Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Beirut and Benalmadena

For one person, living is cheaper in Beirut: $1,666 a month against $1,832 in Benalmadena, rent and utilities included – about $2,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Benalmadena outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Beirut
🇱🇧 Lebanon
$1,666
/mo nomad
Benalmadena
🇪🇸 Spain
$1,832
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Beirut and in Benalmadena

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Beirut and in Benalmadena actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,666 in Beirut versus $1,832 in Benalmadena.

  • Beirut $1,666
  • Benalmadena $1,832

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,656 in Beirut versus $2,761 in Benalmadena.

  • Beirut $2,656
  • Benalmadena $2,761

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,646 in Beirut versus $3,690 in Benalmadena.

  • Beirut $3,646
  • Benalmadena $3,690

Living in Beirut costs roughly 9% less than in Benalmadena, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Beirut 23% above, Benalmadena 36% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beirut
Benalmadena
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.20 LBP 1.1M
$14.75 €13.12
-17.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7 LBP 6.2M
$68.0 €60.5
2.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.10 LBP 903.6K
$9.36 €8.33
7.91%
Cappuccino
$4.48 LBP 400.8K
$2.18 €1.94
105.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 LBP 202.4K
$2.10 €1.87
7.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 LBP 79.8K
$2.08 €1.85
-57.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.03 LBP 450.1K
$3.28 €2.92
53.35%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.79 LBP 428.8K
$4.44 €3.95
7.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beirut
Benalmadena
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 LBP 172.1K
$1.18 €1.05
62.71%
White Bread (500g)
$0.86 LBP 76.8K
$1.62 €1.44
-46.91%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.31 LBP 207.2K
$1.80 €1.60
28.33%
Eggs
$3.63 LBP 324.6K
$3.49 €3.10
4.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.19 LBP 1.0M
$15.49 €13.78
-27.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.40 LBP 930.8K
$8.27 €7.36
25.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.04 LBP 1.3M
$16.01 €14.24
-6.06%
Apples (1kg)
$3.15 LBP 281.5K
$2.49 €2.22
26.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 LBP 152.9K
$1.94 €1.73
-11.86%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 LBP 144.6K
$1.77 €1.58
-8.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.48 LBP 132.2K
$2.58 €2.29
-42.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.21 LBP 108.6K
$1.85 €1.64
-34.59%
Onion (1kg)
$1.61 LBP 144.1K
$2.10 €1.87
-23.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.16 LBP 103.9K
$1.49 €1.33
-22.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 LBP 64.7K
$0.76 €0.68
-5.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.02 LBP 270.2K
$6.68 €5.94
-54.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.14 LBP 997.3K
$6.65 €5.91
67.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 LBP 118.3K
$1.18 €1.05
11.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 LBP 231.0K
$1.91 €1.70
35.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Beirut
Benalmadena
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 LBP 204.1K
$1.90 €1.69
20.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 LBP 7.0M
$31.58 €28.09
146.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.91 LBP 439.2K
$1.84 €1.64
166.85%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.26 LBP 202.3K
$1.22 €1.09
85.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.59 LBP 2.0M
$21.97 €19.54
2.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 LBP 96.8K
$1.79 €1.59
-39.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$53.2K LBP 4.8B
$34.6K €30.8K
53.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.3K LBP 2.9B
$29.5K €26.2K
9.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beirut
Benalmadena
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$232 LBP 20.7M
$140 €124
66.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.83 LBP 2.0M
$12.81 €11.39
70.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.27 LBP 3.4M
$32.18 €28.63
18.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beirut
Benalmadena
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$83.5 LBP 7.5M
$48.00 €42.69
74.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.39 LBP 3.1M
$16.10 €14.32
113.60%
Cinema Ticket
$9.91 LBP 887.2K
$7.91 €7.04
25.28%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beirut
Benalmadena
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$683 LBP 61.1M
$557 €496
22.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K LBP 969.2M
$9,462 €8,417
14.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beirut
Benalmadena
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.3 LBP 6.1M
$88.8 €79.0
-23.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.77 LBP 4.5M
$39.00 €34.69
27.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 LBP 12.3M
$95.5 €85.0
44.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 LBP 10.7M
$111 €98.8
7.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beirut
Benalmadena
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$944 LBP 84.5M
$972 €864
-2.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$493 LBP 44.2M
$895 €796
-44.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,191 LBP 196.1M
$1,693 €1,506
29.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,053 LBP 94.3M
$1,486 €1,322
-29.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,042 LBP 361.7M
$4,159 €3,699
-2.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,848 LBP 165.4M
$3,495 €3,109
-47.14%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beirut
Benalmadena
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$698 LBP 62.5M
$3,931 €3,497
-82.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11
3.29
234.35%

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

Last update for Beirut: October 12, 2026

Last update for Benalmadena: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Beirut
$493
Benalmadena
$895 81.4% $402
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beirut
$292
Benalmadena
$185 36.8% $107
Groceries & Markets
Beirut
$276
Benalmadena
$277 0.2% $0.6
Eating Out
Beirut
$229
Benalmadena
$214 6.4% $15
Clothing & Footwear
Beirut
$169
Benalmadena
$150 10.8% $18
Getting Around
Beirut
$103
Benalmadena
$47 54.3% $56
Sport & Entertainment
Beirut
$103
Benalmadena
$64 38.2% $40

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $944 in Beirut and $972 in Benalmadena. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Benalmadena pays 463% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $70.0 in Beirut vs $68.0 in Benalmadena. Groceries flip the comparison at $276 vs $277, with Beirut cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇱🇧 Beirut
🇪🇸 Benalmadena
🕒 Local time
10:06 10:06 AM
09:06 9:06 AM
1 h behind Beirut
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,916,100 Capital
75,801
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to LBP – Lebanese Pound Converter

Lebanese Pound exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 89,500 LBP (100,000 LBP = 1.12 USD). 1 EUR = 100,618 LBP (1,000,000 LBP = 9.94 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 18, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Beirut Benalmadena 3,630 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Beirut
  • Benalmadena

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Benalmadena: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Benalmadena cheaper than Beirut?
Beirut is cheaper overall, especially in groceries. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Beirut or Benalmadena?
On paper, salaries run 463% lower in Benalmadena. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Beirut and Benalmadena?
Rent for a central apartment: $944 in Beirut versus $972 in Benalmadena. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Beirut and in Benalmadena?
All in, you'll spend $1,666 per month in Beirut versus $1,832 in Benalmadena – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Beirut runs roughly 147% less than in Benalmadena. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Beirut or in Benalmadena?
At $1,666 in Beirut versus $1,832 in Benalmadena, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Beirut but tight or insufficient in Benalmadena. The gap between the two cities makes Beirut the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Beirut or Benalmadena more family-friendly?
For families, Beirut is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Benalmadena, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Beirut or Benalmadena?
Safety-wise, Beirut and Benalmadena 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Beirut gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Benalmadena. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Beirut vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?