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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $410 in Zawiya versus $502 in Tripoli.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $688 in Zawiya versus $794 in Tripoli.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $965 in Zawiya versus $1,085 in Tripoli.

Living in Zawiya costs roughly 18% less than in Tripoli, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zawiya 69% lower, Tripoli 63% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.80 LYD 17.78

$4.50 LYD 28.60

-37.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.48 LYD 118

$18.44 LYD 117

0.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.63 LYD 23.10

$3.70 LYD 23.52

-1.89%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.57 LYD 3.61

$0.58 LYD 3.67

-1.72%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 LYD 4.30

$0.66 LYD 4.18

3.03%

Cappuccino

$0.49 LYD 3.10

$0.48 LYD 3.05

2.08%

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

$0.49 LYD 3.12

$0.48 LYD 3.08

2.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.12 LYD 0.75

$0.12 LYD 0.76

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 LYD 6.55

$0.98 LYD 6.23

5.10%

White Bread (500g)

$0.23 LYD 1.46

$0.21 LYD 1.33

9.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.24 LYD 7.86

$1.23 LYD 7.85

0.81%

Eggs

$1.23 LYD 7.85

$1.45 LYD 9.25

-15.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.02 LYD 31.94

$4.87 LYD 30.94

3.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.27 LYD 20.81

$3.25 LYD 20.64

0.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.09 LYD 64.2

$10.38 LYD 66.0

-2.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.06 LYD 13.11

$2.19 LYD 13.92

-5.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 LYD 8.09

$1.28 LYD 8.17

-0.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.83 LYD 5.25

$0.78 LYD 4.95

6.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.55 LYD 3.52

$0.52 LYD 3.33

5.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.58 LYD 3.66

$0.65 LYD 4.14

-10.77%

Onion (1kg)

$0.31 LYD 1.97

$0.56 LYD 3.58

-44.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 LYD 2.43

$0.38 LYD 2.42

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.17 LYD 1.07

$0.22 LYD 1.40

-22.73%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.75 LYD 4.78

$1.28 LYD 8.11

-41.41%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 LYD 4.46

$0.71 LYD 4.49

-1.41%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 LYD 4.07

$0.65 LYD 4.11

-1.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.84 LYD 11.73

$1.86 LYD 11.86

-1.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.93 LYD 5.92

$0.29 LYD 1.85

220.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.59 LYD 296

$21.42 LYD 136

117.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.96 LYD 6.11

$0.95 LYD 6.02

1.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.89 LYD 5.67

$0.85 LYD 5.41

4.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 LYD 17.42

$4.49 LYD 28.54

-38.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.03 LYD 0.18

$0.03 LYD 0.17

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

$13.7K LYD 87.4K

$13.9K LYD 88.2K

-0.89%

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

$16.2K LYD 103.1K

$16.6K LYD 105.6K

-2.38%

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

$32.55 LYD 207

$31.84 LYD 202

2.23%

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

$6.52 LYD 41.44

$8.02 LYD 51.0

-18.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.02 LYD 89.2

$22.67 LYD 144

-38.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.08 LYD 128

$28.49 LYD 181

-29.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.48 LYD 28.49

$12.20 LYD 77.6

-63.28%

Cinema Ticket

$4.55 LYD 28.93

$4.62 LYD 29.35

-1.52%

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

$53.1 LYD 337

$52.4 LYD 333

1.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$908 LYD 5,772

$914 LYD 5,812

-0.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.60 LYD 137

$21.51 LYD 137

0.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.94 LYD 222

$35.82 LYD 228

-2.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$31.97 LYD 203

$49.76 LYD 316

-35.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.00 LYD 229

$55.2 LYD 351

-34.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$107 LYD 679

$207 LYD 1,316

-48.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$69.1 LYD 440

$123 LYD 780

-43.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$201 LYD 1,280

$393 LYD 2,496

-48.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 LYD 863

$226 LYD 1,434

-39.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$470 LYD 2,988

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$38.66 LYD 246

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$260 LYD 1,653

$248 LYD 1,574

5.00%

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 Tripoli: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $107 in Zawiya and $207 in Tripoli. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Zawiya pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $18.00 in Zawiya vs $18.00 in Tripoli for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $114 vs $116 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

Zawiya vs Tripoli: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zawiya is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 22% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Zawiya pays 5% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $107 in Zawiya versus $207 in Tripoli. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $53.1 in Zawiya versus $52.4 in Tripoli. 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 22% less than in Tripoli. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.