Cost of Living Comparison Between Baalbek and BeirutCost of Living Comparison Between Baalbek and Beirut
Monthly Cost of Living
😐A single person spends $1,498 per month in Baalbek vs $1,437 in Beirut, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,962 per month in Baalbek vs $2,353 in Beirut, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,426 per month in Baalbek vs $3,269 in Beirut, rent included.
😐Baalbek costs about 4% more than Beirut, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Baalbek and Beirut sit above the global median – Baalbek by 12%, Beirut by 7%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Baalbek
Beirut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.95LBP 979.7K
$10.76LBP 963.0K
1.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.1LBP 5.5M
$59.7LBP 5.3M
2.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.05LBP 720.6K
$8.04LBP 720.0K
0.12%
Cappuccino
$3.32LBP 296.8K
$3.27LBP 292.4K
1.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63LBP 146.2K
$1.58LBP 141.4K
3.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92LBP 81.9K
$0.92LBP 82.4K
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.41LBP 304.8K
$3.45LBP 308.9K
-1.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.92LBP 440.5K
$5.06LBP 453.3K
-2.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Baalbek
Beirut
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.76LBP 157.8K
$1.79LBP 160.5K
-1.68%
White Bread(500g)
$0.86LBP 76.6K
$0.85LBP 76.5K
1.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82LBP 162.9K
$1.82LBP 163.3K
-
Eggs
$3.08LBP 275.4K
$3.19LBP 285.4K
-3.45%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.42LBP 1.0M
$11.51LBP 1.0M
-0.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.30LBP 832.6K
$9.60LBP 859.6K
-3.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.55LBP 1.0M
$11.36LBP 1.0M
1.67%
Apples(1kg)
$1.80LBP 160.9K
$1.73LBP 154.6K
4.05%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45LBP 129.8K
$1.45LBP 129.4K
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.14LBP 102.3K
$1.15LBP 103.0K
-0.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.04LBP 93.5K
$1.08LBP 96.9K
-3.70%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94LBP 84.5K
$0.99LBP 88.2K
-5.05%
Onion(1kg)
$1.03LBP 92.4K
$1.04LBP 92.8K
-0.96%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.86LBP 77.2K
$0.81LBP 72.8K
6.17%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52LBP 46.5K
$0.52LBP 46.7K
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53LBP 226.1K
$2.46LBP 220.6K
2.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.91LBP 886.7K
$9.95LBP 890.6K
-0.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29LBP 115.2K
$1.24LBP 110.6K
4.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21LBP 197.6K
$2.20LBP 197.3K
0.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Baalbek
Beirut
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.96LBP 175.4K
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$71.1LBP 6.4M
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.93LBP 441.5K
$4.94LBP 442.2K
-0.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.22LBP 109.4K
$1.28LBP 114.5K
-4.69%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.25LBP 1.8M
$19.91LBP 1.8M
1.71%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.90LBP 80.8K
$0.90LBP 80.9K
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9KLBP 3.1B
$34.8KLBP 3.1B
0.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4KLBP 2.5B
$27.6KLBP 2.5B
-0.57%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Baalbek
Beirut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$213LBP 19.1M
$218LBP 19.5M
-2.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.18LBP 3.3M
$37.46LBP 3.4M
-0.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.69LBP 3.4M
$37.30LBP 3.3M
1.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Baalbek
Beirut
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$68.4LBP 6.1M
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.84LBP 2.7M
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.99LBP 715.0K
$8.13LBP 727.3K
-1.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Baalbek
Beirut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$297LBP 26.6M
$297LBP 26.6M
-0.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,369LBP 391.0M
$4,404LBP 394.1M
-0.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Baalbek
Beirut
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.8LBP 6.4M
$71.6LBP 6.4M
0.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.24LBP 4.0M
$44.80LBP 4.0M
-1.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122LBP 10.9M
$120LBP 10.8M
1.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.4LBP 8.4M
$95.5LBP 8.6M
-1.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Baalbek
Beirut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$434LBP 38.8M
$809LBP 72.4M
-46.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$577LBP 51.6M
$370LBP 33.1M
55.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,363LBP 122.0M
$2,023LBP 181.0M
-32.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$533LBP 47.7M
$950LBP 85.0M
-43.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,685LBP 329.8M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,978LBP 177.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Baalbek
Beirut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$651LBP 58.2M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.16
11.16
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Baalbek: May 30, 2026
Last update for Beirut: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $434 in Baalbek versus $809 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 $61.0 in Baalbek versus $60.0 in Beirut. Groceries tell a different story – $234 in Baalbek vs $236 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 Beirut compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,498 in Baalbek, $1,437 in Beirut – roughly 4% apart. Baalbek 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 $2,247 per month in Baalbek and $2,155 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 Beirut, 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 $61.0 in Baalbek and $60.0 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?
Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Baalbek – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Beirut, where all-in costs run around $1,437, than in Baalbek at $1,498. In Beirut it covers expenses comfortably, while in Baalbek it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Baalbek or Beirut?
Families tend to lean toward Beirut – 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 Beirut. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Baalbek makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.