Cost of Living Comparison Between Benghazi and Ajdabiya Cost of Living Comparison Between Benghazi and Ajdabiya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $451 in Benghazi versus $122 in Ajdabiya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $723 in Benghazi versus $197 in Ajdabiya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $995 in Benghazi versus $271 in Ajdabiya.

Living in Benghazi is roughly 269% more expensive than Ajdabiya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Benghazi 66% lower, Ajdabiya 91% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.82 LYD 17.90

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.71 LYD 93.3

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.79 LYD 17.68

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.56 LYD 3.57

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 LYD 2.27

Cappuccino

$0.69 LYD 4.36

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 LYD 2.76

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.14 LYD 0.87

Milk (1 liter)

$0.83 LYD 5.23

White Bread (500g)

$0.23 LYD 1.46

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.69 LYD 4.40

Eggs

$1.25 LYD 7.95

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.27 LYD 39.77

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.71 LYD 23.54

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.18 LYD 51.9

$8.15 LYD 51.7

0.37%

Apples (1kg)

$1.41 LYD 8.92

$1.50 LYD 9.52

-6.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.19 LYD 7.53

$1.07 LYD 6.79

11.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.68 LYD 4.29

$0.76 LYD 4.79

-10.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 LYD 3.37

$0.47 LYD 3.00

12.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 LYD 3.32

$0.47 LYD 3.00

10.64%

Onion (1kg)

$0.47 LYD 3.00

$0.47 LYD 2.99

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 LYD 1.85

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.22 LYD 1.40

$0.18 LYD 1.13

22.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 LYD 4.21

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 LYD 4.18

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.72 LYD 17.25

$1.86 LYD 11.77

46.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 LYD 5.97

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.20 LYD 58.4

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 LYD 5.66

$0.95 LYD 6.04

-6.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.53 LYD 9.73

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.11 LYD 26.04

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.03 LYD 0.20

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$16.6K LYD 104.9K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$15.0K LYD 95.4K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$14.45 LYD 91.6

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$7.39 LYD 46.88

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.23 LYD 217

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.34 LYD 123

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.52 LYD 66.7

Cinema Ticket

$4.67 LYD 29.58

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$62.3 LYD 395

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$851 LYD 5,395

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.37 LYD 174

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.35 LYD 186

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.34 LYD 307

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.1 LYD 400

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$192 LYD 1,214

$126 LYD 802

51.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$117 LYD 744

$74.6 LYD 473

57.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$375 LYD 2,380

$273 LYD 1,728

37.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 LYD 1,443

$145 LYD 919

56.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$208 LYD 1,321

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Benghazi: April 27, 2026

Last update for Ajdabiya: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $192 in Benghazi and $126 in Ajdabiya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

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

Benghazi vs Ajdabiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ajdabiya wins on cost – living expenses run 269% lower than in Benghazi. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ajdabiya the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $677 in Benghazi and $184 in Ajdabiya 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $192 in Benghazi versus $126 in Ajdabiya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 120% higher in Benghazi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $451 per month in Benghazi versus $122 in Ajdabiya – a 269% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Ajdabiya gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Expats usually find Ajdabiya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 269% less than in Benghazi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.