Cost of Living Comparison Between Beirut and Zahlah Cost of Living Comparison Between Beirut and Zahlah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,414 in Beirut versus $1,069 in Zahlah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,339 in Beirut versus $1,668 in Zahlah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,265 in Beirut versus $2,266 in Zahlah.

Living in Beirut is roughly 32% more expensive than Zahlah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Beirut is 6% above, Zahlah is 20% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.65 LBP 952.9K

$10.84 LBP 969.9K

-1.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.7 LBP 5.4M

$60.4 LBP 5.4M

0.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.99 LBP 715.1K

$7.95 LBP 712.0K

0.50%

Cappuccino

$3.31 LBP 296.1K

$3.26 LBP 292.1K

1.53%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 LBP 140.3K

$1.59 LBP 142.1K

-1.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.87 LBP 78.1K

$0.86 LBP 77.2K

1.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.40 LBP 304.2K

$3.55 LBP 317.6K

-4.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.95 LBP 443.0K

$2.03 LBP 182.1K

143.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LBP 159.5K

$1.01 LBP 90.5K

76.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 LBP 70.9K

$0.84 LBP 75.4K

-5.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 LBP 157.0K

$1.78 LBP 159.3K

-1.69%

Eggs

$3.21 LBP 287.7K

$3.22 LBP 288.3K

-0.31%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.16 LBP 998.8K

$11.51 LBP 1.0M

-3.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.27 LBP 830.0K

$9.73 LBP 870.6K

-4.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.64 LBP 1.0M

$11.35 LBP 1.0M

2.56%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 LBP 161.4K

$1.81 LBP 162.1K

-0.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 LBP 130.1K

$1.51 LBP 135.6K

-3.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 LBP 98.8K

$1.09 LBP 98.0K

0.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 LBP 97.6K

$1.04 LBP 93.4K

4.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 LBP 91.1K

$0.95 LBP 85.5K

7.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 LBP 92.2K

$1.01 LBP 90.1K

1.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 LBP 73.5K

$0.81 LBP 72.7K

1.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LBP 46.8K

$0.52 LBP 46.4K

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.55 LBP 228.6K

$2.57 LBP 230.2K

-0.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.22 LBP 1.0M

$11.20 LBP 1.0M

0.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 LBP 114.5K

$1.24 LBP 110.9K

3.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 LBP 196.5K

$2.12 LBP 189.7K

3.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$2.02 LBP 181.1K

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$72.0 LBP 6.4M

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.93 LBP 441.2K

$5.03 LBP 450.1K

-1.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 LBP 110.4K

$1.22 LBP 108.9K

0.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.90 LBP 1.8M

$20.02 LBP 1.8M

-0.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 LBP 84.8K

$0.94 LBP 83.7K

1.06%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$35.1K LBP 3.1B

$34.8K LBP 3.1B

1.01%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.0K LBP 2.5B

$27.5K LBP 2.5B

1.97%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$218 LBP 19.5M

$217 LBP 19.4M

0.43%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$37.60 LBP 3.4M

$37.65 LBP 3.4M

-0.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.77 LBP 3.4M

$37.82 LBP 3.4M

-0.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.2 LBP 6.1M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.88 LBP 2.6M

Cinema Ticket

$8.15 LBP 729.0K

$8.08 LBP 723.4K

0.87%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$307 LBP 27.5M

$296 LBP 26.5M

3.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,498 LBP 402.6M

$4,467 LBP 399.8M

0.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$70.3 LBP 6.3M

$70.7 LBP 6.3M

-0.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.04 LBP 4.0M

$44.79 LBP 4.0M

0.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$121 LBP 10.8M

$125 LBP 11.2M

-3.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.6 LBP 8.5M

$92.8 LBP 8.3M

1.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$785 LBP 70.2M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$364 LBP 32.5M

$199 LBP 17.8M

82.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,963 LBP 175.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$959 LBP 85.8M

$401 LBP 35.9M

139.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,810 LBP 341.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,859 LBP 166.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$634 LBP 56.7M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.16

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

Last update for Beirut: April 26, 2026

Last update for Zahlah: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $61.0 in Beirut vs $60.0 in Zahlah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $231 per month, with Zahlah cheaper across the board.

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 Zahlah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zahlah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,121 in Beirut and $1,604 in Zahlah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Beirut. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,414 per month in Beirut versus $1,069 in Zahlah – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,069 in Zahlah versus $1,414 in Beirut, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zahlah but tight or insufficient in Beirut. The gap between the two cities makes Zahlah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Beirut and Zahlah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Zahlah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.