Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Tripoli Cost of Living Comparison Between Tehran and Tripoli

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $710 per month in Tehran vs $502 in Tripoli, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,139 per month in Tehran vs $794 in Tripoli, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,569 per month in Tehran vs $1,085 in Tripoli, rent included.

Tehran costs about 41% more than Tripoli, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Tehran and Tripoli are more affordable than the global median – Tehran 47% lower, Tripoli 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.89 $3.89

$4.50 LYD 28.60

-13.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.06 $18.06

$18.44 LYD 117

-2.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.06 $5.06

$3.70 LYD 23.52

36.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.62 $0.62

$0.58 LYD 3.67

6.90%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.02 $1.02

$0.66 LYD 4.18

54.55%

Cappuccino

$1.30 $1.30

$0.48 LYD 3.05

170.83%

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

$0.45 $0.45

$0.48 LYD 3.08

-6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 $1.03

$0.12 LYD 0.76

758.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.98 LYD 6.23

-39.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.57 $0.57

$0.21 LYD 1.33

171.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 $1.87

$1.23 LYD 7.85

52.03%

Eggs

$1.16 $1.16

$1.45 LYD 9.25

-20.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.42 $3.42

$4.87 LYD 30.94

-29.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 $3.24

$3.25 LYD 20.64

-0.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.93 $10.93

$10.38 LYD 66.0

5.30%

Apples (1kg)

$0.88 $0.88

$2.19 LYD 13.92

-59.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 $1.42

$1.28 LYD 8.17

10.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.81 $0.81

$0.78 LYD 4.95

3.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.67 $0.67

$0.52 LYD 3.33

28.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.55 $0.55

$0.65 LYD 4.14

-15.38%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 $0.50

$0.56 LYD 3.58

-10.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 $0.58

$0.38 LYD 2.42

52.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.23 $0.23

$0.22 LYD 1.40

4.55%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.62 $0.62

$1.28 LYD 8.11

-51.56%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 $0.59

$0.71 LYD 4.49

-16.90%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 $1.61

$0.65 LYD 4.11

147.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.57 $2.57

$1.86 LYD 11.86

38.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 $0.24

$0.29 LYD 1.85

-17.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.95 $9.95

$21.42 LYD 136

-53.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 $0.52

$0.95 LYD 6.02

-45.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 $0.31

$0.85 LYD 5.41

-63.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.07 $3.07

$4.49 LYD 28.54

-31.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 $0.76

$0.03 LYD 0.17

2433.33%

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

$81.4K $81.4K

$13.9K LYD 88.2K

486.97%

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

$55.9K $55.9K

$16.6K LYD 105.6K

236.52%

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

$15.74 $15.74

$31.84 LYD 202

-50.57%

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

$2.18 $2.18

$8.02 LYD 51.0

-72.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$5.66 $5.66

$22.67 LYD 144

-75.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.05 $23.05

$28.49 LYD 181

-19.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.87 $11.87

$12.20 LYD 77.6

-2.70%

Cinema Ticket

$1.54 $1.54

$4.62 LYD 29.35

-66.67%

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

$125 $125

$52.4 LYD 333

138.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,001 $2,001

$914 LYD 5,812

118.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.87 $30.87

$21.51 LYD 137

43.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.04 $34.04

$35.82 LYD 228

-4.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 $122

$49.76 LYD 316

144.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.4 $70.4

$55.2 LYD 351

27.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$489 $489

$207 LYD 1,316

136.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 $336

$123 LYD 780

173.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,020 $1,020

$393 LYD 2,496

159.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$709 $709

$226 LYD 1,434

214.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,265 $1,265

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$817 $817

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$211 $211

$248 LYD 1,574

-14.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

25.07

17.5

43.26%

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

Last update for Tehran: May 31, 2026

Last update for Tripoli: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $489 in Tehran versus $207 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 17% higher in Tripoli, 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 $18.00 in Tehran versus $18.00 in Tripoli. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $110 vs $116 – making Tehran the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Tehran vs Tripoli: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Tehran is pricier by about 41%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,065 per month in Tehran and $753 in Tripoli. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Tripoli, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $125 per month in Tehran and $52.4 in Tripoli. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 5% cheaper in Tehran – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $710 in Tehran and $502 in Tripoli, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Tripoli – 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 Tripoli. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Tehran makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.