Cost of Living Comparison Between Baabda and Beirut Cost of Living Comparison Between Baabda and Beirut

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $994 in Baabda versus $1,682 in Beirut.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Baabda versus $2,685 in Beirut.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,211 in Baabda versus $3,688 in Beirut.

Living in Baabda costs roughly 41% less than in Beirut, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Baabda is 28% below, Beirut is 22% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baabda
Beirut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.95 LBP 1.1M
$12.10 LBP 1.1M
-1.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.4 LBP 5.7M
$64.8 LBP 5.8M
-2.13%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.05 LBP 899.2K
$9.83 LBP 879.6K
2.24%
Cappuccino
$4.63 LBP 414.3K
$4.77 LBP 426.8K
-2.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 LBP 207.0K
$2.38 LBP 212.6K
-2.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 LBP 76.8K
$0.83 LBP 74.5K
3.61%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.90 LBP 438.3K
$5.10 LBP 456.4K
-3.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.09 LBP 455.7K
$5.02 LBP 449.5K
1.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baabda
Beirut
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.96 LBP 175.0K
$1.97 LBP 176.0K
-0.51%
White Bread (500g)
$0.85 LBP 75.8K
$0.82 LBP 73.8K
3.66%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 LBP 194.0K
$2.24 LBP 200.8K
-3.13%
Eggs
$3.49 LBP 312.7K
$3.60 LBP 321.8K
-3.06%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.30 LBP 1.2M
$13.60 LBP 1.2M
-2.21%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.74 LBP 961.0K
$10.73 LBP 960.6K
0.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.08 LBP 1.3M
$13.89 LBP 1.2M
1.37%
Apples (1kg)
$3.12 LBP 279.2K
$3.15 LBP 281.7K
-0.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 LBP 153.7K
$1.72 LBP 153.8K
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.66 LBP 148.7K
$1.64 LBP 146.7K
1.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 LBP 138.1K
$1.48 LBP 132.8K
4.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 LBP 125.6K
$1.35 LBP 120.9K
3.70%
Onion (1kg)
$1.65 LBP 147.3K
$1.65 LBP 148.1K
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 LBP 104.8K
$1.16 LBP 103.7K
0.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 LBP 64.6K
$0.69 LBP 62.2K
4.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92 LBP 261.2K
$3.03 LBP 271.1K
-3.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.13 LBP 907.1K
$10.18 LBP 911.1K
-0.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 LBP 114.7K
$1.27 LBP 113.9K
0.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 LBP 229.5K
$2.59 LBP 231.4K
-1.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Baabda
Beirut
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.24 LBP 200.4K
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$78.1 LBP 7.0M
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.14 LBP 460.5K
$4.98 LBP 445.6K
3.21%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.23 LBP 199.2K
$2.24 LBP 200.1K
-0.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.28 LBP 2.0M
$22.48 LBP 2.0M
-0.89%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 LBP 93.2K
$1.00 LBP 89.8K
4.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$54.4K LBP 4.9B
$52.7K LBP 4.7B
3.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K LBP 2.9B
$32.8K LBP 2.9B
-0.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baabda
Beirut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$230 LBP 20.6M
$226 LBP 20.2M
2.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.49 LBP 2.1M
$23.30 LBP 2.1M
0.82%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.89 LBP 3.4M
$37.27 LBP 3.3M
1.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baabda
Beirut
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$82.7 LBP 7.4M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$33.94 LBP 3.0M
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.98 LBP 893.3K
$9.99 LBP 894.0K
-0.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baabda
Beirut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$681 LBP 61.0M
$675 LBP 60.4M
1.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K LBP 962.2M
$10.6K LBP 945.1M
1.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baabda
Beirut
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.0 LBP 6.1M
$67.9 LBP 6.1M
0.16%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.11 LBP 4.4M
$50.2 LBP 4.5M
-2.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 LBP 12.4M
$135 LBP 12.1M
2.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$121 LBP 10.8M
$121 LBP 10.8M
-0.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baabda
Beirut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$943 LBP 84.4M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$503 LBP 45.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,169 LBP 194.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,081 LBP 96.7M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,995 LBP 357.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,813 LBP 162.3M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baabda
Beirut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$735 LBP 65.8M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11
11
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Baabda: August 31, 2026

Last update for Beirut: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $63.0 in Baabda vs $65.0 in Beirut for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $279 vs $280 per month, with Baabda 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
Baabda vs Beirut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Baabda and in Beirut?
Baabda and Beirut differ by about 69% in total monthly costs ($994 vs $1,682 including rent). Baabda is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Baabda compared to Beirut?
You'd need roughly $1,490 in Baabda and $2,522 in Beirut to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Baabda and Beirut?
Childcare runs $681 in Baabda versus $675 in Beirut. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Baabda – a meal for two runs $63.0 versus $65.0 in Beirut. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $994 in Baabda versus $1,682 in Beirut, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Baabda but tight or insufficient in Beirut. The gap between the two cities makes Baabda the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Baabda and 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.
Where should expats move: Baabda or Beirut?
Expats usually find Baabda gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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