Cost of Living Comparison Between Benghazi and Al Bayda Cost of Living Comparison Between Benghazi and Al Bayda

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $439 in Benghazi versus $389 in Al Bayda.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $706 in Benghazi versus $622 in Al Bayda.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $973 in Benghazi versus $855 in Al Bayda.

Living in Benghazi is roughly 13% more expensive than in Al Bayda, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Benghazi 67% lower, Al Bayda 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.69 LYD 17.15

$5.60 LYD 35.70

-51.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.71 LYD 93.7

$16.31 LYD 104

-9.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.71 LYD 17.28

$5.59 LYD 35.60

-51.52%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.53 LYD 3.37

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 LYD 2.26

$0.29 LYD 1.85

20.69%

Cappuccino

$0.68 LYD 4.31

$0.42 LYD 2.70

61.90%

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

$0.40 LYD 2.57

$0.38 LYD 2.45

5.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 LYD 0.96

$0.08 LYD 0.53

87.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 LYD 5.72

$0.75 LYD 4.77

20.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.23 LYD 1.47

$0.27 LYD 1.71

-14.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.66 LYD 4.17

$1.46 LYD 9.29

-54.79%

Eggs

$1.32 LYD 8.41

$2.46 LYD 15.65

-46.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.14 LYD 39.13

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.71 LYD 23.64

$3.42 LYD 21.76

8.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.63 LYD 55.0

$7.95 LYD 50.6

8.55%

Apples (1kg)

$1.42 LYD 9.05

$1.35 LYD 8.60

5.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.18 LYD 7.54

$1.36 LYD 8.67

-13.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.68 LYD 4.34

$1.37 LYD 8.70

-50.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.49 LYD 3.11

$0.57 LYD 3.63

-14.04%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 LYD 3.09

$0.63 LYD 4.00

-22.22%

Onion (1kg)

$0.44 LYD 2.83

$0.54 LYD 3.41

-18.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.27 LYD 1.72

$0.95 LYD 6.02

-71.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.22 LYD 1.40

$0.13 LYD 0.82

69.23%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.33 LYD 14.83

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 LYD 4.54

$0.56 LYD 3.59

26.79%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 LYD 4.27

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.79 LYD 17.80

$1.86 LYD 11.84

50.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 LYD 5.96

$0.95 LYD 6.06

-1.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.20 LYD 58.6

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.91 LYD 5.77

$0.94 LYD 5.97

-3.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.48 LYD 9.43

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.91 LYD 24.88

$3.61 LYD 23.01

8.31%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.03 LYD 0.21

$0.03 LYD 0.18

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

$16.4K LYD 104.8K

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

$14.8K LYD 94.1K

$11.1K LYD 70.6K

33.39%

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

$14.44 LYD 92.0

$5.46 LYD 34.81

164.47%

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

$7.16 LYD 45.60

$9.12 LYD 58.1

-21.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.89 LYD 216

$45.01 LYD 287

-24.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.05 LYD 121

$11.84 LYD 75.4

60.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.56 LYD 67.3

Cinema Ticket

$4.71 LYD 29.98

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

$60.0 LYD 382

$27.60 LYD 176

117.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$869 LYD 5,534

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.57 LYD 176

$36.13 LYD 230

-23.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.98 LYD 185

$37.34 LYD 238

-22.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.49 LYD 309

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$63.3 LYD 403

$74.9 LYD 477

-15.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$194 LYD 1,238

$131 LYD 833

48.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 LYD 731

$74.0 LYD 471

54.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$378 LYD 2,409

$186 LYD 1,185

103.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$231 LYD 1,472

$127 LYD 812

81.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$263 LYD 1,675

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Benghazi: July 12, 2026

Last update for Al Bayda: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $194 in Benghazi and $131 in Al Bayda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $15.00 in Benghazi vs $16.00 in Al Bayda. Groceries flip the comparison at $108 vs $98.0, 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

Benghazi vs Al Bayda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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.

You'd need roughly $659 in Benghazi and $583 in Al Bayda 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: $194 in Benghazi versus $131 in Al Bayda. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $60.0 in Benghazi versus $27.60 in Al Bayda. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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.

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.

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 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.