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: $505 in Tripoli versus $422 in Zawiya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $810 in Tripoli versus $694 in Zawiya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,114 in Tripoli versus $967 in Zawiya.

Living in Tripoli is roughly 20% more expensive than in Zawiya, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Tripoli 62% lower, Zawiya 68% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.49 LYD 28.62

$2.73 LYD 17.41

64.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.69 LYD 119

$18.45 LYD 118

1.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.63 LYD 23.13

$3.75 LYD 23.89

-3.20%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.53 LYD 3.37

$0.53 LYD 3.40

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 LYD 4.22

$0.66 LYD 4.23

Cappuccino

$0.48 LYD 3.07

$0.48 LYD 3.03

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

$0.45 LYD 2.89

$0.46 LYD 2.91

-2.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.09 LYD 0.60

$0.11 LYD 0.67

-18.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 LYD 6.58

$1.03 LYD 6.54

White Bread (500g)

$0.23 LYD 1.47

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 LYD 7.49

Eggs

$1.45 LYD 9.24

$1.17 LYD 7.48

23.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.81 LYD 30.63

$4.99 LYD 31.76

-3.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.34 LYD 21.27

$3.30 LYD 21.04

1.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.43 LYD 66.5

$10.39 LYD 66.2

0.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 LYD 13.93

$2.06 LYD 13.11

6.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.34 LYD 8.55

$1.33 LYD 8.49

0.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.76 LYD 4.82

$0.75 LYD 4.81

1.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.52 LYD 3.29

$0.53 LYD 3.36

-1.89%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 LYD 4.42

$0.62 LYD 3.94

11.29%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 LYD 3.37

$0.33 LYD 2.12

60.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.39 LYD 2.47

$0.38 LYD 2.43

2.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.20 LYD 1.27

$0.17 LYD 1.10

17.65%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.22 LYD 7.74

$0.76 LYD 4.83

60.53%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 LYD 4.21

$0.68 LYD 4.31

-2.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 LYD 4.16

$0.70 LYD 4.47

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.86 LYD 11.86

$1.85 LYD 11.76

0.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 LYD 1.71

$0.91 LYD 5.78

-70.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$21.56 LYD 137

$46.79 LYD 298

-53.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 LYD 6.04

$0.90 LYD 5.74

5.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.85 LYD 5.43

$0.89 LYD 5.66

-4.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.56 LYD 29.05

$2.77 LYD 17.62

64.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.03 LYD 0.20

$0.03 LYD 0.18

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

$13.7K LYD 87.2K

0.00%

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

$16.4K LYD 104.4K

$16.4K LYD 104.7K

-0.29%

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

$32.67 LYD 208

$32.61 LYD 208

0.18%

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

$8.27 LYD 52.7

$6.29 LYD 40.07

31.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.56 LYD 144

$14.17 LYD 90.2

59.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.55 LYD 176

$20.19 LYD 129

36.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$11.74 LYD 74.8

$4.68 LYD 29.82

150.85%

Cinema Ticket

$4.49 LYD 28.62

$4.50 LYD 28.69

-0.22%

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

$52.4 LYD 334

$52.3 LYD 333

0.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$932 LYD 5,939

$908 LYD 5,786

2.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.40 LYD 136

$21.44 LYD 137

-0.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.81 LYD 228

$34.92 LYD 222

2.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$50.6 LYD 323

$32.12 LYD 205

57.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$55.8 LYD 355

$36.80 LYD 234

51.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$212 LYD 1,350

$106 LYD 674

100.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$120 LYD 764

$69.9 LYD 445

71.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 LYD 2,488

$199 LYD 1,268

96.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$218 LYD 1,386

$136 LYD 864

60.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$467 LYD 2,975

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$38.16 LYD 243

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$243 LYD 1,548

$253 LYD 1,613

-4.02%

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 Tripoli: July 11, 2026

Last update for Zawiya: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $212 in Tripoli and $106 in Zawiya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zawiya pays 4% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $19.00 in Tripoli vs $18.00 in Zawiya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $117 vs $115 per month, with Zawiya cheaper across the board.

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, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 4% 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: $212 in Tripoli versus $106 in Zawiya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $52.4 in Tripoli versus $52.3 in Zawiya. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Tripoli. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

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 20% less than in Tripoli. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.