🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $980 in Byblos versus $1,108 in Zouk Mikael.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,570 in Byblos versus $1,717 in Zouk Mikael.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,160 in Byblos versus $2,326 in Zouk Mikael.
🙂Living in Byblos costs roughly 12% less than in Zouk Mikael, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Byblos27% lower, Zouk Mikael18% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Byblos
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.96LBP 712.4K
$10.64LBP 952.5K
-25.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$41.68LBP 3.7M
$59.4LBP 5.3M
-29.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.93LBP 709.5K
$7.93LBP 709.9K
-
Cappuccino
$2.98LBP 267.1K
$3.31LBP 295.9K
-9.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.98LBP 87.4K
$1.56LBP 139.9K
-37.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01LBP 90.8K
$0.88LBP 79.0K
14.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.41LBP 304.9K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.86LBP 435.0K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Byblos
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21LBP 108.2K
$1.71LBP 152.6K
-29.24%
White Bread(500g)
$0.62LBP 55.5K
$0.32LBP 28.8K
93.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.61LBP 144.1K
$1.81LBP 162.1K
-11.05%
Eggs
$2.14LBP 191.2K
$3.23LBP 288.8K
-33.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20LBP 823.3K
$5.14LBP 460.3K
78.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.43LBP 754.5K
$9.72LBP 869.6K
-13.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.77LBP 1.1M
$11.37LBP 1.0M
3.52%
Apples(1kg)
$3.04LBP 272.4K
$1.74LBP 156.0K
74.71%
Banana(1kg)
$2.05LBP 183.5K
$1.46LBP 130.7K
40.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.02LBP 90.9K
$1.15LBP 103.1K
-11.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.96LBP 175.6K
$1.06LBP 94.6K
84.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01LBP 90.7K
$0.41LBP 36.7K
146.34%
Onion(1kg)
$0.97LBP 87.0K
$1.00LBP 89.3K
-3.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02LBP 90.9K
$0.81LBP 72.7K
25.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.02LBP 91.2K
$0.52LBP 46.9K
96.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
-
$2.54LBP 227.8K
-
Wine(Bottle)
$4.02LBP 359.5K
$9.98LBP 893.5K
-59.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.53LBP 137.4K
$0.85LBP 76.4K
80.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95LBP 174.3K
$2.13LBP 190.3K
-8.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Byblos
Zouk Mikael
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.98LBP 87.6K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
-
$5.07LBP 454.1K
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
-
$1.27LBP 113.3K
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
-
$20.02LBP 1.8M
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.91LBP 81.5K
$0.95LBP 84.8K
-4.21%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KLBP 2.1B
$35.6KLBP 3.2B
-35.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5KLBP 2.0B
$27.6KLBP 2.5B
-18.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Byblos
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$99.2LBP 8.9M
$167LBP 15.0M
-40.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.48LBP 2.0M
$37.25LBP 3.3M
-39.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.19LBP 2.3M
$37.13LBP 3.3M
-32.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Byblos
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$37.84LBP 3.4M
-
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.81LBP 1.7M
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.07LBP 901.3K
$7.87LBP 704.6K
27.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Byblos
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$402LBP 36.0M
$306LBP 27.4M
31.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,047LBP 272.7M
$4,512LBP 403.8M
-32.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Byblos
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$99.2LBP 8.9M
$72.2LBP 6.5M
37.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$98.9LBP 8.9M
$45.72LBP 4.1M
116.40%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$121LBP 10.8M
$73.7LBP 6.6M
63.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$148LBP 13.3M
$95.4LBP 8.5M
55.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Byblos
Zouk Mikael
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$302LBP 27.0M
$491LBP 43.9M
-38.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$221LBP 19.8M
$305LBP 27.3M
-27.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$809LBP 72.4M
$1,006LBP 90.0M
-19.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$397LBP 35.5M
$501LBP 44.9M
-20.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,352LBP 121.0M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$839LBP 75.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Byblos
Zouk Mikael
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$991LBP 88.7M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8
4.25
88.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Byblos: June 7, 2026
Last update for Zouk Mikael: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $302 in Byblos and $491 in Zouk Mikael. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $42.00 in Byblos vs $59.0 in Zouk Mikael. Groceries flip the comparison at $221 vs $207, with Zouk Mikael 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
Byblos vs Zouk Mikael: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zouk Mikael cheaper than Byblos?
Byblos is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,471 in Byblos and $1,663 in Zouk Mikael 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.
What is the rent difference between Byblos and Zouk Mikael?
Rent for a central apartment: $302 in Byblos versus $491 in Zouk Mikael. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $402 in Byblos versus $306 in Zouk Mikael. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Byblos or Zouk Mikael?
Dining out is cheaper in Byblos – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $59.0 in Zouk Mikael. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Byblos or Zouk Mikael?
At $980 in Byblos versus $1,108 in Zouk Mikael, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Byblos but tight or insufficient in Zouk Mikael. The gap between the two cities makes Byblos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Byblos or Zouk Mikael?
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 Byblos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Zouk Mikael. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.