Cost of Living Comparison Between Baalbek and Beirut Cost of Living Comparison Between Baalbek and Beirut

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,619 per month in Baalbek vs $1,699 in Beirut, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,542 per month in Baalbek vs $2,699 in Beirut, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,464 per month in Baalbek vs $3,698 in Beirut, rent included.

Baalbek is about 5% cheaper than Beirut, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Baalbek and Beirut sit above the global median – Baalbek by 18%, Beirut by 24%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baalbek
Beirut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.04 LBP 1.1M
$12.19 LBP 1.1M
-1.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.2 LBP 5.7M
$63.5 LBP 5.7M
1.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.89 LBP 885.0K
$10.15 LBP 908.8K
-2.56%
Cappuccino
$4.75 LBP 425.5K
$4.74 LBP 424.0K
0.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 LBP 205.5K
$2.29 LBP 204.9K
0.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 LBP 79.9K
$0.89 LBP 80.0K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.03 LBP 450.3K
$4.87 LBP 436.0K
3.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.02 LBP 449.6K
$5.06 LBP 452.5K
-0.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baalbek
Beirut
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.85 LBP 166.0K
$1.87 LBP 167.8K
-1.07%
White Bread (500g)
$0.85 LBP 76.0K
$0.90 LBP 80.7K
-5.56%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.17 LBP 194.0K
$2.21 LBP 198.0K
-1.81%
Eggs
$3.50 LBP 312.9K
$3.52 LBP 315.3K
-0.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.30 LBP 1.2M
$13.31 LBP 1.2M
-0.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.39 LBP 930.1K
$10.62 LBP 950.6K
-2.17%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.30 LBP 1.3M
$13.91 LBP 1.2M
2.80%
Apples (1kg)
$2.99 LBP 267.5K
$2.97 LBP 265.7K
0.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 LBP 154.1K
$1.71 LBP 153.0K
0.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.67 LBP 149.2K
$1.69 LBP 150.8K
-1.18%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 LBP 133.1K
$1.53 LBP 136.5K
-2.61%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 LBP 119.8K
$1.39 LBP 124.6K
-3.60%
Onion (1kg)
$1.72 LBP 153.9K
$1.62 LBP 145.4K
6.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 LBP 105.0K
$1.20 LBP 107.5K
-2.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 LBP 64.5K
$0.68 LBP 60.5K
5.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.93 LBP 262.1K
$3.02 LBP 269.9K
-2.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.15 LBP 908.4K
$10.01 LBP 895.9K
1.40%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 LBP 114.1K
$1.32 LBP 118.2K
-3.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.61 LBP 233.2K
$2.56 LBP 229.1K
1.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Baalbek
Beirut
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.22 LBP 198.7K
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$76.1 LBP 6.8M
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.92 LBP 440.2K
$4.99 LBP 446.4K
-1.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.31 LBP 206.8K
$2.30 LBP 206.1K
0.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.76 LBP 2.0M
$22.65 LBP 2.0M
0.49%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.04 LBP 93.2K
$1.05 LBP 93.8K
-0.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$54.2K LBP 4.8B
$53.2K LBP 4.8B
1.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K LBP 3.0B
$33.0K LBP 3.0B
0.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baalbek
Beirut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$228 LBP 20.4M
$230 LBP 20.6M
-0.60%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.85 LBP 2.1M
$23.23 LBP 2.1M
2.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.11 LBP 3.3M
$37.18 LBP 3.3M
-0.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baalbek
Beirut
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$85.0 LBP 7.6M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.36 LBP 3.1M
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.10 LBP 904.3K
$9.84 LBP 880.3K
2.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baalbek
Beirut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$675 LBP 60.4M
$676 LBP 60.5M
-0.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K LBP 943.7M
$10.8K LBP 968.5M
-2.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baalbek
Beirut
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.9 LBP 6.1M
$67.4 LBP 6.0M
0.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.98 LBP 4.5M
$48.37 LBP 4.3M
3.33%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 LBP 12.5M
$139 LBP 12.5M
0.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118 LBP 10.6M
$119 LBP 10.7M
-0.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baalbek
Beirut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$957 LBP 85.6M
$945 LBP 84.6M
1.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$623 LBP 55.8M
$496 LBP 44.4M
25.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,493 LBP 133.7M
$2,226 LBP 199.2M
-32.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,223 LBP 109.4M
$1,057 LBP 94.6M
15.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,918 LBP 350.7M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,871 LBP 167.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baalbek
Beirut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$716 LBP 64.1M
-
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 Baalbek: September 12, 2026

Last update for Beirut: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $957 in Baalbek versus $945 in Beirut. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Baalbek versus $63.0 in Beirut. Groceries tell a different story – $277 in Baalbek vs $277 in Beirut – so Baalbek wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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
Baalbek vs Beirut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Baalbek and in Beirut compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,619 in Baalbek, $1,699 in Beirut – roughly 5% apart. Beirut costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Baalbek compared to Beirut?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,429 per month in Baalbek and $2,549 in Beirut. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Baalbek and Beirut?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Baalbek, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Baalbek and $63.0 in Beirut. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 0% more in Beirut, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Baalbek, where all-in costs run around $1,619, than in Beirut at $1,699. In Baalbek it covers expenses comfortably, while in Beirut it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Baalbek or Beirut?
Families tend to lean toward Baalbek – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Baalbek and Beirut?
If budget matters most, go with Baalbek. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Beirut makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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