🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,363 in Al Khobar versus $1,413 in Beirut.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,155 in Al Khobar versus $2,296 in Beirut.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,946 in Al Khobar versus $3,180 in Beirut.
🙂Living in Al Khobar costs roughly 4% less than in Beirut, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Al Khobar2% above, Beirut5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.47SAR 24.25
$10.86LBP 971.5K
-40.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.2SAR 203
$60.7LBP 5.4M
-10.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.81SAR 29.27
$8.04LBP 719.8K
-2.86%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.96SAR 7.34
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73SAR 10.24
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.33SAR 16.24
$3.27LBP 293.0K
32.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02SAR 3.82
$1.58LBP 141.8K
-35.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52SAR 1.96
$0.93LBP 83.3K
-44.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.53LBP 316.2K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.87LBP 435.6K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71SAR 6.41
$1.73LBP 155.0K
-1.16%
White Bread(500g)
$1.32SAR 4.97
$0.78LBP 70.0K
69.23%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.34SAR 8.77
$1.75LBP 156.5K
33.71%
Eggs
$2.91SAR 10.91
$3.08LBP 275.5K
-5.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.73SAR 25.23
$11.19LBP 1.0M
-39.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.15SAR 34.31
$9.58LBP 857.4K
-4.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.45SAR 46.70
$11.46LBP 1.0M
8.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.46SAR 9.22
$1.82LBP 162.7K
35.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73SAR 6.47
$1.45LBP 129.7K
19.31%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12SAR 7.97
$1.13LBP 101.3K
87.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.64SAR 6.13
$1.05LBP 93.6K
56.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.43SAR 5.38
$0.99LBP 88.8K
44.44%
Onion(1kg)
$1.68SAR 6.31
$0.99LBP 88.8K
69.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.69SAR 6.35
$0.83LBP 73.9K
103.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60SAR 2.23
$0.56LBP 50.5K
7.14%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.63SAR 9.84
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42SAR 5.32
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95SAR 7.30
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.55SAR 24.56
$2.52LBP 225.4K
159.92%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$10.81LBP 967.2K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.24LBP 111.1K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.14LBP 191.5K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89SAR 3.32
$1.99LBP 177.7K
-55.28%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.3SAR 230
$71.3LBP 6.4M
-14.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.25SAR 8.44
$5.04LBP 451.1K
-55.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.36SAR 5.11
$1.22LBP 109.5K
11.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.78SAR 25.44
$20.30LBP 1.8M
-66.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.65SAR 2.43
$0.89LBP 79.3K
-26.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4KSAR 80.1K
$34.4KLBP 3.1B
-37.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.2KSAR 86.9K
$27.3KLBP 2.4B
-15.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122SAR 457
$211LBP 18.9M
-42.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$35.22SAR 132
$37.77LBP 3.4M
-6.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.5SAR 302
$36.96LBP 3.3M
117.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$109SAR 408
$67.7LBP 6.1M
60.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.80SAR 138
$29.78LBP 2.7M
23.57%
Cinema Ticket
$17.50SAR 65.6
$8.02LBP 717.9K
118.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305SAR 1,145
$302LBP 27.1M
0.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,624SAR 28.6K
$4,498LBP 402.6M
69.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.0SAR 240
$69.8LBP 6.2M
-8.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.5SAR 261
$44.24LBP 4.0M
57.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.9SAR 367
$122LBP 10.9M
-19.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.0SAR 300
$93.0LBP 8.3M
-14.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$432SAR 1,621
$786LBP 70.3M
-44.98%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$393SAR 1,472
$370LBP 33.1M
6.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,035SAR 3,881
$1,970LBP 176.3M
-47.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$801SAR 3,005
$975LBP 87.3M
-17.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,469SAR 9,261
$3,789LBP 339.1M
-34.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,461SAR 5,480
$1,885LBP 168.7M
-22.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,921SAR 7,202
$639LBP 57.2M
200.49%
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: April 22, 2026
Last update for Beirut: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Al Khobar and $786 in Beirut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Al Khobar pays 200% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $54 in Al Khobar vs $61 in Beirut for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $216 vs $235 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 4% 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 Beirut?
Al Khobar pays 200% more on average, 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 vs Beirut?
Rent for a central apartment: $432 in Al Khobar versus $786 in Beirut. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Al Khobar vs Beirut?
A monthly transit pass in Al Khobar runs roughly 16% 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 Beirut?
Childcare runs $305 in Al Khobar versus $302 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 Beirut?
At $1,363 in Al Khobar versus $1,413 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 4% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.