😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,865 in Benalmadena versus $1,437 in Beirut.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,812 in Benalmadena versus $2,353 in Beirut.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,758 in Benalmadena versus $3,269 in Beirut.
😐Living in Benalmadena is roughly 30% more expensive than Beirut, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Benalmadena39% above, Beirut7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Benalmadena
Beirut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.04€12.08
$10.76LBP 963.0K
30.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.2€46.59
$59.7LBP 5.3M
-9.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.15€7.87
$8.04LBP 720.0K
13.81%
Cappuccino
$2.35€2.02
$3.27LBP 292.4K
-28.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28€1.96
$1.58LBP 141.4K
44.30%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88€1.62
$0.92LBP 82.4K
104.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.26€2.81
$3.45LBP 308.9K
-5.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.35€3.74
$5.06LBP 453.3K
-14.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Benalmadena
Beirut
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22€1.05
$1.79LBP 160.5K
-31.84%
White Bread(500g)
$1.57€1.35
$0.85LBP 76.5K
84.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87€1.61
$1.82LBP 163.3K
2.75%
Eggs
$3.32€2.85
$3.19LBP 285.4K
4.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.34€13.20
$11.51LBP 1.0M
33.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.39€8.08
$9.60LBP 859.6K
-2.19%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$17.79€15.30
$11.36LBP 1.0M
56.60%
Apples(1kg)
$2.56€2.20
$1.73LBP 154.6K
47.98%
Banana(1kg)
$2.17€1.87
$1.45LBP 129.4K
49.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.72€1.48
$1.15LBP 103.0K
49.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.75€2.37
$1.08LBP 96.9K
154.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.81€1.56
$0.99LBP 88.2K
82.83%
Onion(1kg)
$2.12€1.83
$1.04LBP 92.8K
103.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.48€1.27
$0.81LBP 72.8K
82.72%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77€0.66
$0.52LBP 46.7K
48.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.29€5.41
$2.46LBP 220.6K
155.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.91€5.09
$9.95LBP 890.6K
-40.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31€1.13
$1.24LBP 110.6K
5.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33€2.00
$2.20LBP 197.3K
5.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Benalmadena
Beirut
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.01€1.73
$1.96LBP 175.4K
2.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$34.74€29.88
$71.1LBP 6.4M
-51.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.61€3.96
$4.94LBP 442.2K
-6.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.09€0.94
$1.28LBP 114.5K
-14.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$24.36€20.95
$19.91LBP 1.8M
22.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.81€1.55
$0.90LBP 80.9K
101.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$38.0K€32.7K
$34.8KLBP 3.1B
9.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8K€27.3K
$27.6KLBP 2.5B
15.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Benalmadena
Beirut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$138€119
$218LBP 19.5M
-36.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.61€15.15
$37.46LBP 3.4M
-52.99%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.81€31.67
$37.30LBP 3.3M
-1.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Benalmadena
Beirut
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$47.89€41.20
$68.4LBP 6.1M
-29.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.02€12.92
$29.84LBP 2.7M
-49.66%
Cinema Ticket
$9.38€8.07
$8.13LBP 727.3K
15.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Benalmadena
Beirut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$463€398
$297LBP 26.6M
55.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,835€7,600
$4,404LBP 394.1M
100.63%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Benalmadena
Beirut
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.3€73.4
$71.6LBP 6.4M
19.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.91€36.05
$44.80LBP 4.0M
-6.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.8€78.9
$120LBP 10.8M
-23.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$116€100.0
$95.5LBP 8.6M
21.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Benalmadena
Beirut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,006€866
$809LBP 72.4M
24.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$906€779
$370LBP 33.1M
144.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,849€1,591
$2,023LBP 181.0M
-8.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,596€1,373
$950LBP 85.0M
67.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,393€3,779
$3,685LBP 329.8M
19.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,743€3,220
$1,978LBP 177.1M
89.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Benalmadena
Beirut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,088€3,516
$651LBP 58.2M
528.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.46
11.16
-69.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Benalmadena: June 2, 2026
Last update for Beirut: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,006 in Benalmadena and $809 in Beirut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Benalmadena pays 528% 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: $54.0 in Benalmadena vs $60.0 in Beirut. Groceries flip the comparison at $289 vs $236, 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
Benalmadena vs Beirut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beirut cheaper than Benalmadena?
Beirut is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear. The 30% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Benalmadena or Beirut?
Benalmadena pays 528% more on average, 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 Benalmadena and Beirut?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,006 in Benalmadena versus $809 in Beirut. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Benalmadena vs Beirut?
All in, you'll spend $1,865 per month in Benalmadena versus $1,437 in Beirut – a 30% 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 105% less than in Benalmadena. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Benalmadena or Beirut?
At $1,437 in Beirut versus $1,865 in Benalmadena, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Beirut but tight or insufficient in Benalmadena. The gap between the two cities makes Beirut the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Benalmadena or Beirut more family-friendly?
For families, Beirut is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Benalmadena, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Benalmadena or Beirut?
Safety-wise, Benalmadena 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 Beirut gentler on the wallet – expenses run 30% less than in Benalmadena. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Benalmadena vs other spots: cost of living compared