🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,414 in Beirut versus $1,585 in Santander.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,339 in Beirut versus $2,473 in Santander.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,265 in Beirut versus $3,362 in Santander.
🙂Living in Beirut costs roughly 11% less than in Santander, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Beirut6% above, Santander18% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Beirut
Santander
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.65LBP 952.9K
$15.12€12.95
-29.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.7LBP 5.4M
$45.51€38.95
33.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.99LBP 715.1K
$11.42€9.78
-30.04%
Cappuccino
$3.31LBP 296.1K
$2.31€1.98
43.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57LBP 140.3K
$2.26€1.93
-30.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87LBP 78.1K
$1.95€1.67
-55.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.40LBP 304.2K
$3.51€3.01
-3.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.95LBP 443.0K
$3.84€3.29
28.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Beirut
Santander
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.78LBP 159.5K
$1.21€1.04
47.11%
White Bread(500g)
$0.79LBP 70.9K
$1.40€1.20
-43.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.75LBP 157.0K
$2.35€2.01
-25.53%
Eggs
$3.21LBP 287.7K
$3.03€2.59
5.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.16LBP 998.8K
$13.06€11.18
-14.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.27LBP 830.0K
$7.11€6.09
30.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.64LBP 1.0M
$13.96€11.95
-16.62%
Apples(1kg)
$1.80LBP 161.4K
$2.53€2.17
-28.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45LBP 130.1K
$2.25€1.92
-35.56%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.10LBP 98.8K
$3.38€2.89
-67.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.09LBP 97.6K
$3.12€2.67
-65.06%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02LBP 91.1K
$2.01€1.72
-49.25%
Onion(1kg)
$1.03LBP 92.2K
$2.67€2.28
-61.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.82LBP 73.5K
$1.01€0.87
-18.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52LBP 46.8K
$0.93€0.80
-44.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.55LBP 228.6K
$6.77€5.80
-62.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.22LBP 1.0M
$6.40€5.47
75.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28LBP 114.5K
$1.55€1.32
-17.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20LBP 196.5K
$2.07€1.77
6.28%
🚌 Getting Around
Beirut
Santander
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.02LBP 181.1K
$1.49€1.27
35.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$72.0LBP 6.4M
$34.35€29.41
109.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.93LBP 441.2K
$3.98€3.40
23.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.23LBP 110.4K
$1.25€1.07
-1.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.90LBP 1.8M
$25.23€21.60
-21.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.95LBP 84.8K
$1.72€1.47
-44.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1KLBP 3.1B
$38.3K€32.7K
-8.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KLBP 2.5B
$30.7K€26.3K
-8.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Beirut
Santander
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$218LBP 19.5M
$184€157
18.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.60LBP 3.4M
$23.07€19.75
62.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.77LBP 3.4M
$35.70€30.56
5.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Beirut
Santander
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.2LBP 6.1M
$45.61€39.04
49.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.88LBP 2.6M
$19.62€16.79
47.20%
Cinema Ticket
$8.15LBP 729.0K
$9.36€8.02
-12.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Beirut
Santander
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$307LBP 27.5M
$454€389
-32.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,498LBP 402.6M
$9,097€7,787
-50.56%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Beirut
Santander
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.3LBP 6.3M
$115€98.4
-38.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.04LBP 4.0M
$36.15€30.94
24.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121LBP 10.8M
$89.1€76.2
35.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.6LBP 8.5M
$116€98.9
-18.16%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Beirut
Santander
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$785LBP 70.2M
$866€741
-9.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$364LBP 32.5M
$540€463
-32.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,963LBP 175.7M
$1,721€1,474
14.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$959LBP 85.8M
$1,193€1,021
-19.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,810LBP 341.0M
$3,355€2,872
13.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,859LBP 166.3M
$2,757€2,360
-32.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Beirut
Santander
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$634LBP 56.7M
$1,966€1,683
-67.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.16
3.5
218.86%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Beirut: April 26, 2026
Last update for Santander: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $785 in Beirut and $866 in Santander. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Santander pays 210% 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: $61.0 in Beirut vs $46.00 in Santander. Groceries flip the comparison at $236 vs $271, with Beirut cheaper for home cooking.
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 Santander: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Santander cheaper than Beirut?
Beirut is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear. The 12% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Beirut or Santander?
On paper, Santander earns 210% less. 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 Santander?
Rent for a central apartment: $785 in Beirut versus $866 in Santander. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Beirut vs Santander?
All in, you'll spend $1,414 per month in Beirut versus $1,585 in Santander – a 12% 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 110% less than in Santander. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Beirut or Santander?
At $1,414 in Beirut versus $1,585 in Santander, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Beirut but tight or insufficient in Santander. The gap between the two cities makes Beirut the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Beirut or Santander?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Beirut or Santander?
Safety-wise, Beirut and Santander 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 12% less than in Santander. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.