🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $389 in Al Bayda versus $439 in Benghazi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $622 in Al Bayda versus $706 in Benghazi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $855 in Al Bayda versus $973 in Benghazi.
🌍Living in Al Bayda costs roughly 12% less than in Benghazi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Al Bayda71% lower, Benghazi67% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Bayda
Benghazi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.60LYD 35.70
$2.69LYD 17.15
108.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.31LYD 104
$14.71LYD 93.7
10.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.59LYD 35.60
$2.71LYD 17.28
106.27%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.53LYD 3.37
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29LYD 1.85
$0.35LYD 2.26
-17.14%
Cappuccino
$0.42LYD 2.70
$0.68LYD 4.31
-38.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38LYD 2.45
$0.40LYD 2.57
-5.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.08LYD 0.53
$0.15LYD 0.96
-46.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Bayda
Benghazi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.75LYD 4.77
$0.90LYD 5.72
-16.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.27LYD 1.71
$0.23LYD 1.47
17.39%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.46LYD 9.29
$0.66LYD 4.17
121.21%
Eggs
$2.46LYD 15.65
$1.32LYD 8.41
86.36%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$6.14LYD 39.13
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.42LYD 21.76
$3.71LYD 23.64
-7.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.95LYD 50.6
$8.63LYD 55.0
-7.88%
Apples(1kg)
$1.35LYD 8.60
$1.42LYD 9.05
-4.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36LYD 8.67
$1.18LYD 7.54
15.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.37LYD 8.70
$0.68LYD 4.34
101.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.57LYD 3.63
$0.49LYD 3.11
16.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.63LYD 4.00
$0.49LYD 3.09
28.57%
Onion(1kg)
$0.54LYD 3.41
$0.44LYD 2.83
22.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95LYD 6.02
$0.27LYD 1.72
251.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.13LYD 0.82
$0.22LYD 1.40
-40.91%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.33LYD 14.83
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.56LYD 3.59
$0.71LYD 4.54
-21.13%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.67LYD 4.27
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.86LYD 11.84
$2.79LYD 17.80
-33.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Bayda
Benghazi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.95LYD 6.06
$0.94LYD 5.96
1.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$9.20LYD 58.6
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.94LYD 5.97
$0.91LYD 5.77
3.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.48LYD 9.43
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.61LYD 23.01
$3.91LYD 24.88
-7.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.03LYD 0.18
$0.03LYD 0.21
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$16.4KLYD 104.8K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$11.1KLYD 70.6K
$14.8KLYD 94.1K
-25.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Bayda
Benghazi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$5.46LYD 34.81
$14.44LYD 92.0
-62.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.12LYD 58.1
$7.16LYD 45.60
27.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.01LYD 287
$33.89LYD 216
32.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Bayda
Benghazi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$11.84LYD 75.4
$19.05LYD 121
-37.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.56LYD 67.3
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.71LYD 29.98
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Bayda
Benghazi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$27.60LYD 176
$60.0LYD 382
-53.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$869LYD 5,534
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Bayda
Benghazi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.13LYD 230
$27.57LYD 176
31.05%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.34LYD 238
$28.98LYD 185
28.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$48.49LYD 309
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.9LYD 477
$63.3LYD 403
18.17%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Bayda
Benghazi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$131LYD 833
$194LYD 1,238
-32.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$74.0LYD 471
$115LYD 731
-35.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$186LYD 1,185
$378LYD 2,409
-50.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$127LYD 812
$231LYD 1,472
-44.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Bayda
Benghazi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$263LYD 1,675
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
0
25
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al Bayda: July 13, 2026
Last update for Benghazi: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $131 in Al Bayda and $194 in Benghazi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $16.00 in Al Bayda vs $15.00 in Benghazi. Groceries flip the comparison at $98.0 vs $108, with Al Bayda cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Al Bayda vs Benghazi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Benghazi cheaper than Al Bayda?
Al Bayda is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $583 in Al Bayda and $659 in Benghazi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Al Bayda and Benghazi?
Rent for a central apartment: $131 in Al Bayda versus $194 in Benghazi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $27.60 in Al Bayda versus $60.0 in Benghazi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Al Bayda or in Benghazi?
Dining out is cheaper in Al Bayda – a meal for two runs $16.00 versus $15.00 in Benghazi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 enough for either Al Bayda or Benghazi?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Al Bayda gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Al Bayda or in Benghazi?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Al Bayda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Benghazi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.