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: $442 in Benghazi versus $386 in Al Bayda.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $708 in Benghazi versus $614 in Al Bayda.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $973 in Benghazi versus $842 in Al Bayda.

Living in Benghazi is roughly 15% more expensive than 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

$2.78 LYD 17.66

$5.41 LYD 34.38

-48.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.40 LYD 91.6

$16.57 LYD 105

-13.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.79 LYD 17.71

$5.39 LYD 34.26

-48.24%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.56 LYD 3.59

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 LYD 2.29

$0.29 LYD 1.87

24.14%

Cappuccino

$0.64 LYD 4.07

$0.43 LYD 2.71

48.84%

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

$0.44 LYD 2.77

$0.39 LYD 2.46

12.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 LYD 0.80

$0.09 LYD 0.58

44.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.90 LYD 5.74

$0.71 LYD 4.48

26.76%

White Bread (500g)

$0.23 LYD 1.47

$0.29 LYD 1.85

-20.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.65 LYD 4.16

$1.49 LYD 9.45

-56.38%

Eggs

$1.32 LYD 8.39

$2.40 LYD 15.26

-45.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 LYD 38.51

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.60 LYD 22.89

$3.47 LYD 22.07

3.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.52 LYD 54.2

$7.71 LYD 49.02

10.51%

Apples (1kg)

$1.42 LYD 9.01

$1.42 LYD 9.04

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 LYD 7.24

$1.34 LYD 8.53

-14.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 LYD 4.26

$1.35 LYD 8.62

-50.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.50 LYD 3.17

$0.53 LYD 3.40

-5.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 LYD 3.32

$0.59 LYD 3.72

-11.86%

Onion (1kg)

$0.48 LYD 3.06

$0.52 LYD 3.33

-7.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.29 LYD 1.86

$0.88 LYD 5.60

-67.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.22 LYD 1.40

$0.16 LYD 1.00

37.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.43 LYD 15.44

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 LYD 4.40

$0.57 LYD 3.61

21.05%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 LYD 4.44

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.69 LYD 17.11

$1.84 LYD 11.73

46.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 LYD 6.04

$0.96 LYD 6.11

-1.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.39 LYD 59.7

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 LYD 5.67

$0.95 LYD 6.06

-6.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.56 LYD 9.89

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.96 LYD 25.15

$3.69 LYD 23.43

7.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.03 LYD 0.21

$0.03 LYD 0.17

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

$16.8K LYD 106.6K

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

$15.1K LYD 95.9K

$11.0K LYD 70.0K

37.01%

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

$13.99 LYD 89.0

$5.41 LYD 34.40

158.60%

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

$7.16 LYD 45.52

$9.15 LYD 58.2

-21.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.02 LYD 216

$45.69 LYD 291

-25.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.88 LYD 120

$11.81 LYD 75.1

59.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.24 LYD 65.1

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 LYD 28.90

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

$62.1 LYD 395

$27.68 LYD 176

124.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$866 LYD 5,508

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.08 LYD 179

$36.72 LYD 234

-23.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.11 LYD 185

$36.51 LYD 232

-20.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.53 LYD 309

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.6 LYD 398

$73.1 LYD 465

-14.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$189 LYD 1,201

$126 LYD 803

49.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$115 LYD 732

$73.9 LYD 470

55.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$369 LYD 2,347

$182 LYD 1,158

102.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$231 LYD 1,469

$128 LYD 816

80.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$271 LYD 1,722

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Benghazi: June 1, 2026

Last update for Al Bayda: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $189 in Benghazi and $126 in Al Bayda. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $14.00 in Benghazi vs $17.00 in Al Bayda. Groceries flip the comparison at $106 vs $97.0, 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 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $664 in Benghazi and $579 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: $189 in Benghazi versus $126 in Al Bayda. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $62.1 in Benghazi versus $27.68 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 $17.00 versus $14.00 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 15% less than in Benghazi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.