Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubai and Beirut Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubai and Beirut

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,908 in Dubai versus $1,437 in Beirut.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,381 in Dubai versus $2,353 in Beirut.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,854 in Dubai versus $3,269 in Beirut.

Living in Dubai is roughly 102% more expensive than Beirut, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Dubai 117% above, Beirut 7% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.93 AED 40.14

$10.76 LBP 963.0K

1.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$82.7 AED 304

$59.7 LBP 5.3M

38.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.44 AED 34.67

$8.04 LBP 720.0K

17.41%

Cappuccino

$5.57 AED 20.46

$3.27 LBP 292.4K

70.34%

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

$1.25 AED 4.59

$1.58 LBP 141.4K

-20.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.93 AED 3.43

$0.92 LBP 82.4K

1.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$12.04 AED 44.22

$3.45 LBP 308.9K

248.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$13.55 AED 49.78

$5.06 LBP 453.3K

167.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.00 AED 7.36

$1.79 LBP 160.5K

11.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.44 AED 5.29

$0.85 LBP 76.5K

69.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 AED 8.09

$1.82 LBP 163.3K

20.88%

Eggs

$3.46 AED 12.69

$3.19 LBP 285.4K

8.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.08 AED 37.01

$11.51 LBP 1.0M

-12.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.49 AED 34.87

$9.60 LBP 859.6K

-1.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.48 AED 45.84

$11.36 LBP 1.0M

9.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 AED 8.49

$1.73 LBP 154.6K

33.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 AED 6.95

$1.45 LBP 129.4K

30.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 AED 6.74

$1.15 LBP 103.0K

59.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 AED 5.46

$1.08 LBP 96.9K

37.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 AED 4.54

$0.99 LBP 88.2K

25.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.30 AED 4.78

$1.04 LBP 92.8K

25.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 AED 5.30

$0.81 LBP 72.8K

77.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 AED 2.57

$0.52 LBP 46.7K

34.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.44 AED 23.66

$2.46 LBP 220.6K

161.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.61 AED 61.0

$9.95 LBP 890.6K

66.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.63 AED 9.65

$1.24 LBP 110.6K

112.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 AED 12.59

$2.20 LBP 197.3K

55.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.64 AED 6.03

$1.96 LBP 175.4K

-16.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.2 AED 295

$71.1 LBP 6.4M

12.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.22 AED 11.83

$4.94 LBP 442.2K

-34.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.79 AED 2.89

$1.28 LBP 114.5K

-38.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.14 AED 29.91

$19.91 LBP 1.8M

-59.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 AED 2.83

$0.90 LBP 80.9K

-14.44%

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

$32.5K AED 119.5K

$34.8K LBP 3.1B

-6.59%

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

$22.6K AED 83.0K

$27.6K LBP 2.5B

-18.07%

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

$219 AED 803

$218 LBP 19.5M

0.48%

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

$62.0 AED 228

$37.46 LBP 3.4M

65.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$101 AED 371

$37.30 LBP 3.3M

170.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$88.7 AED 326

$68.4 LBP 6.1M

29.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.84 AED 168

$29.84 LBP 2.7M

53.62%

Cinema Ticket

$15.27 AED 56.1

$8.13 LBP 727.3K

87.82%

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

$849 AED 3,120

$297 LBP 26.6M

185.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$14.1K AED 51.9K

$4,404 LBP 394.1M

220.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.0 AED 298

$71.6 LBP 6.4M

13.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.9 AED 231

$44.80 LBP 4.0M

40.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$113 AED 416

$120 LBP 10.8M

-5.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 AED 442

$95.5 LBP 8.6M

26.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,450 AED 8,998

$809 LBP 72.4M

202.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,589 AED 5,838

$370 LBP 33.1M

329.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$4,667 AED 17.1K

$2,023 LBP 181.0M

130.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,973 AED 10.9K

$950 LBP 85.0M

212.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,138 AED 26.2K

$3,685 LBP 329.8M

93.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$4,288 AED 15.8K

$1,978 LBP 177.1M

116.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,166 AED 15.3K

$651 LBP 58.2M

540.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.49

11.16

-59.77%

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

Last update for Dubai: May 30, 2026

Last update for Beirut: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $2,450 in Dubai and $809 in Beirut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dubai pays 540% 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: $83.0 in Dubai vs $60.0 in Beirut for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $284 vs $236 per month, with Beirut 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

Dubai vs Beirut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Beirut is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 102% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Dubai pays 540% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $2,450 in Dubai versus $809 in Beirut. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,908 per month in Dubai versus $1,437 in Beirut – a 102% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Beirut runs roughly 13% less than in Dubai. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,437 in Beirut versus $2,908 in Dubai, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Beirut but tight or insufficient in Dubai. The gap between the two cities makes Beirut the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Beirut is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Dubai, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Dubai 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.

Expats usually find Beirut gentler on the wallet – expenses run 102% less than in Dubai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.