Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Belgrade and Beirut

For one person, living is cheaper in Belgrade: $1,538 a month against $1,644 in Beirut, rent and utilities included – about $1,300 less a year. The total is higher in Beirut despite lower rent and utilities.

Belgrade
🇷🇸 Serbia
$1,538
/mo nomad
Beirut
🇱🇧 Lebanon
$1,644
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Belgrade and in Beirut

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Belgrade and in Beirut actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,538 in Belgrade versus $1,644 in Beirut.

  • Belgrade $1,538
  • Beirut $1,644

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,321 in Belgrade versus $2,637 in Beirut.

  • Belgrade $2,321
  • Beirut $2,637

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,105 in Belgrade versus $3,629 in Beirut.

  • Belgrade $3,105
  • Beirut $3,629

Living in Belgrade costs roughly 6% less than in Beirut, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Belgrade 15% above, Beirut 23% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belgrade
Beirut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.33 RSD 1,389
$12.14 LBP 1.1M
9.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.4 RSD 6,085
$70.1 LBP 6.3M
-16.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.58 RSD 1,414
$9.84 LBP 880.6K
38.01%
Cappuccino
$3.13 RSD 326
$4.45 LBP 398.4K
-29.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 RSD 288
$2.39 LBP 214.0K
15.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 RSD 237
$0.90 LBP 80.7K
152.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.75 RSD 390
$4.86 LBP 435.3K
-22.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.38 RSD 456
$4.83 LBP 432.7K
-9.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belgrade
Beirut
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.40 RSD 146
$2.00 LBP 179.3K
-30.00%
White Bread (500g)
$1.17 RSD 122
$0.84 LBP 75.2K
39.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.71 RSD 282
$2.34 LBP 209.4K
15.81%
Eggs
$2.78 RSD 289
$3.55 LBP 318.0K
-21.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.36 RSD 1,184
$11.02 LBP 986.7K
3.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.01 RSD 731
$10.76 LBP 963.3K
-34.85%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.72 RSD 1,638
$14.62 LBP 1.3M
7.52%
Apples (1kg)
$1.66 RSD 173
$3.13 LBP 280.3K
-46.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 RSD 188
$1.71 LBP 153.0K
5.85%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.83 RSD 190
$1.68 LBP 150.7K
8.93%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.13 RSD 326
$1.52 LBP 135.7K
105.92%
Potato (1kg)
$0.88 RSD 91.3
$1.24 LBP 111.2K
-29.03%
Onion (1kg)
$0.67 RSD 70.3
$1.59 LBP 142.4K
-57.86%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.81 RSD 84.4
$1.21 LBP 108.6K
-33.06%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 RSD 70.9
$0.68 LBP 61.1K
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.78 RSD 498
$3.06 LBP 273.5K
56.21%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.54 RSD 889
$10.91 LBP 976.2K
-21.72%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 RSD 97.7
$1.33 LBP 119.2K
-29.32%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 RSD 150
$2.59 LBP 232.0K
-44.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Belgrade
Beirut
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.26 LBP 202.7K
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$76.0 LBP 6.8M
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.09 RSD 322
$4.93 LBP 441.5K
-37.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.02 RSD 107
$2.20 LBP 196.6K
-53.64%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.18 RSD 1,789
$22.38 LBP 2.0M
-23.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.87 RSD 195
$1.05 LBP 93.6K
78.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.7K RSD 3.2M
$54.0K LBP 4.8B
-43.08%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.3K RSD 2.5M
$32.8K LBP 2.9B
-25.95%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belgrade
Beirut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 RSD 22.7K
$231 LBP 20.6M
-5.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.24 RSD 2,629
$22.10 LBP 2.0M
14.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.35 RSD 3,683
$37.83 LBP 3.4M
-6.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belgrade
Beirut
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$41.77 RSD 4,351
$85.5 LBP 7.7M
-51.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.80 RSD 2,375
$34.08 LBP 3.1M
-33.10%
Cinema Ticket
$8.47 RSD 882
$10.02 LBP 896.8K
-15.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belgrade
Beirut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$426 RSD 44.4K
$678 LBP 60.7M
-37.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.4K RSD 1.2M
$10.6K LBP 951.6M
7.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belgrade
Beirut
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$111 RSD 11.6K
$66.5 LBP 6.0M
67.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.99 RSD 4,791
$48.54 LBP 4.3M
-5.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$119 RSD 12.4K
$138 LBP 12.3M
-13.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$154 RSD 16.0K
$118 LBP 10.6M
30.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belgrade
Beirut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$821 RSD 85.6K
$944 LBP 84.5M
-13.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$561 RSD 58.4K
$488 LBP 43.7M
14.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,511 RSD 157.4K
$2,203 LBP 197.2M
-31.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$942 RSD 98.1K
$1,059 LBP 94.8M
-11.06%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,312 RSD 553.4K
$3,927 LBP 351.5M
35.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,165 RSD 329.7K
$1,848 LBP 165.4M
71.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belgrade
Beirut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,228 RSD 127.9K
$703 LBP 62.9M
74.58%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.61
11
-58.09%

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

Last update for Belgrade: October 3, 2026

Last update for Beirut: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Belgrade
$561
Beirut
$488 12.9% $72
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belgrade
$278
Beirut
$291 4.4% $12
Groceries & Markets
Belgrade
$246
Beirut
$277 12.4% $30
Eating Out
Belgrade
$233
Beirut
$227 2.3% $5.4
Clothing & Footwear
Belgrade
$194
Beirut
$167 13.9% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Belgrade
$59
Beirut
$106 79.8% $47
Getting Around
Belgrade
$8.2 *
Beirut
$101 1130% $93

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $821 in Belgrade and $944 in Beirut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Belgrade pays 75% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $58.0 in Belgrade vs $70.0 in Beirut for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $246 vs $277 per month, with Belgrade cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇷🇸 Belgrade
🇱🇧 Beirut
🕒 Local time
08:14 8:14 AM
09:14 9:14 AM
1 h ahead of Belgrade
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,197,714 Capital
1,916,100 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

LBP, USD, EUR to RSD – Serbian Dinar Converter

Serbian Dinar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 104 RSD (1,000 RSD = 9.6 USD). 1 EUR = 117 RSD (1,000 RSD = 8.56 EUR).

Lebanese Pound exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 89,500 LBP (100,000 LBP = 1.12 USD). 1 EUR = 100,381 LBP (1,000,000 LBP = 9.96 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Belgrade Beirut 1,770 km ≈ 2 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Belgrade
  • Beirut

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
Belgrade vs Beirut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beirut cheaper than Belgrade?
Belgrade is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, leisure, and transport. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Belgrade or Beirut?
Average pay runs 75% higher in Belgrade, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Belgrade and Beirut?
Rent for a central apartment: $821 in Belgrade versus $944 in Beirut. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Belgrade and in Beirut?
Supermarket bills run roughly 12% higher in Beirut. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Belgrade and in Beirut?
All in, you'll spend $1,538 per month in Belgrade versus $1,644 in Beirut – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Belgrade or in Beirut?
At $1,538 in Belgrade versus $1,644 in Beirut, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Belgrade but tight or insufficient in Beirut. The gap between the two cities makes Belgrade the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Belgrade or in Beirut?
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, Belgrade or Beirut?
Safety-wise, Belgrade and Beirut 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 Belgrade gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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