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: $1,431 in Beirut versus $1,095 in Zahlah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,303 in Beirut versus $1,704 in Zahlah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,176 in Beirut versus $2,313 in Zahlah.

Living in Beirut is roughly 31% more expensive than in Zahlah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Beirut is 7% above, Zahlah is 18% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.75 LBP 961.7K

$11.02 LBP 986.1K

-2.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$61.0 LBP 5.5M

$58.9 LBP 5.3M

3.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.21 LBP 735.0K

$7.82 LBP 700.0K

4.99%

Cappuccino

$3.25 LBP 290.4K

$3.29 LBP 294.3K

-1.22%

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

$1.57 LBP 140.7K

$1.63 LBP 145.8K

-3.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.89 LBP 79.6K

$0.87 LBP 78.0K

2.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.46 LBP 309.5K

$3.57 LBP 319.3K

-3.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.89 LBP 437.7K

$2.02 LBP 181.0K

142.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 LBP 153.0K

$1.01 LBP 90.5K

69.31%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 LBP 76.2K

$0.84 LBP 75.3K

1.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 LBP 156.6K

$1.82 LBP 162.9K

-3.85%

Eggs

$3.09 LBP 277.0K

$3.06 LBP 274.1K

0.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.16 LBP 998.5K

$11.24 LBP 1.0M

-0.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.42 LBP 843.4K

$9.51 LBP 851.2K

-0.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.58 LBP 1.0M

$11.55 LBP 1.0M

0.26%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 LBP 161.4K

$1.72 LBP 154.1K

4.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 LBP 130.0K

$1.47 LBP 131.2K

-1.36%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 LBP 98.7K

$1.13 LBP 101.2K

-2.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.10 LBP 98.1K

$1.04 LBP 92.9K

5.77%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 LBP 83.2K

$0.99 LBP 88.9K

-6.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 LBP 93.2K

$1.01 LBP 90.0K

2.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.88 LBP 78.5K

$0.81 LBP 72.3K

8.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LBP 46.6K

$0.56 LBP 49.9K

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.48 LBP 222.4K

$2.57 LBP 229.9K

-3.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.98 LBP 893.6K

$9.91 LBP 887.3K

0.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.28 LBP 114.2K

$1.27 LBP 113.9K

0.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 LBP 197.7K

$2.22 LBP 198.9K

-0.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.94 LBP 173.7K

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$71.5 LBP 6.4M

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.87 LBP 435.6K

$5.09 LBP 455.2K

-4.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 LBP 109.9K

$1.22 LBP 109.6K

0.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.64 LBP 1.8M

$19.97 LBP 1.8M

-1.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.88 LBP 78.7K

$0.88 LBP 79.2K

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

$34.4K LBP 3.1B

$34.7K LBP 3.1B

-0.90%

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

$27.5K LBP 2.5B

$27.9K LBP 2.5B

-1.35%

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

$217 LBP 19.5M

$217 LBP 19.4M

0.40%

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

$37.05 LBP 3.3M

$36.97 LBP 3.3M

0.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.01 LBP 3.3M

$36.82 LBP 3.3M

0.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.9 LBP 6.2M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.14 LBP 2.6M

Cinema Ticket

$8.21 LBP 734.5K

$8.17 LBP 731.0K

0.49%

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

$301 LBP 26.9M

$300 LBP 26.9M

0.22%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,452 LBP 398.4M

$4,530 LBP 405.4M

-1.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.2 LBP 6.4M

$69.9 LBP 6.3M

1.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.19 LBP 4.0M

$45.20 LBP 4.0M

-2.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$122 LBP 10.9M

$121 LBP 10.8M

1.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$93.8 LBP 8.4M

$95.0 LBP 8.5M

-1.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 LBP 71.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$377 LBP 33.7M

$201 LBP 17.9M

87.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,958 LBP 175.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$969 LBP 86.7M

$393 LBP 35.2M

146.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,908 LBP 349.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,960 LBP 175.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$708 LBP 63.3M

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Zahlah: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $61.0 in Beirut vs $59.0 in Zahlah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $233 vs $227 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, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 31% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $2,146 in Beirut and $1,642 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 $1,431 per month in Beirut versus $1,095 in Zahlah – a 31% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,095 in Zahlah versus $1,431 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 31% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.