Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Beirut and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Beirut: $1,666 a month against $2,223 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $6,700 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Lisbon outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Beirut
🇱🇧 Lebanon
$1,666
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,223
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Beirut and in Lisbon

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 Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,666 in Beirut versus $2,223 in Lisbon.

  • Beirut $1,666
  • Lisbon $2,223

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,656 in Beirut versus $3,271 in Lisbon.

  • Beirut $2,656
  • Lisbon $3,271

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,646 in Beirut versus $4,319 in Lisbon.

  • Beirut $3,646
  • Lisbon $4,319

Living in Beirut costs roughly 25% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Beirut 23% above, Lisbon 65% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beirut
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.20 LBP 1.1M
$16.50 €14.67
-26.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$69.7 LBP 6.2M
$61.3 €54.5
13.86%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.10 LBP 903.6K
$11.27 €10.02
-10.38%
Cappuccino
$4.48 LBP 400.8K
$3.06 €2.72
46.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 LBP 202.4K
$2.26 €2.01
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 LBP 79.8K
$1.73 €1.54
-48.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.03 LBP 450.1K
$3.39 €3.02
48.38%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.79 LBP 428.8K
$3.40 €3.02
40.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beirut
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.92 LBP 172.1K
$1.12 €1.00
71.43%
White Bread (500g)
$0.86 LBP 76.8K
$1.86 €1.65
-53.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.31 LBP 207.2K
$1.53 €1.36
50.98%
Eggs
$3.63 LBP 324.6K
$3.96 €3.53
-8.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.19 LBP 1.0M
$12.76 €11.35
-12.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.40 LBP 930.8K
$7.90 €7.02
31.65%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.04 LBP 1.3M
$16.97 €15.09
-11.37%
Apples (1kg)
$3.15 LBP 281.5K
$2.27 €2.02
38.77%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 LBP 152.9K
$1.75 €1.55
-2.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.62 LBP 144.6K
$1.85 €1.64
-12.43%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.48 LBP 132.2K
$2.57 €2.28
-42.41%
Potato (1kg)
$1.21 LBP 108.6K
$1.86 €1.65
-34.95%
Onion (1kg)
$1.61 LBP 144.1K
$2.02 €1.80
-20.30%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.16 LBP 103.9K
$1.44 €1.28
-19.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.72 LBP 64.7K
$0.82 €0.73
-12.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.02 LBP 270.2K
$6.56 €5.83
-53.96%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.14 LBP 997.3K
$5.62 €5.00
98.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 LBP 118.3K
$1.28 €1.14
3.13%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.58 LBP 231.0K
$2.07 €1.84
24.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Beirut
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.28 LBP 204.1K
$2.35 €2.09
-2.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 LBP 7.0M
$44.18 €39.29
76.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.91 LBP 439.2K
$3.99 €3.55
23.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.26 LBP 202.3K
$1.09 €0.97
107.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.59 LBP 2.0M
$16.64 €14.80
35.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 LBP 96.8K
$2.28 €2.03
-52.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$53.2K LBP 4.8B
$33.7K €30.0K
57.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.3K LBP 2.9B
$39.3K €34.9K
-17.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beirut
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$232 LBP 20.7M
$167 €149
38.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.83 LBP 2.0M
$18.80 €16.72
16.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.27 LBP 3.4M
$33.09 €29.43
15.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beirut
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$83.5 LBP 7.5M
$46.01 €40.92
81.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$34.39 LBP 3.1M
$19.19 €17.07
79.21%
Cinema Ticket
$9.91 LBP 887.2K
$9.84 €8.75
0.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beirut
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$683 LBP 61.1M
$677 €602
0.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K LBP 969.2M
$16.9K €15.0K
-36.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beirut
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.3 LBP 6.1M
$101 €90.0
-32.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.77 LBP 4.5M
$45.76 €40.70
8.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$138 LBP 12.3M
$100.0 €88.9
37.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 LBP 10.7M
$123 €109
-3.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beirut
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$944 LBP 84.5M
$1,614 €1,435
-41.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$493 LBP 44.2M
$1,197 €1,065
-58.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,191 LBP 196.1M
$2,862 €2,545
-23.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,053 LBP 94.3M
$1,990 €1,770
-47.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,042 LBP 361.7M
$7,577 €6,739
-46.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,848 LBP 165.4M
$4,307 €3,831
-57.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beirut
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$698 LBP 62.5M
$1,588 €1,412
-56.04%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11
3.85
185.71%

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

Last update for Beirut: October 12, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Beirut
$493
Lisbon
$1.2K 143% $704
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beirut
$292
Lisbon
$219 24.9% $73
Groceries & Markets
Beirut
$276
Lisbon
$269 2.5% $6.9
Eating Out
Beirut
$229
Lisbon
$242 5.8% $13
Clothing & Footwear
Beirut
$169
Lisbon
$166 1.3% $2.2
Getting Around
Beirut
$103
Lisbon
$63 39% $40
Sport & Entertainment
Beirut
$103
Lisbon
$66 36.4% $38

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $944 in Beirut and $1,614 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 127% 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 $61.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $276 vs $269 per month, with Lisbon cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇱🇧 Beirut
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
17:56 5:56 PM
15:56 3:56 PM
2 h behind Beirut
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,916,100 Capital
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to LBP – Lebanese Pound Converter

Lebanese Pound exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 89,500 LBP (100,000 LBP = 1.12 USD). 1 EUR = 100,630 LBP (1,000,000 LBP = 9.94 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Beirut Lisbon 4,000 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Beirut
  • Lisbon

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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lisbon cheaper than Beirut?
Beirut is cheaper overall, especially in eating out. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Beirut or Lisbon?
On paper, salaries run 127% lower in Lisbon. 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 Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $944 in Beirut versus $1,614 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Beirut and in Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $1,666 per month in Beirut versus $2,223 in Lisbon – a 33% 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 76% less than in Lisbon. 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 Lisbon?
At $1,666 in Beirut versus $2,223 in Lisbon, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Beirut but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Beirut the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Beirut or Lisbon more family-friendly?
For families, Beirut is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Lisbon, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Beirut or Lisbon?
Safety-wise, Beirut and Lisbon 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 33% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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