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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Beirut costs about 5% more than Baalbek, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beirut
Baalbek
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.19 LBP 1.1M
$12.04 LBP 1.1M
1.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5 LBP 5.7M
$64.2 LBP 5.7M
-1.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.15 LBP 908.8K
$9.89 LBP 885.0K
2.63%
Cappuccino
$4.74 LBP 424.0K
$4.75 LBP 425.5K
-0.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 LBP 204.9K
$2.30 LBP 205.5K
-0.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 LBP 80.0K
$0.89 LBP 79.9K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.87 LBP 436.0K
$5.03 LBP 450.3K
-3.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06 LBP 452.5K
$5.02 LBP 449.6K
0.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beirut
Baalbek
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 LBP 167.8K
$1.85 LBP 166.0K
1.08%
White Bread (500g)
$0.90 LBP 80.7K
$0.85 LBP 76.0K
5.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.21 LBP 198.0K
$2.17 LBP 194.0K
1.84%
Eggs
$3.52 LBP 315.3K
$3.50 LBP 312.9K
0.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.31 LBP 1.2M
$13.30 LBP 1.2M
0.08%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.62 LBP 950.6K
$10.39 LBP 930.1K
2.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.91 LBP 1.2M
$14.30 LBP 1.3M
-2.73%
Apples (1kg)
$2.97 LBP 265.7K
$2.99 LBP 267.5K
-0.67%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 LBP 153.0K
$1.72 LBP 154.1K
-0.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 LBP 150.8K
$1.67 LBP 149.2K
1.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.53 LBP 136.5K
$1.49 LBP 133.1K
2.68%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 LBP 124.6K
$1.34 LBP 119.8K
3.73%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 LBP 145.4K
$1.72 LBP 153.9K
-5.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 LBP 107.5K
$1.17 LBP 105.0K
2.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 LBP 60.5K
$0.72 LBP 64.5K
-5.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.02 LBP 269.9K
$2.93 LBP 262.1K
3.07%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.01 LBP 895.9K
$10.15 LBP 908.4K
-1.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 LBP 118.2K
$1.28 LBP 114.1K
3.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 LBP 229.1K
$2.61 LBP 233.2K
-1.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Beirut
Baalbek
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)
$4.99 LBP 446.4K
$4.92 LBP 440.2K
1.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.30 LBP 206.1K
$2.31 LBP 206.8K
-0.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.65 LBP 2.0M
$22.76 LBP 2.0M
-0.48%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 LBP 93.8K
$1.04 LBP 93.2K
0.96%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$53.2K LBP 4.8B
$54.2K LBP 4.8B
-1.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0K LBP 3.0B
$33.1K LBP 3.0B
-0.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beirut
Baalbek
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$230 LBP 20.6M
$228 LBP 20.4M
0.61%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.23 LBP 2.1M
$23.85 LBP 2.1M
-2.60%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.18 LBP 3.3M
$37.11 LBP 3.3M
0.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beirut
Baalbek
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$85.0 LBP 7.6M
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.36 LBP 3.1M
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.84 LBP 880.3K
$10.10 LBP 904.3K
-2.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beirut
Baalbek
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$676 LBP 60.5M
$675 LBP 60.4M
0.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K LBP 968.5M
$10.5K LBP 943.7M
2.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beirut
Baalbek
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.4 LBP 6.0M
$67.9 LBP 6.1M
-0.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.37 LBP 4.3M
$49.98 LBP 4.5M
-3.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 LBP 12.5M
$139 LBP 12.5M
-0.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 LBP 10.7M
$118 LBP 10.6M
0.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beirut
Baalbek
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$945 LBP 84.6M
$957 LBP 85.6M
-1.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$496 LBP 44.4M
$623 LBP 55.8M
-20.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,226 LBP 199.2M
$1,493 LBP 133.7M
49.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,057 LBP 94.6M
$1,223 LBP 109.4M
-13.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,918 LBP 350.7M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,871 LBP 167.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beirut
Baalbek
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 Beirut: September 13, 2026

Last update for Baalbek: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $945 in Beirut versus $957 in Baalbek. 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 $63.0 in Beirut versus $64.0 in Baalbek. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $277 vs $277 – making Beirut the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Beirut vs Baalbek: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Beirut and in Baalbek compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,699 in Beirut, $1,619 in Baalbek – roughly 5% apart. Beirut costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Beirut compared to Baalbek?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,549 per month in Beirut and $2,429 in Baalbek. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Beirut and Baalbek?
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 $63.0 in Beirut and $64.0 in Baalbek. 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: Beirut or Baalbek?
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 Beirut and Baalbek?
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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