😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,367 in Barcelona versus $442 in Benghazi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,465 in Barcelona versus $708 in Benghazi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,563 in Barcelona versus $973 in Benghazi.
😐Living in Barcelona is roughly 435% more expensive than Benghazi, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Barcelona is 77% above, Benghazi is 67% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Barcelona
Benghazi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.58€15.12
$2.78LYD 17.64
532.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$68.4€58.9
$14.40LYD 91.5
375.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$14.06€12.09
$2.79LYD 17.69
403.94%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$0.56LYD 3.59
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.36LYD 2.28
-
Cappuccino
$2.78€2.39
$0.64LYD 4.07
334.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80€2.41
$0.44LYD 2.76
536.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06€1.78
$0.13LYD 0.80
1484.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.46€3.84
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.61€3.96
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Barcelona
Benghazi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.07
$0.90LYD 5.73
37.78%
White Bread(500g)
$2.03€1.74
$0.23LYD 1.46
782.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.92€1.65
$0.65LYD 4.15
195.38%
Eggs
$3.31€2.85
$1.32LYD 8.37
150.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$18.43€15.85
$6.06LYD 38.45
204.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.49€8.16
$3.60LYD 22.86
163.61%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.16€16.48
$8.52LYD 54.1
124.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.64€2.27
$1.42LYD 8.99
85.92%
Banana(1kg)
$2.45€2.11
$1.14LYD 7.23
114.91%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12€1.82
$0.67LYD 4.25
216.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.85€2.45
$0.50LYD 3.16
470.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04€1.75
$0.52LYD 3.31
292.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.85€1.59
$0.48LYD 3.05
285.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47€1.26
$0.29LYD 1.86
406.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.84€0.73
$0.22LYD 1.40
281.82%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.43LYD 15.41
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$0.69LYD 4.39
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$0.70LYD 4.43
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.14€6.14
$2.69LYD 17.08
165.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.88€6.78
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.38€1.19
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31€1.99
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Barcelona
Benghazi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.98€2.56
$0.95LYD 6.03
213.68%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$29.26€25.17
$9.39LYD 59.6
211.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.60€3.95
$0.89LYD 5.66
416.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.07€1.78
$1.56LYD 9.88
32.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$29.18€25.10
$3.96LYD 25.12
636.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.84€1.58
$0.03LYD 0.21
6033.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.0K€33.6K
$16.8KLYD 106.4K
132.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K€28.1K
$15.1KLYD 95.8K
116.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Barcelona
Benghazi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$188€162
$13.99LYD 88.8
1242.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.93€19.73
$7.16LYD 45.45
220.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.71€31.58
$34.02LYD 216
7.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Barcelona
Benghazi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.4€49.35
$18.88LYD 120
203.87%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.70€17.80
$10.24LYD 65.0
102.15%
Cinema Ticket
$11.19€9.63
$4.54LYD 28.85
146.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Barcelona
Benghazi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$721€620
$62.1LYD 394
1061.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.0K€12.9K
$866LYD 5,500
1636.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Barcelona
Benghazi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.2€74.2
$28.08LYD 178
207.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.07€31.89
$29.11LYD 185
27.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102€87.8
$48.53LYD 308
110.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€99.7
$62.6LYD 397
85.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Barcelona
Benghazi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,534€1,319
$189LYD 1,200
711.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,220€1,050
$115LYD 731
959.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,696€2,319
$369LYD 2,343
630.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,013€1,732
$231LYD 1,466
771.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$7,220€6,211
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$5,189€4,463
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Barcelona
Benghazi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,359€2,029
$271LYD 1,720
771.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.39
25
-86.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Barcelona: May 31, 2026
Last update for Benghazi: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,534 in Barcelona and $189 in Benghazi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Barcelona pays 771% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $68.0 in Barcelona vs $14.00 in Benghazi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $318 vs $106 per month, with Benghazi cheaper across the board.
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
Barcelona vs Benghazi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Barcelona and Benghazi?
Barcelona and Benghazi differ by about 435% in total monthly costs ($2,367 vs $442 including rent). Benghazi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Barcelona or Benghazi?
Barcelona pays 771% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Barcelona and Benghazi?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,534 in Barcelona versus $189 in Benghazi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Barcelona and Benghazi?
Childcare runs $721 in Barcelona versus $62.1 in Benghazi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 199% higher in Barcelona. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $442 in Benghazi versus $2,367 in Barcelona, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Benghazi but tight or insufficient in Barcelona. The gap between the two cities makes Benghazi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Barcelona and 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.
Is Barcelona or Benghazi safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Barcelona and Benghazi are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Barcelona or Benghazi?
Expats usually find Benghazi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 435% less than in Barcelona. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.