🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $386 in Al Bayda versus $442 in Benghazi.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $614 in Al Bayda versus $708 in Benghazi.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $842 in Al Bayda versus $973 in Benghazi.
🙂Living in Al Bayda costs roughly 13% 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
$5.41LYD 34.38
$2.78LYD 17.66
94.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.57LYD 105
$14.40LYD 91.6
15.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.39LYD 34.26
$2.79LYD 17.71
93.19%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.56LYD 3.59
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29LYD 1.87
$0.36LYD 2.29
-19.44%
Cappuccino
$0.43LYD 2.71
$0.64LYD 4.07
-32.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39LYD 2.46
$0.44LYD 2.77
-11.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.09LYD 0.58
$0.13LYD 0.80
-30.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Bayda
Benghazi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.71LYD 4.48
$0.90LYD 5.74
-21.11%
White Bread(500g)
$0.29LYD 1.85
$0.23LYD 1.47
26.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.49LYD 9.45
$0.65LYD 4.16
129.23%
Eggs
$2.40LYD 15.26
$1.32LYD 8.39
81.82%
Local Cheese(1kg)
-
$6.06LYD 38.51
-
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.47LYD 22.07
$3.60LYD 22.89
-3.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.71LYD 49.02
$8.52LYD 54.2
-9.51%
Apples(1kg)
$1.42LYD 9.04
$1.42LYD 9.01
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.34LYD 8.53
$1.14LYD 7.24
17.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.35LYD 8.62
$0.67LYD 4.26
101.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.53LYD 3.40
$0.50LYD 3.17
6.00%
Potato(1kg)
$0.59LYD 3.72
$0.52LYD 3.32
13.46%
Onion(1kg)
$0.52LYD 3.33
$0.48LYD 3.06
8.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.88LYD 5.60
$0.29LYD 1.86
203.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.16LYD 1.00
$0.22LYD 1.40
-27.27%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.43LYD 15.44
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.57LYD 3.61
$0.69LYD 4.40
-17.39%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.70LYD 4.44
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.84LYD 11.73
$2.69LYD 17.11
-31.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Bayda
Benghazi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.96LYD 6.11
$0.95LYD 6.04
1.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$9.39LYD 59.7
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.95LYD 6.06
$0.89LYD 5.67
6.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.56LYD 9.89
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.69LYD 23.43
$3.96LYD 25.15
-6.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.03LYD 0.17
$0.03LYD 0.21
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
-
$16.8KLYD 106.6K
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$11.0KLYD 70.0K
$15.1KLYD 95.9K
-27.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Bayda
Benghazi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$5.41LYD 34.40
$13.99LYD 89.0
-61.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.15LYD 58.2
$7.16LYD 45.52
27.79%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$45.69LYD 291
$34.02LYD 216
34.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Bayda
Benghazi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$11.81LYD 75.1
$18.88LYD 120
-37.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$10.24LYD 65.1
-
Cinema Ticket
-
$4.54LYD 28.90
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Bayda
Benghazi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$27.68LYD 176
$62.1LYD 395
-55.42%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
-
$866LYD 5,508
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Bayda
Benghazi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.72LYD 234
$28.08LYD 179
30.77%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.51LYD 232
$29.11LYD 185
25.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
-
$48.53LYD 309
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.1LYD 465
$62.6LYD 398
16.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Bayda
Benghazi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$126LYD 803
$189LYD 1,201
-33.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$73.9LYD 470
$115LYD 732
-35.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$182LYD 1,158
$369LYD 2,347
-50.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$128LYD 816
$231LYD 1,469
-44.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Bayda
Benghazi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$271LYD 1,722
-
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: June 1, 2026
Last update for Benghazi: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $126 in Al Bayda and $189 in Benghazi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $17.00 in Al Bayda vs $14.00 in Benghazi. Groceries flip the comparison at $97.0 vs $106, 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 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $579 in Al Bayda and $664 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: $126 in Al Bayda versus $189 in Benghazi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $27.68 in Al Bayda versus $62.1 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 Benghazi?
Dining out is cheaper in Al Bayda – a meal for two runs $17.00 versus $14.00 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 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 15% less than in Benghazi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.