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: $426 in Zawiya versus $540 in Tripoli.

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

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

Living in Zawiya costs roughly 21% less than in Tripoli, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.30 LYD 14.53

$3.99 LYD 25.17

-42.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.04 LYD 94.9

$15.12 LYD 95.4

-0.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.54 LYD 16.00

$2.58 LYD 16.27

-1.55%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.48 LYD 3.06

$0.66 LYD 4.15

-27.27%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 LYD 3.90

$0.61 LYD 3.82

1.64%

Cappuccino

$0.42 LYD 2.63

$0.44 LYD 2.76

-4.55%

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

$0.42 LYD 2.64

$0.45 LYD 2.85

-6.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.09 LYD 0.57

$0.10 LYD 0.65

-10.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 LYD 5.72

$0.97 LYD 6.14

-6.19%

White Bread (500g)

$0.20 LYD 1.26

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 LYD 7.05

$1.13 LYD 7.12

-0.88%

Eggs

$1.03 LYD 6.48

$1.41 LYD 8.89

-26.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.66 LYD 29.43

$5.22 LYD 32.96

-10.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.32 LYD 20.97

$3.34 LYD 21.06

-0.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.86 LYD 55.9

$9.99 LYD 63.0

-11.31%

Apples (1kg)

$1.85 LYD 11.70

$2.32 LYD 14.65

-20.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 LYD 7.83

$1.48 LYD 9.36

-16.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.71 LYD 4.47

$0.72 LYD 4.58

-1.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 LYD 3.32

$0.56 LYD 3.52

-5.36%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 LYD 3.09

$0.66 LYD 4.17

-25.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.27 LYD 1.70

$0.49 LYD 3.10

-44.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.30 LYD 1.88

$0.40 LYD 2.50

-25.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.18 LYD 1.13

$0.19 LYD 1.19

-5.26%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.77 LYD 4.89

$1.78 LYD 11.25

-56.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 LYD 4.63

$1.07 LYD 6.76

-31.78%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.81 LYD 5.14

$0.78 LYD 4.93

3.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.67 LYD 10.55

$1.92 LYD 12.12

-13.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 LYD 4.84

$0.32 LYD 2.05

140.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.03 LYD 246

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.78 LYD 4.92

$0.80 LYD 5.08

-2.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 LYD 3.11

$0.48 LYD 3.04

2.08%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.40 LYD 15.16

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.02 LYD 0.13

$0.02 LYD 0.11

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

$15.6K LYD 98.8K

$23.7K LYD 149.5K

-33.93%

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

$14.0K LYD 88.5K

$14.0K LYD 88.2K

0.38%

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

$93.3 LYD 589

$93.6 LYD 590

-0.27%

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

$5.67 LYD 35.81

$5.74 LYD 36.22

-1.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$12.23 LYD 77.2

$27.24 LYD 172

-55.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.20 LYD 109

$23.70 LYD 150

-27.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.92 LYD 24.75

$2.31 LYD 14.55

69.70%

Cinema Ticket

$3.85 LYD 24.32

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

$52.7 LYD 332

$52.8 LYD 333

-0.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$628 LYD 3,966

$621 LYD 3,918

1.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.22 LYD 134

$21.03 LYD 133

0.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$17.59 LYD 111

$17.34 LYD 109

1.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$27.97 LYD 177

$55.7 LYD 352

-49.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.76 LYD 200

$65.8 LYD 415

-51.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$91.1 LYD 575

$365 LYD 2,305

-75.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$58.2 LYD 367

$146 LYD 924

-60.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$171 LYD 1,082

$614 LYD 3,875

-72.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$116 LYD 735

$262 LYD 1,654

-55.56%

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)

$255 LYD 1,611

$249 LYD 1,574

2.37%

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

Last update for Zawiya: September 6, 2026

Last update for Tripoli: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $91.1 in Zawiya and $365 in Tripoli. 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 Zawiya vs $15.00 in Tripoli for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $104 vs $117 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 2% higher in Zawiya, 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: $91.1 in Zawiya versus $365 in Tripoli. 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 $426 per month in Zawiya versus $540 in Tripoli – 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.