🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,415 in Al Khobar versus $1,655 in Beirut.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,187 in Al Khobar versus $2,680 in Beirut.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,960 in Al Khobar versus $3,705 in Beirut.
🌍Living in Al Khobar costs roughly 15% less than in Beirut, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Al Khobar3% above, Beirut20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.69SAR 25.13
$12.16LBP 1.1M
-44.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.3SAR 223
$63.7LBP 5.7M
-6.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92SAR 29.73
$10.05LBP 899.8K
-21.19%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.59SAR 9.74
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70SAR 10.15
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.32SAR 16.21
$4.67LBP 417.8K
-7.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00SAR 3.74
$2.36LBP 210.9K
-57.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38SAR 1.42
$0.89LBP 79.4K
-57.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$4.98LBP 446.0K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.05LBP 451.9K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62SAR 6.08
$1.93LBP 172.6K
-16.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26SAR 4.75
$0.89LBP 79.6K
41.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.43SAR 9.13
$2.14LBP 192.0K
13.55%
Eggs
$2.40SAR 9.02
$3.65LBP 326.4K
-34.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.11SAR 26.72
$13.65LBP 1.2M
-47.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.25SAR 38.48
$10.78LBP 965.1K
-4.92%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.75SAR 44.13
$14.25LBP 1.3M
-17.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.78SAR 10.44
$3.08LBP 275.6K
-9.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72SAR 6.45
$1.70LBP 152.1K
1.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97SAR 7.42
$1.66LBP 148.8K
18.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.83SAR 6.87
$1.49LBP 133.1K
22.82%
Potato(1kg)
$1.35SAR 5.05
$1.36LBP 121.3K
-0.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63SAR 6.13
$1.66LBP 148.5K
-1.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.68SAR 6.30
$1.17LBP 104.7K
43.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55SAR 2.05
$0.74LBP 66.2K
-25.68%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.60SAR 9.75
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59SAR 5.96
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81SAR 6.79
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54SAR 24.56
$3.03LBP 271.5K
115.84%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$9.80LBP 877.2K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.31LBP 117.4K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.49LBP 222.5K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.74SAR 2.79
$2.24LBP 200.2K
-66.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.6SAR 250
$77.1LBP 6.9M
-13.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.40SAR 12.78
$4.88LBP 436.8K
-30.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.62SAR 9.83
$2.30LBP 206.3K
13.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.75SAR 25.36
$22.46LBP 2.0M
-69.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60SAR 2.25
$1.00LBP 89.9K
-40.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$67.2KSAR 252.4K
$52.5KLBP 4.7B
27.94%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3KSAR 83.7K
$32.5KLBP 2.9B
-31.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$100SAR 376
$227LBP 20.4M
-55.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.10SAR 121
$23.70LBP 2.1M
35.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.3SAR 256
$38.37LBP 3.4M
77.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$81.6SAR 306
$84.7LBP 7.6M
-3.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.00SAR 135
$34.38LBP 3.1M
4.71%
Cinema Ticket
$15.59SAR 58.6
$10.15LBP 908.6K
53.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$590SAR 2,216
$680LBP 60.9M
-13.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,568SAR 32.2K
$10.8KLBP 967.7M
-20.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4SAR 234
$68.6LBP 6.1M
-9.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$83.5SAR 313
$49.01LBP 4.4M
70.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7SAR 359
$138LBP 12.4M
-30.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4SAR 343
$121LBP 10.8M
-24.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$645SAR 2,423
$929LBP 83.1M
-30.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$496SAR 1,864
$504LBP 45.1M
-1.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,188SAR 4,463
$2,255LBP 201.8M
-47.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$876SAR 3,289
$1,058LBP 94.7M
-17.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,382SAR 8,944
$3,902LBP 349.3M
-38.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,464SAR 5,498
$1,805LBP 161.6M
-18.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,812SAR 6,806
$716LBP 64.1M
153.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.88
11
-46.55%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al Khobar: September 6, 2026
Last update for Beirut: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $645 in Al Khobar and $929 in Beirut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Al Khobar pays 153% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $59.0 in Al Khobar vs $64.0 in Beirut for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $218 vs $281 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 17% 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 153% 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: $645 in Al Khobar versus $929 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 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 in Beirut?
Childcare runs $590 in Al Khobar versus $680 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 $1,415 in Al Khobar versus $1,655 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 17% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.