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: $422 in Zawiya versus $505 in Tripoli.

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

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

Living in Zawiya costs roughly 17% less than in Tripoli, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.73 LYD 17.42

$4.49 LYD 28.62

-39.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.45 LYD 118

$18.69 LYD 119

-1.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.75 LYD 23.89

$3.63 LYD 23.13

3.31%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.53 LYD 3.40

$0.53 LYD 3.37

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 LYD 4.23

$0.66 LYD 4.22

Cappuccino

$0.48 LYD 3.03

$0.48 LYD 3.07

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

$0.46 LYD 2.91

$0.45 LYD 2.89

2.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.11 LYD 0.67

$0.09 LYD 0.60

22.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.03 LYD 6.54

$1.03 LYD 6.58

White Bread (500g)

$0.23 LYD 1.47

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.18 LYD 7.49

Eggs

$1.17 LYD 7.48

$1.45 LYD 9.24

-19.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.99 LYD 31.76

$4.81 LYD 30.63

3.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.30 LYD 21.04

$3.34 LYD 21.27

-1.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.39 LYD 66.2

$10.43 LYD 66.5

-0.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.06 LYD 13.11

$2.19 LYD 13.93

-5.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 LYD 8.49

$1.34 LYD 8.55

-0.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.75 LYD 4.81

$0.76 LYD 4.82

-1.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.53 LYD 3.36

$0.52 LYD 3.29

1.92%

Potato (1kg)

$0.62 LYD 3.94

$0.69 LYD 4.42

-10.14%

Onion (1kg)

$0.33 LYD 2.12

$0.53 LYD 3.37

-37.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.38 LYD 2.43

$0.39 LYD 2.47

-2.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.17 LYD 1.10

$0.20 LYD 1.27

-15.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.76 LYD 4.83

$1.22 LYD 7.74

-37.70%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 LYD 4.31

$0.66 LYD 4.21

3.03%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 LYD 4.47

$0.65 LYD 4.16

7.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.85 LYD 11.76

$1.86 LYD 11.86

-0.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.91 LYD 5.78

$0.27 LYD 1.71

237.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$46.79 LYD 298

$21.56 LYD 137

117.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.90 LYD 5.74

$0.95 LYD 6.04

-5.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.89 LYD 5.66

$0.85 LYD 5.43

4.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 LYD 17.62

$4.56 LYD 29.05

-39.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.03 LYD 0.18

$0.03 LYD 0.20

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 104.7K

$16.4K LYD 104.4K

0.29%

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

$32.61 LYD 208

$32.67 LYD 208

-0.18%

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

$6.29 LYD 40.08

$8.27 LYD 52.7

-23.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$14.17 LYD 90.2

$22.56 LYD 144

-37.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.19 LYD 129

$27.55 LYD 176

-26.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.68 LYD 29.82

$11.74 LYD 74.8

-60.14%

Cinema Ticket

$4.50 LYD 28.69

$4.49 LYD 28.62

0.22%

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

$52.3 LYD 333

$52.4 LYD 334

-0.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$908 LYD 5,786

$932 LYD 5,939

-2.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$21.44 LYD 137

$21.40 LYD 136

0.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.92 LYD 222

$35.81 LYD 228

-2.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$32.12 LYD 205

$50.6 LYD 323

-36.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.80 LYD 234

$55.8 LYD 355

-33.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$106 LYD 674

$212 LYD 1,350

-50.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$69.9 LYD 445

$120 LYD 764

-41.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$199 LYD 1,268

$391 LYD 2,488

-49.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 LYD 864

$218 LYD 1,386

-37.72%

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)

$253 LYD 1,613

$243 LYD 1,548

4.19%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Tripoli: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $106 in Zawiya and $212 in Tripoli. 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: $18.00 in Zawiya vs $19.00 in Tripoli for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $115 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, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 4% 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: $106 in Zawiya versus $212 in Tripoli. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $52.3 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 20% less than in Tripoli. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.