Cost of Living Comparison Between Libya and Italy Cost of Living Comparison Between Libya and Italy

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $135 in Libya versus $1,782 in Italy.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $211 in Libya versus $2,722 in Italy.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $287 in Libya versus $3,662 in Italy.

Living in Libya costs about 92% less than in Italy on average.

Libya (90% below) and Italy (30% above) straddle the global median.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Libya
Italy
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.12 LYD 19.80
$21.07 €18.36
-85.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.83 LYD 81.3
$81.0 €70.7
-84.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.44 LYD 15.46
$11.50 €10.02
-78.78%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$0.53 LYD 3.35
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 LYD 3.59
-
-
Cappuccino
$0.57 LYD 3.63
$2.10 €1.83
-72.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 LYD 2.68
$3.07 €2.67
-86.32%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.11 LYD 0.71
$1.44 €1.25
-92.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$5.86 €5.11
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.72 €4.99
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Libya
Italy
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.88 LYD 5.58
$1.59 €1.39
-44.65%
White Bread (500g)
$0.25 LYD 1.60
$2.41 €2.10
-89.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.17 LYD 7.41
$2.99 €2.61
-60.87%
Eggs
$1.25 LYD 7.90
$4.34 €3.78
-71.20%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.14 LYD 32.58
$17.62 €15.36
-70.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.35 LYD 21.21
$12.69 €11.06
-73.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.46 LYD 59.9
$20.80 €18.13
-54.52%
Apples (1kg)
$2.23 LYD 14.13
$2.61 €2.28
-14.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 LYD 10.01
$2.14 €1.87
-26.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.89 LYD 5.65
$2.79 €2.43
-68.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.55 LYD 3.45
$3.37 €2.94
-83.68%
Potato (1kg)
$0.72 LYD 4.57
$2.04 €1.78
-64.71%
Onion (1kg)
$0.52 LYD 3.32
$1.96 €1.71
-73.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.39 LYD 2.46
$1.56 €1.36
-75.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.19 LYD 1.24
$0.53 €0.46
-64.15%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$1.27 LYD 8.05
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 LYD 4.80
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 LYD 5.37
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.90 LYD 12.04
$6.84 €5.96
-72.22%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$7.71 €6.72
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.86 €1.62
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.49 €2.17
-
🚌 Getting Around
Libya
Italy
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.61 LYD 3.89
$1.91 €1.67
-68.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.33 LYD 249
$44.16 €38.49
-10.94%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.81 LYD 5.12
$5.87 €5.12
-86.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 LYD 2.90
$1.70 €1.49
-72.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.31 LYD 14.62
$35.16 €30.65
-93.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.02 LYD 0.14
$2.11 €1.84
-99.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.2K LYD 147.0K
$36.9K €32.2K
-37.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.4K LYD 104.2K
$36.5K €31.8K
-54.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Libya
Italy
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$112 LYD 708
$229 €200
-51.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.11 LYD 32.39
$12.09 €10.54
-57.73%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.27 LYD 128
$31.57 €27.52
-35.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Libya
Italy
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$16.89 LYD 107
$54.1 €47.18
-68.79%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.98 LYD 31.56
$24.51 €21.37
-79.68%
Cinema Ticket
$4.81 LYD 30.47
$10.78 €9.40
-55.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Libya
Italy
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$52.4 LYD 332
$562 €490
-90.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$755 LYD 4,783
$12.2K €10.7K
-93.83%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Libya
Italy
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$26.61 LYD 169
$94.3 €82.2
-71.77%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.93 LYD 183
$40.72 €35.50
-28.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$39.89 LYD 253
$104 €90.7
-61.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.63 LYD 251
$136 €119
-70.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Libya
Italy
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$245 LYD 1,551
$832 €725
-70.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$115 LYD 726
$646 €564
-82.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$439 LYD 2,783
$1,450 €1,264
-69.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$212 LYD 1,346
$1,081 €942
-80.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$453 LYD 2,874
$3,816 €3,326
-88.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$117 LYD 739
$2,312 €2,015
-94.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Libya
Italy
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$264 LYD 1,675
$1,954 €1,703
-86.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
20
3.57
460.22%

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

Last update for Libya: September 13, 2026

Last update for Italy: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $22.00 in Libya, $748 in Italy. Capital cities: $357 in Tripoli vs $1,238 in Rome.

National salary averages: $255 in Libya, $1,958 in Italy. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 3300% higher in Italy.

Dining out costs 1400% more in Italy.

Public transport is 2000% more expensive in Italy.

Salaries are 668% higher in Italy, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Libya.

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
Libya vs Italy: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Italy and Libya?
At $1,913 per month in Italy and $266 in Libya, there's a 619% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Libya: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in Italy is consistently higher than in Libya across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget in Italy or in Libya?
In Libya, $1,000 covers most cities easily; in Italy it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Italy or to Libya?
It depends on what you're after: Libya wins on affordability; Italy may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

Libya vs other spots: cost of living compared

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