Cost of Living Comparison Between Benghazi and Tripoli Cost of Living Comparison Between Benghazi and Tripoli

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $439 per month in Benghazi vs $505 in Tripoli, rent included.

A couple spends around $706 per month in Benghazi vs $810 in Tripoli, rent included.

A family of three spends $973 per month in Benghazi vs $1,114 in Tripoli, rent included.

Benghazi is about 13% cheaper than Tripoli, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Benghazi and Tripoli are more affordable than the global median – Benghazi 67% lower, Tripoli 62% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Benghazi
Tripoli
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.69 LYD 17.15
$4.49 LYD 28.62
-40.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.71 LYD 93.7
$18.69 LYD 119
-21.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.71 LYD 17.28
$3.63 LYD 23.13
-25.34%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.53 LYD 3.37
$0.53 LYD 3.37
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 LYD 2.26
$0.66 LYD 4.22
-46.97%
Cappuccino
$0.68 LYD 4.31
$0.48 LYD 3.07
41.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40 LYD 2.57
$0.45 LYD 2.89
-11.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15 LYD 0.96
$0.09 LYD 0.60
66.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Benghazi
Tripoli
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.90 LYD 5.72
$1.03 LYD 6.58
-12.62%
White Bread (500g)
$0.23 LYD 1.47
$0.23 LYD 1.47
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.66 LYD 4.17
$1.18 LYD 7.49
-44.07%
Eggs
$1.32 LYD 8.41
$1.45 LYD 9.24
-8.97%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.14 LYD 39.13
$4.81 LYD 30.63
27.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.71 LYD 23.64
$3.34 LYD 21.27
11.08%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.63 LYD 55.0
$10.43 LYD 66.5
-17.26%
Apples (1kg)
$1.42 LYD 9.05
$2.19 LYD 13.93
-35.16%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 LYD 7.54
$1.34 LYD 8.55
-11.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.68 LYD 4.34
$0.76 LYD 4.82
-10.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.49 LYD 3.11
$0.52 LYD 3.29
-5.77%
Potato (1kg)
$0.49 LYD 3.09
$0.69 LYD 4.42
-28.99%
Onion (1kg)
$0.44 LYD 2.83
$0.53 LYD 3.37
-16.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.27 LYD 1.72
$0.39 LYD 2.47
-30.77%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.22 LYD 1.40
$0.20 LYD 1.27
10.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.33 LYD 14.83
$1.22 LYD 7.74
90.98%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.71 LYD 4.54
$0.66 LYD 4.21
7.58%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 LYD 4.27
$0.65 LYD 4.16
3.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.79 LYD 17.80
$1.86 LYD 11.86
50.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Benghazi
Tripoli
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 LYD 5.96
$0.27 LYD 1.71
248.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.20 LYD 58.6
$21.56 LYD 137
-57.33%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.91 LYD 5.77
$0.95 LYD 6.04
-4.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 LYD 9.43
$0.85 LYD 5.43
74.12%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.91 LYD 24.89
$4.56 LYD 29.05
-14.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.03 LYD 0.21
$0.03 LYD 0.20
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.4K LYD 104.8K
$13.7K LYD 87.2K
20.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$14.8K LYD 94.1K
$16.4K LYD 104.4K
-9.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Benghazi
Tripoli
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$14.44 LYD 92.0
$32.67 LYD 208
-55.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.16 LYD 45.60
$8.27 LYD 52.7
-13.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.89 LYD 216
$22.56 LYD 144
50.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Benghazi
Tripoli
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.05 LYD 121
$27.55 LYD 176
-30.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.56 LYD 67.3
$11.74 LYD 74.8
-10.05%
Cinema Ticket
$4.71 LYD 29.98
$4.49 LYD 28.62
4.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Benghazi
Tripoli
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$60.0 LYD 382
$52.4 LYD 334
14.40%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$869 LYD 5,534
$932 LYD 5,939
-6.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Benghazi
Tripoli
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.57 LYD 176
$21.40 LYD 136
28.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.98 LYD 185
$35.81 LYD 228
-19.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$48.49 LYD 309
$50.6 LYD 323
-4.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.3 LYD 403
$55.8 LYD 355
13.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Benghazi
Tripoli
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$194 LYD 1,238
$212 LYD 1,350
-8.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$115 LYD 731
$120 LYD 764
-4.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$378 LYD 2,409
$391 LYD 2,488
-3.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$231 LYD 1,472
$218 LYD 1,386
6.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Benghazi
Tripoli
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$263 LYD 1,675
$243 LYD 1,548
8.24%
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 Tripoli: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $194 in Benghazi versus $212 in Tripoli. 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 8% higher in Benghazi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Benghazi versus $19.00 in Tripoli. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $108 vs $117 – 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 Tripoli: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Benghazi and in Tripoli compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $439 in Benghazi, $505 in Tripoli – roughly 15% apart. Tripoli costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Benghazi compared to Tripoli?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $659 per month in Benghazi and $758 in Tripoli. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Benghazi and Tripoli?
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 9% more in Tripoli, 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 $19.00 in Tripoli. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How far does $1,200 go in Benghazi compared to Tripoli?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $439 in Benghazi and $505 in Tripoli, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Benghazi or Tripoli?
Families tend to lean toward Benghazi – 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 Tripoli?
If budget matters most, go with Benghazi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tripoli makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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