Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Benghazi Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiang Mai and Benghazi

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $947 per month in Chiang Mai vs $424 in Benghazi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,411 per month in Chiang Mai vs $722 in Benghazi, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,874 per month in Chiang Mai vs $1,021 in Benghazi, rent included.

Chiang Mai costs about 123% more than Benghazi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Chiang Mai and Benghazi are more affordable than the global median – Chiang Mai 31% lower, Benghazi 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ฿68.6

$2.42 LYD 15.31

-14.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.64 ฿646

$12.52 LYD 79.3

56.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.65 ฿186

$2.37 LYD 15.01

138.40%

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

$1.81 ฿59.4

$0.64 LYD 4.07

182.81%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.71 ฿23.45

$0.44 LYD 2.77

61.36%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 ฿10.38

$0.13 LYD 0.83

146.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 ฿73.6

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 ฿119

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 ฿64.4

$0.82 LYD 5.22

139.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 ฿49.39

$0.19 LYD 1.20

689.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 ฿43.93

$1.35 LYD 8.54

-0.74%

Eggs

$2.26 ฿74.5

$1.66 LYD 10.49

36.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.26 ฿535

$6.33 LYD 40.11

156.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.95 ฿97.1

$2.74 LYD 17.34

7.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.94 ฿327

$11.59 LYD 73.4

-14.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 ฿84.6

$2.27 LYD 14.39

13.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 ฿34.73

$1.73 LYD 10.94

-38.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 ฿53.0

$1.15 LYD 7.26

40.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 ฿49.97

$0.75 LYD 4.77

102.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 ฿41.77

$0.86 LYD 5.47

47.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 ฿35.06

$0.65 LYD 4.13

64.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 ฿23.68

$0.34 LYD 2.17

111.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 ฿16.72

$0.23 LYD 1.46

121.74%

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)

$4.19 ฿138

$1.91 LYD 12.08

119.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.87 ฿587

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 ฿55.7

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.84 ฿93.3

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 ฿30.43

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$53.9 ฿1,771

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.23 ฿40.59

$1.60 LYD 10.11

-23.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.58 ฿18.96

$0.30 LYD 1.88

93.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.42 ฿79.7

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.41 ฿46.43

$0.02 LYD 0.11

6950.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.4K ฿705.1K

$12.8K LYD 81.1K

67.51%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.3K ฿898.7K

$14.9K LYD 94.6K

82.95%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$63.7 ฿2,093

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.85 ฿423

$4.55 LYD 28.83

182.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.22 ฿665

$19.14 LYD 121

5.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.74 ฿1,274

$17.52 LYD 111

121.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.97 ฿130

$3.96 LYD 25.07

0.25%

Cinema Ticket

$6.74 ฿222

$6.42 LYD 40.66

4.98%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$778 ฿25.6K

$77.3 LYD 489

906.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.6K ฿480.4K

$358 LYD 2,269

3977.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 ฿1,785

$42.91 LYD 272

26.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$25.45 ฿837

$34.87 LYD 221

-27.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.3 ฿3,102

$44.06 LYD 279

114.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.4 ฿2,415

$68.2 LYD 432

7.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$490 ฿16.1K

$192 LYD 1,213

155.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$289 ฿9,512

$120 LYD 760

141.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 ฿29.4K

$429 LYD 2,718

108.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$517 ฿17.0K

$259 LYD 1,640

99.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,955 ฿64.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 ฿48.6K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$602 ฿19.8K

$267 LYD 1,692

125.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.57

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

Last update for Chiang Mai: August 31, 2026

Last update for Benghazi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $490 in Chiang Mai versus $192 in Benghazi. 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 125% higher in Chiang Mai, 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 $20.00 in Chiang Mai versus $13.00 in Benghazi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $128 – 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

Chiang Mai vs Benghazi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $947 in Chiang Mai, $424 in Benghazi – roughly 123% apart. Chiang Mai costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,421 per month in Chiang Mai and $636 in Benghazi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $947 in Chiang Mai and $424 in Benghazi. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $778 per month in Chiang Mai and $77.3 in Benghazi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Benghazi, where all-in costs run around $424, than in Chiang Mai at $947. In Benghazi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Chiang Mai it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Chiang Mai has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $424 in Benghazi to $947 in Chiang Mai. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Benghazi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Chiang Mai makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.