Cost of Living Comparison Between Derna and Masallatah Cost of Living Comparison Between Derna and Masallatah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $170 per month in Derna vs $327 in Masallatah, rent included.

A couple spends around $337 per month in Derna vs $539 in Masallatah, rent included.

A family of three spends $504 per month in Derna vs $751 in Masallatah, rent included.

Derna is about 48% cheaper than Masallatah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Derna and Masallatah are more affordable than the global median – Derna 87% lower, Masallatah 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.72 LYD 30.03

$4.64 LYD 29.53

1.72%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.35 LYD 59.5

$18.71 LYD 119

-50.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.71 LYD 23.56

$3.56 LYD 22.67

4.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.53 LYD 3.39

$0.53 LYD 3.40

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.75 LYD 4.79

$0.67 LYD 4.25

11.94%

Cappuccino

$0.57 LYD 3.63

$0.51 LYD 3.26

11.76%

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

$0.39 LYD 2.47

$0.45 LYD 2.89

-13.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.12 LYD 0.78

Milk (1 liter)

$0.70 LYD 4.44

$0.99 LYD 6.27

-29.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.23 LYD 1.47

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 LYD 7.92

Eggs

$0.76 LYD 4.85

$1.50 LYD 9.52

-49.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.92 LYD 31.30

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.28 LYD 20.86

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.27 LYD 65.3

Apples (1kg)

$2.21 LYD 14.03

Banana (1kg)

$0.96 LYD 6.11

$1.34 LYD 8.55

-28.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.76 LYD 4.84

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 LYD 3.30

Potato (1kg)

$0.65 LYD 4.15

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 LYD 3.34

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 LYD 2.47

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.20 LYD 1.27

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.24 LYD 7.90

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 LYD 4.54

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 LYD 4.39

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.81 LYD 11.50

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 LYD 5.92

$0.96 LYD 6.11

-3.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.90 LYD 5.70

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.63 LYD 29.42

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.03 LYD 0.20

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

$13.9K LYD 88.3K

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

$16.4K LYD 104.4K

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

$32.39 LYD 206

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

$8.32 LYD 52.9

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.38 LYD 104

$23.39 LYD 149

-29.97%

Cinema Ticket

$4.62 LYD 29.37

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

$51.9 LYD 330

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$916 LYD 5,828

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.23 LYD 237

$21.61 LYD 137

72.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$46.51 LYD 296

$34.89 LYD 222

33.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.65 LYD 290

$50.4 LYD 320

-9.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.78 LYD 291

$55.5 LYD 353

-17.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$183 LYD 1,161

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$109 LYD 695

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$200 LYD 1,273

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$79.3 LYD 504

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$173 LYD 1,100

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

17.5

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

Last update for Derna: June 1, 2026

Last update for Masallatah: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Derna versus $19.00 in Masallatah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $16.00 vs $117 – making Derna 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

Derna vs Masallatah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Masallatah costs about 93% more than Derna, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $255 per month in Derna and $490 in Masallatah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $170 in Derna and $327 in Masallatah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 639% more in Masallatah, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $170 in Derna and $327 in Masallatah, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Derna – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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