😐A single person spends $439 per month in Benghazi vs $326 in Masallatah, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $706 per month in Benghazi vs $549 in Masallatah, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $973 per month in Benghazi vs $771 in Masallatah, rent included.
😐Benghazi costs about 35% more than Masallatah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both Benghazi and Masallatah are more affordable than the global median – Benghazi67% lower, Masallatah76% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Benghazi
Masallatah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.69LYD 17.15
$4.67LYD 29.78
-42.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.71LYD 93.7
$18.63LYD 119
-21.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.71LYD 17.28
$3.65LYD 23.23
-25.75%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.53LYD 3.37
$0.58LYD 3.67
-8.62%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35LYD 2.26
$0.71LYD 4.55
-50.70%
Cappuccino
$0.68LYD 4.31
$0.49LYD 3.10
38.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40LYD 2.57
$0.45LYD 2.87
-11.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15LYD 0.96
$0.11LYD 0.67
36.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Benghazi
Masallatah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.90LYD 5.72
$1.03LYD 6.59
-12.62%
White Bread(500g)
$0.23LYD 1.47
$0.23LYD 1.47
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.66LYD 4.17
$1.22LYD 7.79
-45.90%
Eggs
$1.32LYD 8.41
$1.43LYD 9.09
-7.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.14LYD 39.13
$4.91LYD 31.27
25.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.71LYD 23.64
$3.36LYD 21.39
10.42%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.63LYD 55.0
$10.41LYD 66.3
-17.10%
Apples(1kg)
$1.42LYD 9.05
$2.21LYD 14.05
-35.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18LYD 7.54
$1.33LYD 8.49
-11.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.68LYD 4.34
$0.82LYD 5.25
-17.07%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.49LYD 3.11
$0.56LYD 3.59
-12.50%
Potato(1kg)
$0.49LYD 3.09
$0.70LYD 4.45
-30.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.44LYD 2.83
$0.58LYD 3.67
-24.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.27LYD 1.72
$0.39LYD 2.48
-30.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.22LYD 1.40
$0.22LYD 1.40
-
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.33LYD 14.83
$1.24LYD 7.89
87.90%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.71LYD 4.54
$0.72LYD 4.60
-1.39%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67LYD 4.27
$0.69LYD 4.38
-2.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.79LYD 17.80
$1.85LYD 11.78
50.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Benghazi
Masallatah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.94LYD 5.96
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.20LYD 58.6
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91LYD 5.77
$0.90LYD 5.74
1.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48LYD 9.43
$0.90LYD 5.73
64.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.91LYD 24.88
$4.63LYD 29.52
-15.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.03LYD 0.21
$0.03LYD 0.17
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.4KLYD 104.8K
$13.9KLYD 88.8K
18.05%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.8KLYD 94.1K
$16.6KLYD 105.4K
-10.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Benghazi
Masallatah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$14.44LYD 92.0
$32.25LYD 205
-55.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.16LYD 45.60
$8.26LYD 52.6
-13.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.89LYD 216
$22.90LYD 146
47.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Benghazi
Masallatah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.05LYD 121
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.56LYD 67.3
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.71LYD 29.98
$4.51LYD 28.76
4.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Benghazi
Masallatah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$60.0LYD 382
$53.3LYD 339
12.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$869LYD 5,534
$932LYD 5,939
-6.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Benghazi
Masallatah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.57LYD 176
$21.78LYD 139
26.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.98LYD 185
$36.00LYD 229
-19.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$48.49LYD 309
$49.68LYD 316
-2.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.3LYD 403
$56.4LYD 359
12.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Benghazi
Masallatah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$194LYD 1,238
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$115LYD 731
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$378LYD 2,409
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$231LYD 1,472
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Benghazi
Masallatah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$263LYD 1,675
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
25
17.5
42.86%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Benghazi: July 12, 2026
Last update for Masallatah: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Benghazi versus $19.00 in Masallatah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $108 vs $119 – making Benghazi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Masallatah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Benghazi and in Masallatah compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $439 in Benghazi, $326 in Masallatah – roughly 35% apart. Benghazi costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Benghazi compared to Masallatah?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $659 per month in Benghazi and $490 in Masallatah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city is more expensive overall: Benghazi or Masallatah?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $439 in Benghazi and $326 in Masallatah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Benghazi and Masallatah?
Kindergarten costs $60.0 per month in Benghazi and $53.3 in Masallatah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How far does $1,000 go in Benghazi compared to Masallatah?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $439 in Benghazi and $326 in Masallatah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Benghazi or Masallatah?
Families tend to lean toward Masallatah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Benghazi and Masallatah?
If budget matters most, go with Masallatah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Benghazi makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.