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: $1,415 in Beirut versus $1,085 in Zahlah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,305 in Beirut versus $1,703 in Zahlah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,194 in Beirut versus $2,320 in Zahlah.

Living in Beirut is roughly 30% more expensive than Zahlah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Beirut is 5% above, Zahlah is 19% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.75 LBP 962.3K

$10.89 LBP 974.2K

-1.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.1 LBP 5.3M

$60.3 LBP 5.4M

-1.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 LBP 700.4K

$8.08 LBP 723.4K

-3.09%

Cappuccino

$3.25 LBP 290.8K

$3.38 LBP 302.6K

-3.85%

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

$1.57 LBP 140.2K

$1.60 LBP 143.2K

-1.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 LBP 81.8K

$0.92 LBP 82.0K

-1.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.58 LBP 320.0K

$3.40 LBP 304.6K

5.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.12 LBP 458.2K

$2.03 LBP 181.6K

152.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.78 LBP 159.2K

$0.99 LBP 88.3K

79.80%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 LBP 75.0K

$0.86 LBP 76.6K

-2.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.83 LBP 164.1K

$1.83 LBP 163.4K

Eggs

$3.15 LBP 282.1K

$3.10 LBP 277.1K

1.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.13 LBP 996.1K

$11.17 LBP 1.0M

-0.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.46 LBP 846.6K

$9.69 LBP 867.0K

-2.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.56 LBP 1.0M

$11.29 LBP 1.0M

2.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.75 LBP 156.9K

$1.75 LBP 156.6K

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 LBP 129.6K

$1.46 LBP 131.1K

-0.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.11 LBP 99.1K

$1.10 LBP 98.7K

0.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.04 LBP 93.5K

Potato (1kg)

$0.98 LBP 88.1K

$0.93 LBP 83.4K

5.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 LBP 93.3K

$0.99 LBP 89.0K

5.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.84 LBP 74.8K

$0.83 LBP 74.0K

1.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 LBP 47.2K

$0.55 LBP 49.6K

-3.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 LBP 220.3K

$2.54 LBP 227.0K

-3.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.84 LBP 880.9K

$9.85 LBP 881.5K

-0.10%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 LBP 110.0K

$1.24 LBP 110.6K

-0.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 LBP 190.5K

$2.23 LBP 200.0K

-4.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.96 LBP 175.2K

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.8 LBP 6.4M

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.96 LBP 444.1K

$4.99 LBP 446.5K

-0.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.21 LBP 108.6K

$1.24 LBP 110.8K

-2.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.91 LBP 1.8M

$20.16 LBP 1.8M

-1.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 LBP 78.5K

$0.88 LBP 79.1K

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

$35.5K LBP 3.2B

$35.1K LBP 3.1B

1.24%

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

$27.8K LBP 2.5B

$27.5K LBP 2.5B

1.16%

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

$217 LBP 19.4M

$213 LBP 19.0M

2.06%

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

$37.94 LBP 3.4M

$38.04 LBP 3.4M

-0.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$36.74 LBP 3.3M

$37.87 LBP 3.4M

-2.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.5 LBP 6.0M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.76 LBP 2.7M

Cinema Ticket

$7.91 LBP 707.6K

$7.97 LBP 713.0K

-0.75%

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

$301 LBP 27.0M

$302 LBP 27.0M

-0.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,365 LBP 390.7M

$4,371 LBP 391.2M

-0.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.9 LBP 6.3M

$70.9 LBP 6.3M

-1.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$45.58 LBP 4.1M

$44.76 LBP 4.0M

1.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 LBP 11.1M

$125 LBP 11.1M

-0.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.0 LBP 8.4M

$95.3 LBP 8.5M

-1.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$814 LBP 72.8M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 LBP 33.0M

$197 LBP 17.6M

87.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,959 LBP 175.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$945 LBP 84.6M

$403 LBP 36.1M

134.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,731 LBP 333.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,986 LBP 177.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$670 LBP 60.0M

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Zahlah: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $59.0 in Beirut vs $60.0 in Zahlah. Groceries flip the comparison at $233 vs $226, with Zahlah 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 Zahlah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zahlah is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,122 in Beirut and $1,628 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 3% higher in Beirut. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,415 per month in Beirut versus $1,085 in Zahlah – a 30% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,085 in Zahlah versus $1,415 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 30% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.