🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,355 in Al Khobar versus $1,397 in Beirut.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,119 in Al Khobar versus $2,320 in Beirut.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,883 in Al Khobar versus $3,244 in Beirut.
🌍Living in Al Khobar costs roughly 3% less than in Beirut, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Al Khobar1% above, Beirut5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.56SAR 24.61
$10.93LBP 978.6K
-39.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.3SAR 204
$60.4LBP 5.4M
-10.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.93SAR 29.76
$7.92LBP 709.1K
0.13%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.99SAR 7.46
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71SAR 10.16
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.19SAR 15.71
$3.26LBP 292.0K
28.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.97SAR 3.63
$1.64LBP 146.6K
-40.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48SAR 1.79
$0.87LBP 77.8K
-44.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.59LBP 321.5K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.10LBP 456.0K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76SAR 6.61
$1.76LBP 157.8K
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.39SAR 5.20
$0.83LBP 74.6K
67.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.28SAR 8.57
$1.74LBP 155.9K
31.03%
Eggs
$2.93SAR 10.99
$3.17LBP 283.9K
-7.57%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.77SAR 25.41
$11.28LBP 1.0M
-39.98%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.27SAR 34.79
$9.34LBP 835.8K
-0.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.73SAR 47.78
$11.22LBP 1.0M
13.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.44SAR 9.16
$1.72LBP 153.9K
41.86%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79SAR 6.72
$1.45LBP 129.5K
23.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20SAR 8.27
$1.13LBP 101.3K
94.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57SAR 5.90
$1.10LBP 98.0K
42.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47SAR 5.52
$0.96LBP 85.9K
53.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.65SAR 6.20
$1.01LBP 90.1K
63.37%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.69SAR 6.35
$0.82LBP 73.2K
106.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62SAR 2.34
$0.56LBP 50.1K
10.71%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.70SAR 10.12
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40SAR 5.26
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97SAR 7.41
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.47SAR 24.27
$2.43LBP 217.2K
166.26%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.19LBP 912.3K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.29LBP 115.6K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.20LBP 196.7K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91SAR 3.41
$2.06LBP 184.3K
-55.83%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$60.3SAR 226
$73.8LBP 6.6M
-18.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.24SAR 8.42
$5.02LBP 449.0K
-55.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.36SAR 5.09
$1.26LBP 113.1K
7.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.76SAR 25.37
$20.30LBP 1.8M
-66.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64SAR 2.39
$0.88LBP 78.6K
-27.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5KSAR 80.5K
$35.6KLBP 3.2B
-39.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KSAR 87.8K
$28.4KLBP 2.5B
-17.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123SAR 460
$215LBP 19.3M
-43.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.44SAR 129
$37.72LBP 3.4M
-8.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$82.1SAR 308
$37.00LBP 3.3M
121.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$107SAR 400
$69.0LBP 6.2M
54.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.29SAR 136
$29.72LBP 2.7M
22.11%
Cinema Ticket
$17.20SAR 64.6
$7.91LBP 708.3K
117.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$308SAR 1,155
$304LBP 27.2M
1.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,694SAR 28.9K
$4,510LBP 403.6M
70.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8SAR 236
$72.0LBP 6.4M
-12.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$70.4SAR 264
$44.40LBP 4.0M
58.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$98.0SAR 368
$122LBP 10.9M
-19.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.6SAR 302
$93.1LBP 8.3M
-13.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$440SAR 1,652
$811LBP 72.6M
-45.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$405SAR 1,520
$371LBP 33.2M
9.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,027SAR 3,856
$1,946LBP 174.2M
-47.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$784SAR 2,941
$973LBP 87.1M
-19.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,413SAR 9,055
$3,918LBP 350.7M
-38.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,465SAR 5,499
$1,974LBP 176.7M
-25.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,820SAR 6,831
$700LBP 62.7M
159.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.84
11.16
-65.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al Khobar: July 21, 2026
Last update for Beirut: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $440 in Al Khobar and $811 in Beirut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Al Khobar pays 160% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Al Khobar vs $60.0 in Beirut for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $233 per month, with Al Khobar 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
Al Khobar vs Beirut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Al Khobar or Beirut?
Al Khobar wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Beirut. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Al Khobar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Al Khobar or in Beirut?
Average pay runs 160% higher in Al Khobar, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Al Khobar compared to Beirut?
Rent for a central apartment: $440 in Al Khobar versus $811 in Beirut. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Al Khobar compared to Beirut?
A monthly transit pass in Al Khobar runs roughly 22% less than in Beirut. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Al Khobar and in Beirut?
Childcare runs $308 in Al Khobar versus $304 in Beirut. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Al Khobar or in Beirut?
At $1,355 in Al Khobar versus $1,397 in Beirut, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Al Khobar but tight or insufficient in Beirut. The gap between the two cities makes Al Khobar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Al Khobar or Beirut?
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.
How safe is Al Khobar compared to Beirut?
Safety-wise, Al Khobar and Beirut are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Al Khobar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.