😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,119 in Blackburn versus $1,682 in Beirut.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,102 in Blackburn versus $2,685 in Beirut.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,085 in Blackburn versus $3,688 in Beirut.
🌍Living in Blackburn is roughly 26% more expensive than in Beirut, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Blackburn54% above, Beirut22% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Blackburn
Beirut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$15.02£11.10
$12.10LBP 1.1M
24.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$57.2£42.30
$64.8LBP 5.8M
-11.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.44£6.24
$9.83LBP 879.6K
-14.14%
Cappuccino
$4.19£3.10
$4.77LBP 426.8K
-12.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.79£2.06
$2.38LBP 212.6K
17.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51£1.11
$0.83LBP 74.5K
81.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.31£3.19
$5.10LBP 456.4K
-15.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.50£4.06
$5.02LBP 449.5K
9.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Blackburn
Beirut
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.54£1.14
$1.97LBP 176.0K
-21.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.72£1.27
$0.82LBP 73.8K
109.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.49£1.84
$2.24LBP 200.8K
11.16%
Eggs
$3.58£2.65
$3.60LBP 321.8K
-0.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.30£8.35
$13.60LBP 1.2M
-16.91%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.93£6.60
$10.73LBP 960.6K
-16.78%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.52£12.21
$13.89LBP 1.2M
18.93%
Apples(1kg)
$1.67£1.23
$3.15LBP 281.7K
-46.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68£1.24
$1.72LBP 153.8K
-2.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.44£1.81
$1.64LBP 146.7K
48.78%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.19£2.36
$1.48LBP 132.8K
115.54%
Potato(1kg)
$1.25£0.92
$1.35LBP 120.9K
-7.41%
Onion(1kg)
$1.62£1.20
$1.65LBP 148.1K
-1.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47£0.35
$1.16LBP 103.7K
-59.48%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76£0.56
$0.69LBP 62.2K
10.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$20.78£15.36
$3.03LBP 271.1K
585.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.42£6.96
$10.18LBP 911.1K
-7.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.24£1.66
$1.27LBP 113.9K
76.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00£1.48
$2.59LBP 231.4K
-22.78%
🚌 Getting Around
Blackburn
Beirut
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.81£2.08
$2.24LBP 200.4K
25.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$75.8£56.1
$78.1LBP 7.0M
-2.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.80£2.07
$4.98LBP 445.6K
-43.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.05£1.52
$2.24LBP 200.1K
-8.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$18.39£13.59
$22.48LBP 2.0M
-18.19%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$2.02£1.49
$1.00LBP 89.8K
102.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$39.6K£29.3K
$52.7KLBP 4.7B
-24.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$41.9K£31.0K
$32.8KLBP 2.9B
27.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Blackburn
Beirut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$284£210
$226LBP 20.2M
25.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.18£12.70
$23.30LBP 2.1M
-26.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.41£21.74
$37.27LBP 3.3M
-21.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Blackburn
Beirut
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$53.1£39.28
$82.7LBP 7.4M
-35.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.16£8.99
$33.94LBP 3.0M
-64.17%
Cinema Ticket
$9.65£7.13
$9.99LBP 894.0K
-3.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Blackburn
Beirut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,083£801
$675LBP 60.4M
60.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$22.5K£16.6K
$10.6KLBP 945.1M
113.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Blackburn
Beirut
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.6£64.0
$67.9LBP 6.1M
27.58%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.29£33.48
$50.2LBP 4.5M
-9.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.9£67.9
$135LBP 12.1M
-32.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.6£52.2
$121LBP 10.8M
-41.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Blackburn
Beirut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,261£932
$943LBP 84.4M
33.64%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$972£718
$503LBP 45.0M
93.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,889£1,396
$2,169LBP 194.1M
-12.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,713£1,266
$1,081LBP 96.7M
58.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,351£3,956
$3,995LBP 357.5M
33.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,989£2,949
$1,813LBP 162.3M
120.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Blackburn
Beirut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,875£1,386
$735LBP 65.8M
154.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.99
11
-54.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Blackburn: August 31, 2026
Last update for Beirut: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,261 in Blackburn and $943 in Beirut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Blackburn pays 155% 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: $57.0 in Blackburn vs $65.0 in Beirut. Groceries flip the comparison at $281 vs $280, 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
Blackburn vs Beirut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beirut cheaper than Blackburn?
Beirut is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Blackburn or Beirut?
Average pay runs 155% higher in Blackburn, 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 Blackburn and Beirut?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,261 in Blackburn versus $943 in Beirut. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Blackburn and in Beirut?
All in, you'll spend $2,119 per month in Blackburn versus $1,682 in Beirut – a 26% 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 3% less than in Blackburn. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Blackburn or in Beirut?
At $1,682 in Beirut versus $2,119 in Blackburn, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Beirut but tight or insufficient in Blackburn. The gap between the two cities makes Beirut the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Blackburn 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 easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Beirut gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Blackburn. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.