-down restaurant meals, occasional taxis, and entry fees to major sites. High-end budgets begin at 400 dinars daily (129 USD) for four-star hotels, upscale dining, private drivers, and guided tours. These figures apply to 2024 prices based on typical travel patterns in Tunis, Sousse, and the Cap Bon Peninsula. Costs drop 15 to 25 percent in interior cities like Kairouan and southern areas including Gabès, while the resort zone of Hammamet and Djerba Island run 10 to 20 percent above the national average for equivalent services.
Hostel beds in Tunis cost 15 to 25 dinars per night in establishments like Medina Social Club near the Bardo National Museum or Dar El Medina in the historic quarter. Private rooms in budget guesthouses or maisons d'hôtes range from 40 to 70 dinars for doubles with shared bathrooms in Tunis, Sousse, and Monastir. Mid-range hotels charge 120 to 200 dinars for ensuite doubles with breakfast included, typified by the three-star tier across Tunisian cities. Four-star accommodations in Hammamet and along the Gulf of Tunis begin at 250 dinars and extend to 500 dinars nightly in high season from June through September. Five-star properties including international chains near Carthage and luxury resorts on Djerba Island command 600 to 1200 dinars per night. Campgrounds exist near Ichkeul National Park and in the Sahara Desert near Tozeur, charging 10 to 20 dinars per person with basic facilities. Riads in the Medina of Tunis and Medina of Kairouan offer restored traditional courtyard houses as boutique lodging from 180 to 400 dinars nightly. Booking platforms show availability and prices, though direct contact sometimes yields better rates in non-peak months of November through March.
A baguette sandwich of tuna, harissa, and olives from a street vendor costs 2 to 4 dinars throughout Tunisia. Lablabi, the chickpea soup breakfast staple, sells for 2 to 3 dinars in working-class cafés near the Medina of Sousse and Sfax's old quarter. Brik, the fried pastry with egg filling, runs 3 to 5 dinars depending on additional fillings like tuna or merguez. A plate of couscous with vegetables and meat in a basic restaurant costs 8 to 15 dinars, while the same dish in mid-range establishments in Tunis or Kairouan reaches 18 to 25 dinars. Mechouia salad, ojja, and fricassé sandwiches typically price between 4 and 8 dinars in neighborhood eateries. Sit-down lunches in tourist areas of Sidi Bou Said or near the Amphitheater of El Jem average 20 to 35 dinars per person for a main course, salad, and soft drink. Upscale restaurants serving modern interpretations of Tunisian cuisine in Tunis charge 40 to 80 dinars per person before wine. International cuisine including Italian and French runs marginally higher. Fresh seafood in coastal cities like Bizerte and Mahdia costs 30 to 60 dinars for grilled fish plates. A half-kilogram of merguez sausage from butchers costs 12 to 18 dinars. Markets sell produce at considerably lower prices than fixed shops—tomatoes, peppers, and onions for mechouia salad cost under 5 dinars per kilogram. Makroud pastries and bambalouni doughnuts sell for 1 to 2 dinars per piece from bakeries. Bottled water costs 0.5 to 1 dinar for 1.5 liters. Local beer Celtia sells for 3 to 5 dinars in grocery stores, 8 to 12 dinars in bars and restaurants. Imported wine starts at 15 dinars per bottle in shops, 35 to 60 dinars in restaurants. Mint tea, ubiquitous in cafés, costs 1 to 2 dinars per glass. Coffee runs 1.5 to 3 dinars depending on preparation and location.