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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $442 per month in Benghazi vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $708 per month in Benghazi vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $973 per month in Benghazi vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Benghazi is about 56% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Benghazi and Medellin are more affordable than the global median – Benghazi 67% lower, Medellin 24% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Benghazi
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.78 LYD 17.64
$5.99 COP 21.4K
-53.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.40 LYD 91.5
$32.86 COP 117.4K
-56.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.79 LYD 17.69
$7.09 COP 25.3K
-60.65%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.56 LYD 3.59
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 LYD 2.28
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.64 LYD 4.07
$1.71 COP 6,115
-62.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44 LYD 2.76
$1.10 COP 3,924
-60.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13 LYD 0.80
$0.78 COP 2,781
-83.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.68 COP 5,997
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.07 COP 11.0K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Benghazi
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.90 LYD 5.73
$1.09 COP 3,906
-17.43%
White Bread (500g)
$0.23 LYD 1.46
$1.26 COP 4,508
-81.75%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.65 LYD 4.15
$1.38 COP 4,922
-52.90%
Eggs
$1.32 LYD 8.37
$2.19 COP 7,827
-39.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.06 LYD 38.45
$4.40 COP 15.7K
37.73%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.60 LYD 22.86
$5.63 COP 20.1K
-36.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.52 LYD 54.1
$8.89 COP 31.8K
-4.16%
Apples (1kg)
$1.42 LYD 8.99
$2.34 COP 8,349
-39.32%
Banana (1kg)
$1.14 LYD 7.23
$1.06 COP 3,777
7.55%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.67 LYD 4.25
$1.50 COP 5,374
-55.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.50 LYD 3.16
$1.38 COP 4,924
-63.77%
Potato (1kg)
$0.52 LYD 3.31
$1.15 COP 4,111
-54.78%
Onion (1kg)
$0.48 LYD 3.05
$1.16 COP 4,155
-58.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.29 LYD 1.86
$0.89 COP 3,182
-67.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.22 LYD 1.40
$0.84 COP 2,997
-73.81%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.43 LYD 15.41
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.69 LYD 4.39
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 LYD 4.43
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.69 LYD 17.08
$2.28 COP 8,145
17.98%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$10.64 COP 38.0K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.20 COP 4,284
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.47 COP 8,824
-
🚌 Getting Around
Benghazi
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 LYD 6.03
$0.86 COP 3,056
10.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.39 LYD 59.6
$41.40 COP 147.9K
-77.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.89 LYD 5.66
$1.47 COP 5,264
-39.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.56 LYD 9.88
$1.96 COP 7,009
-20.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.96 LYD 25.12
$7.74 COP 27.6K
-48.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.03 LYD 0.21
$0.95 COP 3,409
-96.84%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.8K LYD 106.4K
$18.1K COP 64.7M
-7.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$15.1K LYD 95.8K
$26.5K COP 94.6M
-43.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Benghazi
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$13.99 LYD 88.8
$82.3 COP 293.7K
-82.99%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.16 LYD 45.45
$9.50 COP 33.9K
-24.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.02 LYD 216
$24.23 COP 86.5K
40.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Benghazi
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.88 LYD 120
$25.89 COP 92.4K
-27.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.24 LYD 65.0
$19.00 COP 67.9K
-46.11%
Cinema Ticket
$4.54 LYD 28.85
$3.93 COP 14.0K
15.52%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Benghazi
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$62.1 LYD 394
$309 COP 1.1M
-79.93%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$866 LYD 5,500
$5,965 COP 21.3M
-85.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Benghazi
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$28.08 LYD 178
$58.7 COP 209.5K
-52.13%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.11 LYD 185
$32.35 COP 115.5K
-10.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$48.53 LYD 308
$103 COP 366.4K
-52.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.6 LYD 397
$108 COP 387.2K
-42.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Benghazi
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$189 LYD 1,200
$476 COP 1.7M
-60.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$115 LYD 731
$379 COP 1.4M
-69.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$369 LYD 2,343
$838 COP 3.0M
-55.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$231 LYD 1,466
$724 COP 2.6M
-68.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,791 COP 10.0M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,211 COP 4.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Benghazi
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$271 LYD 1,720
$512 COP 1.8M
-47.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
25
13.43
86.15%

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

Last update for Benghazi: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $189 in Benghazi versus $476 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 89% 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 $14.00 in Benghazi versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $106 vs $188 – 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 Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $442 in Benghazi, $1,013 in Medellin – roughly 129% 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 $664 per month in Benghazi and $1,519 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 has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 77% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Benghazi and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap 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 $442, than in Medellin at $1,013. 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 $442 in Benghazi to $1,013 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.

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