🙂A single person spends $439 per month in Benghazi vs $1,250 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $706 per month in Benghazi vs $2,284 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $973 per month in Benghazi vs $3,317 in Phuket, rent included.
🙂Benghazi is about 65% cheaper than Phuket, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Benghazi and Phuket are more affordable than the global median – Benghazi67% lower, Phuket6% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Benghazi
Phuket
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.69LYD 17.15
$4.55฿153
-40.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.71LYD 93.7
$46.18฿1,554
-68.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.71LYD 17.28
$8.84฿298
-69.34%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.53LYD 3.37
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35LYD 2.26
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.68LYD 4.31
$3.06฿103
-77.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40LYD 2.57
$0.73฿24.42
-45.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15LYD 0.96
$0.40฿13.40
-62.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.43฿81.8
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.78฿127
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Benghazi
Phuket
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.90LYD 5.72
$2.26฿76.0
-60.18%
White Bread(500g)
$0.23LYD 1.47
$1.81฿60.9
-87.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.66LYD 4.17
$2.25฿75.8
-70.67%
Eggs
$1.32LYD 8.41
$2.25฿75.6
-41.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.14LYD 39.13
$19.51฿656
-68.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.71LYD 23.64
$3.65฿123
1.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.63LYD 55.0
$13.05฿439
-33.87%
Apples(1kg)
$1.42LYD 9.05
$3.23฿109
-56.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18LYD 7.54
$1.62฿54.4
-27.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.68LYD 4.34
$2.38฿80.2
-71.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.49LYD 3.11
$2.03฿68.2
-75.86%
Potato(1kg)
$0.49LYD 3.09
$1.53฿51.6
-67.97%
Onion(1kg)
$0.44LYD 2.83
$1.50฿50.5
-70.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.27LYD 1.72
$0.98฿32.93
-72.45%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.22LYD 1.40
$0.52฿17.40
-57.69%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.33LYD 14.83
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.71LYD 4.54
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67LYD 4.27
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.79LYD 17.80
$4.44฿149
-37.16%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$18.32฿616
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.86฿62.7
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.68฿90.2
-
🚌 Getting Around
Benghazi
Phuket
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.94LYD 5.96
$1.41฿47.49
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.20LYD 58.6
$11.70฿394
-21.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.91LYD 5.77
$3.11฿105
-70.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.48LYD 9.43
$1.04฿35.08
42.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.91LYD 24.89
$14.11฿475
-72.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.03LYD 0.21
$1.31฿44.13
-97.71%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.4KLYD 104.8K
$27.8K฿936.0K
-40.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.8KLYD 94.1K
$33.2K฿1.1M
-55.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Benghazi
Phuket
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$14.44LYD 92.0
$122฿4,120
-88.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.16LYD 45.60
$13.59฿457
-47.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.89LYD 216
$18.70฿629
81.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Benghazi
Phuket
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.05LYD 121
$60.5฿2,035
-68.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.56LYD 67.3
$16.98฿572
-37.81%
Cinema Ticket
$4.71LYD 29.98
$9.07฿305
-48.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Benghazi
Phuket
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$60.0LYD 382
$706฿23.8K
-91.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$869LYD 5,534
$15.8K฿531.8K
-94.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Benghazi
Phuket
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.57LYD 176
$58.6฿1,970
-52.91%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.98LYD 185
$35.36฿1,190
-18.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$48.49LYD 309
$115฿3,885
-58.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.3LYD 403
$83.7฿2,818
-24.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Benghazi
Phuket
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$194LYD 1,238
$626฿21.1K
-68.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$115LYD 731
$445฿15.0K
-74.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$378LYD 2,409
$2,040฿68.7K
-81.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$231LYD 1,472
$1,492฿50.2K
-84.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,483฿117.2K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,577฿86.7K
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Benghazi
Phuket
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$263LYD 1,675
$500฿16.8K
-47.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
25
5.33
369.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Benghazi: July 12, 2026
Last update for Phuket: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $194 in Benghazi versus $626 in Phuket. 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 90% higher in Phuket, 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 $15.00 in Benghazi versus $46.00 in Phuket. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $108 vs $289 – 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 Phuket: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Benghazi and in Phuket compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $439 in Benghazi, $1,250 in Phuket – roughly 184% apart. Phuket costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Benghazi compared to Phuket?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $659 per month in Benghazi and $1,875 in Phuket. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Benghazi and Phuket?
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 169% more in Phuket, 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 $15.00 in Benghazi and $46.00 in Phuket. 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 $439, than in Phuket at $1,250. In Benghazi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Phuket it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Benghazi and Phuket?
It depends on your priorities. Phuket has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $439 in Benghazi to $1,250 in Phuket. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Benghazi or Phuket safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Benghazi and Phuket?
If budget matters most, go with Benghazi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Phuket makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.