Expect to pay between 300 and 500 dinars per student for the back-to-school season in Tunisia. This is the estimate given by the Tunisian Organisation for Consumer Protection (ODC), published on 9 September 2026.
The amount depends mainly on the student's level. The 300-dinar floor applies to a primary school pupil. The 500-dinar ceiling applies to a secondary school student, so probably to you if you are sitting the bac this year.
Why does a secondary student cost more?
The gap comes down to the supplies and equipment required at secondary school, which are more numerous than at primary level. The ODC has not broken this estimate down item by item. The figure is an indicative average, not a fixed budget.
If you are preparing for the bac, you can check the official exam timetable to organise your year and your spending accordingly.
How to cut the bill?
Lotfi Khaldi, vice-president of the ODC, gave parents a simple piece of advice: buy school supplies without the children. The idea is to choose the supplies yourself, to avoid impulse buys and shiny but useless products.
In practice, this means drawing up the list at home, comparing prices and buying only what is on it. Larger families can also reuse items still in good condition from one year to the next, a common practice the ODC implicitly encourages by stressing careful selection.
Watch out for the informal market
The ODC warns against the informal market for school supplies. The problem is twofold: quality is poor and these products pose health risks.
A pen or pencil case bought a few dinars cheaper from a street vendor may therefore cost you more in the end. It is better to stick to regular shops, even if the bill goes up slightly.
Where to track prices?
For now, the ODC has not announced any special price monitoring for school supplies. Its estimate of 9 September 2026 mainly serves as a reference point for families planning their budget.
If you want to know whether prices move before the 2027 school year, keep an eye on ODC statements and announcements from the Ministry of Commerce. They are the ones publishing official information, usually a few days before the school year starts.