Cost of Living Comparison Between Zawiya and Derna Cost of Living Comparison Between Zawiya and Derna

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $410 per month in Zawiya vs $170 in Derna, rent included.

A couple spends around $688 per month in Zawiya vs $337 in Derna, rent included.

A family of three spends $965 per month in Zawiya vs $504 in Derna, rent included.

Zawiya costs about 142% more than Derna, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Zawiya and Derna are more affordable than the global median – Zawiya 69% lower, Derna 87% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 LYD 17.78

$4.72 LYD 30.03

-40.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.48 LYD 118

$9.35 LYD 59.5

97.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.63 LYD 23.10

$3.71 LYD 23.56

-2.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.57 LYD 3.61

$0.53 LYD 3.39

7.55%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 LYD 4.30

$0.75 LYD 4.79

-9.33%

Cappuccino

$0.49 LYD 3.10

$0.57 LYD 3.63

-14.04%

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

$0.49 LYD 3.12

$0.39 LYD 2.47

25.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.12 LYD 0.75

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 LYD 6.55

$0.70 LYD 4.44

47.14%

White Bread (500g)

$0.23 LYD 1.46

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 LYD 7.86

Eggs

$1.23 LYD 7.85

$0.76 LYD 4.85

61.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.02 LYD 31.94

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.27 LYD 20.81

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.09 LYD 64.2

Apples (1kg)

$2.06 LYD 13.11

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 LYD 8.09

$0.96 LYD 6.11

32.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.83 LYD 5.25

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 LYD 3.52

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 LYD 3.66

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 LYD 1.97

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 LYD 2.43

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.17 LYD 1.07

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.75 LYD 4.78

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 LYD 4.46

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 LYD 4.07

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.84 LYD 11.73

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 LYD 5.92

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.59 LYD 296

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 LYD 6.11

$0.93 LYD 5.92

3.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.89 LYD 5.67

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 LYD 17.42

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.03 LYD 0.18

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

$13.7K LYD 87.4K

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

$16.2K LYD 103.1K

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

$32.55 LYD 207

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

$6.52 LYD 41.44

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.02 LYD 89.2

$16.38 LYD 104

-14.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.08 LYD 128

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.48 LYD 28.49

Cinema Ticket

$4.55 LYD 28.93

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

$53.1 LYD 337

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$908 LYD 5,772

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.60 LYD 137

$37.23 LYD 237

-41.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.94 LYD 222

$46.51 LYD 296

-24.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$31.97 LYD 203

$45.65 LYD 290

-29.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.00 LYD 229

$45.78 LYD 291

-21.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$107 LYD 679

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$69.1 LYD 440

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 LYD 1,280

$183 LYD 1,161

10.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 LYD 863

$109 LYD 695

24.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$470 LYD 2,988

$200 LYD 1,273

134.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$38.66 LYD 246

$79.3 LYD 504

-51.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$260 LYD 1,653

$173 LYD 1,100

50.17%

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 Zawiya: May 31, 2026

Last update for Derna: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 50% higher in Zawiya, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Zawiya versus $9.00 in Derna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $114 vs $16.00 – 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

Zawiya vs Derna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zawiya costs about 142% 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 $615 per month in Zawiya and $255 in Derna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $410 in Zawiya and $170 in Derna. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 622% more in Zawiya, 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 $410 in Zawiya and $170 in Derna, 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, Zawiya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.