Cost of Living Comparison Between Benghazi and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Benghazi and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $424 per month in Benghazi vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $722 per month in Benghazi vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,021 per month in Benghazi vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Benghazi is about 75% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Benghazi sits 69% below the global median, while Medellin is 25% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Benghazi
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.42 LYD 15.31
$8.03 COP 25.2K
-69.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.52 LYD 79.3
$48.26 COP 151.7K
-74.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.37 LYD 15.01
$9.77 COP 30.7K
-75.74%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 LYD 13.67
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 LYD 2.57
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.64 LYD 4.07
$2.91 COP 9,149
-78.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 LYD 2.77
$1.94 COP 6,110
-77.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13 LYD 0.83
$1.52 COP 4,783
-91.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.09 COP 9,721
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.74 COP 18.1K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Benghazi
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.82 LYD 5.22
$1.36 COP 4,287
-39.71%
White Bread (500g)
$0.19 LYD 1.20
$2.39 COP 7,505
-92.05%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 LYD 8.54
$1.70 COP 5,346
-20.59%
Eggs
$1.66 LYD 10.49
$2.87 COP 9,021
-42.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.33 LYD 40.11
$9.94 COP 31.2K
-36.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.74 LYD 17.34
$10.78 COP 33.9K
-74.58%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.59 LYD 73.4
$14.73 COP 46.3K
-21.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 LYD 14.39
$4.09 COP 12.8K
-44.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.73 LYD 10.94
$1.57 COP 4,940
10.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.15 LYD 7.26
$2.13 COP 6,682
-46.01%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.75 LYD 4.77
$2.21 COP 6,959
-66.06%
Potato (1kg)
$0.86 LYD 5.47
$2.05 COP 6,435
-58.05%
Onion (1kg)
$0.65 LYD 4.13
$1.50 COP 4,728
-56.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.34 LYD 2.17
$1.19 COP 3,740
-71.43%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.23 LYD 1.46
$1.16 COP 3,640
-80.17%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.39 LYD 15.12
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.53 LYD 3.34
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 LYD 5.18
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.91 LYD 12.08
$3.90 COP 12.2K
-51.03%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$14.44 COP 45.4K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.58 COP 4,978
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.83 COP 8,889
-
🚌 Getting Around
Benghazi
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.17 COP 3,672
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$77.7 COP 244.3K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.60 LYD 10.11
$1.28 COP 4,038
25.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 LYD 1.88
$2.09 COP 6,576
-85.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$8.62 COP 27.1K
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.02 LYD 0.11
$1.30 COP 4,080
-98.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.8K LYD 81.1K
$27.7K COP 86.9M
-53.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.9K LYD 94.6K
$35.5K COP 111.6M
-57.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Benghazi
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
-
$176 COP 553.4K
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.55 LYD 28.83
$13.37 COP 42.0K
-65.97%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.14 LYD 121
$29.89 COP 94.0K
-35.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Benghazi
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.52 LYD 111
$44.76 COP 140.7K
-60.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.96 LYD 25.07
$17.06 COP 53.6K
-76.79%
Cinema Ticket
$6.42 LYD 40.66
$6.20 COP 19.5K
3.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Benghazi
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$77.3 LYD 489
$793 COP 2.5M
-90.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$358 LYD 2,269
$9,019 COP 28.4M
-96.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Benghazi
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.91 LYD 272
$85.6 COP 269.1K
-49.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.87 LYD 221
$58.5 COP 183.8K
-40.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$44.06 LYD 279
$136 COP 428.4K
-67.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.2 LYD 432
$103 COP 324.1K
-33.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Benghazi
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$192 LYD 1,213
$1,060 COP 3.3M
-81.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$120 LYD 760
$680 COP 2.1M
-82.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$429 LYD 2,718
$2,012 COP 6.3M
-78.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$259 LYD 1,640
$1,169 COP 3.7M
-77.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,111 COP 12.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,701 COP 5.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Benghazi
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$267 LYD 1,692
$665 COP 2.1M
-59.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
10.94
-

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

Last update for Benghazi: August 30, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $192 in Benghazi versus $1,060 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 149% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Benghazi versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $128 vs $303 – 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 Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Benghazi and in Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $424 in Benghazi, $1,716 in Medellin – roughly 305% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Benghazi compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $636 per month in Benghazi and $2,574 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Benghazi and Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Benghazi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Benghazi or Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $424 in Benghazi and $1,716 in Medellin. 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 Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $77.3 per month in Benghazi and $793 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Benghazi, where all-in costs run around $424, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Benghazi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Benghazi and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $424 in Benghazi to $1,716 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Benghazi and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Benghazi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Benghazi vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities