Cost of Living Comparison Between Tripoli and Zawiya Cost of Living Comparison Between Tripoli and Zawiya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $540 in Tripoli versus $426 in Zawiya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $817 in Tripoli versus $654 in Zawiya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,094 in Tripoli versus $881 in Zawiya.

Living in Tripoli is roughly 27% more expensive than in Zawiya, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tripoli 61% lower, Zawiya 69% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.99 LYD 25.17

$2.30 LYD 14.53

73.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.12 LYD 95.4

$15.04 LYD 94.9

0.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.58 LYD 16.27

$2.54 LYD 16.00

1.57%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.66 LYD 4.15

$0.48 LYD 3.06

37.50%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.61 LYD 3.82

$0.62 LYD 3.90

-1.61%

Cappuccino

$0.44 LYD 2.76

$0.42 LYD 2.63

4.76%

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

$0.45 LYD 2.85

$0.42 LYD 2.64

7.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.10 LYD 0.65

$0.09 LYD 0.57

11.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.97 LYD 6.14

$0.91 LYD 5.72

6.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.20 LYD 1.26

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 LYD 7.12

$1.12 LYD 7.05

0.89%

Eggs

$1.41 LYD 8.89

$1.03 LYD 6.48

36.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.22 LYD 32.96

$4.66 LYD 29.43

12.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.34 LYD 21.06

$3.32 LYD 20.97

0.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.99 LYD 63.0

$8.86 LYD 55.9

12.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 LYD 14.65

$1.85 LYD 11.70

25.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 LYD 9.36

$1.24 LYD 7.83

19.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.72 LYD 4.58

$0.71 LYD 4.47

1.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.56 LYD 3.52

$0.53 LYD 3.32

5.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.66 LYD 4.17

$0.49 LYD 3.09

34.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.49 LYD 3.10

$0.27 LYD 1.70

81.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.40 LYD 2.50

$0.30 LYD 1.88

33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.19 LYD 1.19

$0.18 LYD 1.13

5.56%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.78 LYD 11.25

$0.77 LYD 4.89

131.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 LYD 6.76

$0.73 LYD 4.63

46.58%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 LYD 4.93

$0.81 LYD 5.14

-3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 LYD 12.12

$1.67 LYD 10.55

14.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 LYD 2.05

$0.77 LYD 4.84

-58.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.03 LYD 246

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.80 LYD 5.08

$0.78 LYD 4.92

2.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 LYD 3.04

$0.49 LYD 3.11

-2.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 LYD 15.16

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.02 LYD 0.11

$0.02 LYD 0.13

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

$23.7K LYD 149.5K

$15.6K LYD 98.8K

51.35%

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

$14.0K LYD 88.2K

$14.0K LYD 88.5K

-0.38%

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

$93.6 LYD 590

$93.3 LYD 589

0.27%

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

$5.74 LYD 36.22

$5.67 LYD 35.81

1.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.24 LYD 172

$12.23 LYD 77.2

122.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.70 LYD 150

$17.20 LYD 109

37.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$2.31 LYD 14.55

$3.92 LYD 24.75

-41.07%

Cinema Ticket

$3.85 LYD 24.32

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

$52.8 LYD 333

$52.7 LYD 332

0.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$621 LYD 3,918

$628 LYD 3,966

-1.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.03 LYD 133

$21.22 LYD 134

-0.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.34 LYD 109

$17.59 LYD 111

-1.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$55.7 LYD 352

$27.97 LYD 177

99.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.8 LYD 415

$31.76 LYD 200

107.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$365 LYD 2,305

$91.1 LYD 575

301.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$146 LYD 924

$58.2 LYD 367

151.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$614 LYD 3,875

$171 LYD 1,082

258.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 LYD 1,654

$116 LYD 735

125.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$469 LYD 2,960

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$38.80 LYD 245

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$249 LYD 1,574

$255 LYD 1,611

-2.32%

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

Last update for Tripoli: September 7, 2026

Last update for Zawiya: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $365 in Tripoli and $91.1 in Zawiya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zawiya pays 2% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $15.00 in Tripoli vs $15.00 in Zawiya. Groceries flip the comparison at $117 vs $104, with Zawiya cheaper for home cooking.

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

Tripoli vs Zawiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zawiya is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 2% lower in Zawiya. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $365 in Tripoli versus $91.1 in Zawiya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Tripoli. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $540 per month in Tripoli versus $426 in Zawiya – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Zawiya gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Zawiya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Tripoli. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.