🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,346 in Al Khobar versus $1,415 in Beirut.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,152 in Al Khobar versus $2,305 in Beirut.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,958 in Al Khobar versus $3,194 in Beirut.
🙂Living in Al Khobar costs roughly 5% less than in Beirut, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Al Khobar0% above, Beirut5% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.67SAR 25.04
$10.75LBP 962.3K
-37.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.7SAR 198
$59.1LBP 5.3M
-10.87%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.04SAR 30.19
$7.83LBP 700.4K
2.68%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.04SAR 7.67
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.69SAR 10.09
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.34SAR 16.31
$3.25LBP 290.8K
33.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94SAR 3.53
$1.57LBP 140.2K
-40.13%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51SAR 1.92
$0.91LBP 81.8K
-43.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.58LBP 320.0K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$5.12LBP 458.2K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70SAR 6.39
$1.78LBP 159.2K
-4.49%
White Bread(500g)
$1.40SAR 5.25
$0.84LBP 75.0K
66.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.30SAR 8.64
$1.83LBP 164.1K
25.68%
Eggs
$2.92SAR 10.97
$3.15LBP 282.1K
-7.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.70SAR 25.16
$11.13LBP 996.1K
-39.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.28SAR 34.82
$9.46LBP 846.6K
-1.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.58SAR 47.23
$11.56LBP 1.0M
8.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.49SAR 9.33
$1.75LBP 156.9K
42.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74SAR 6.54
$1.45LBP 129.6K
20.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.23SAR 8.38
$1.11LBP 99.1K
100.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.63SAR 6.10
$1.04LBP 93.5K
56.73%
Potato(1kg)
$1.42SAR 5.33
$0.98LBP 88.1K
44.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.72SAR 6.45
$1.04LBP 93.3K
65.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.71SAR 6.41
$0.84LBP 74.8K
103.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63SAR 2.35
$0.53LBP 47.2K
18.87%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.61SAR 9.80
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46SAR 5.50
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96SAR 7.35
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.81SAR 25.56
$2.46LBP 220.3K
176.83%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$9.84LBP 880.9K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.23LBP 110.0K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.13LBP 190.5K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.97SAR 3.63
$1.96LBP 175.2K
-50.51%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.2SAR 230
$71.8LBP 6.4M
-14.71%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.19SAR 8.21
$4.96LBP 444.1K
-55.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.30SAR 4.87
$1.21LBP 108.6K
7.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.56SAR 24.64
$19.91LBP 1.8M
-67.05%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.61SAR 2.29
$0.88LBP 78.5K
-30.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5KSAR 80.9K
$35.5KLBP 3.2B
-39.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.4KSAR 87.9K
$27.8KLBP 2.5B
-15.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$125SAR 468
$217LBP 19.4M
-42.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.88SAR 131
$37.94LBP 3.4M
-8.07%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.1SAR 305
$36.74LBP 3.3M
120.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$109SAR 410
$67.5LBP 6.0M
61.85%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.43SAR 137
$29.76LBP 2.7M
22.41%
Cinema Ticket
$17.66SAR 66.3
$7.91LBP 707.6K
123.26%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304SAR 1,140
$301LBP 27.0M
0.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,640SAR 28.7K
$4,365LBP 390.7M
75.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.5SAR 242
$69.9LBP 6.3M
-7.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.2SAR 260
$45.58LBP 4.1M
51.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.5SAR 374
$124LBP 11.1M
-19.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.1SAR 293
$94.0LBP 8.4M
-16.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$439SAR 1,648
$814LBP 72.8M
-46.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$405SAR 1,521
$368LBP 33.0M
9.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,020SAR 3,831
$1,959LBP 175.3M
-47.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$811SAR 3,044
$945LBP 84.6M
-14.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,399SAR 9,007
$3,731LBP 333.9M
-35.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,466SAR 5,504
$1,986LBP 177.7M
-26.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Khobar
Beirut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,861SAR 6,986
$670LBP 60.0M
177.74%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Beirut: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $439 in Al Khobar and $814 in Beirut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Al Khobar pays 178% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Al Khobar vs $59.0 in Beirut for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $218 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 5% 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 178% 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: $439 in Al Khobar versus $814 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 17% 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 $304 in Al Khobar versus $301 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 $1,346 in Al Khobar versus $1,415 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 5% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.