Cost of Living Comparison Between Koura and BeirutCost of Living Comparison Between Koura and Beirut
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,117 in Koura versus $1,437 in Beirut.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,725 in Koura versus $2,353 in Beirut.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,333 in Koura versus $3,269 in Beirut.
🙂Living in Koura costs roughly 22% less than in Beirut, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Koura is 17% below, Beirut is 7% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Koura
Beirut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.02LBP 986.4K
$10.76LBP 963.0K
2.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$61.1LBP 5.5M
$59.7LBP 5.3M
2.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.19LBP 732.8K
$8.04LBP 720.0K
1.87%
Cappuccino
$3.24LBP 289.8K
$3.27LBP 292.4K
-0.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63LBP 146.2K
$1.58LBP 141.4K
3.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.88LBP 79.2K
$0.92LBP 82.4K
-4.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.56LBP 318.3K
$3.45LBP 308.9K
3.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.09LBP 455.1K
$5.06LBP 453.3K
0.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Koura
Beirut
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71LBP 152.8K
$1.79LBP 160.5K
-4.47%
White Bread(500g)
$0.84LBP 75.0K
$0.85LBP 76.5K
-1.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.82LBP 162.5K
$1.82LBP 163.3K
-
Eggs
$3.12LBP 279.1K
$3.19LBP 285.4K
-2.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.52LBP 1.0M
$11.51LBP 1.0M
0.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.38LBP 839.7K
$9.60LBP 859.6K
-2.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.62LBP 1.0M
$11.36LBP 1.0M
2.29%
Apples(1kg)
$1.81LBP 162.2K
$1.73LBP 154.6K
4.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45LBP 129.6K
$1.45LBP 129.4K
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.13LBP 101.3K
$1.15LBP 103.0K
-1.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.05LBP 93.6K
$1.08LBP 96.9K
-2.78%
Potato(1kg)
$0.95LBP 84.8K
$0.99LBP 88.2K
-4.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00LBP 89.3K
$1.04LBP 92.8K
-3.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84LBP 75.2K
$0.81LBP 72.8K
3.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.53LBP 47.0K
$0.52LBP 46.7K
1.92%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54LBP 227.7K
$2.46LBP 220.6K
3.25%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.13LBP 906.3K
$9.95LBP 890.6K
1.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23LBP 110.5K
$1.24LBP 110.6K
-0.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12LBP 190.0K
$2.20LBP 197.3K
-3.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Koura
Beirut
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.05LBP 183.4K
$1.96LBP 175.4K
4.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$71.1LBP 6.4M
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.03LBP 450.4K
$4.94LBP 442.2K
1.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.23LBP 110.4K
$1.28LBP 114.5K
-3.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.82LBP 1.8M
$19.91LBP 1.8M
-0.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.93LBP 83.4K
$0.90LBP 80.9K
3.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.7KLBP 3.1B
$34.8KLBP 3.1B
-0.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4KLBP 2.5B
$27.6KLBP 2.5B
-0.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Koura
Beirut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$217LBP 19.4M
$218LBP 19.5M
-0.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.98LBP 3.3M
$37.46LBP 3.4M
-1.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.61LBP 3.4M
$37.30LBP 3.3M
0.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Koura
Beirut
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.42LBP 2.3M
$68.4LBP 6.1M
-62.83%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.84LBP 2.7M
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.82LBP 699.7K
$8.13LBP 727.3K
-3.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Koura
Beirut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$297LBP 26.6M
$297LBP 26.6M
-0.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,371LBP 391.2M
$4,404LBP 394.1M
-0.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Koura
Beirut
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.9LBP 6.3M
$71.6LBP 6.4M
-2.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.31LBP 4.1M
$44.80LBP 4.0M
1.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120LBP 10.8M
$120LBP 10.8M
0.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.4LBP 8.5M
$95.5LBP 8.6M
-0.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Koura
Beirut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$250LBP 22.4M
$809LBP 72.4M
-69.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$203LBP 18.2M
$370LBP 33.1M
-45.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$454LBP 40.6M
$2,023LBP 181.0M
-77.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$346LBP 30.9M
$950LBP 85.0M
-63.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,154LBP 103.3M
$3,685LBP 329.8M
-68.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$833LBP 74.6M
$1,978LBP 177.1M
-57.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Koura
Beirut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$591LBP 52.9M
$651LBP 58.2M
-9.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.16
11.16
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Koura: June 1, 2026
Last update for Beirut: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $250 in Koura and $809 in Beirut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Beirut pays 10% 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: $61.0 in Koura vs $60.0 in Beirut. Groceries flip the comparison at $234 vs $236, with Koura 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
Koura vs Beirut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beirut cheaper than Koura?
Koura is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Koura or Beirut?
On paper, Beirut earns 10% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Koura and Beirut?
Rent for a central apartment: $250 in Koura versus $809 in Beirut. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Koura and Beirut?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Beirut. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Koura vs Beirut?
All in, you'll spend $1,117 per month in Koura versus $1,437 in Beirut – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Koura or Beirut?
At $1,117 in Koura versus $1,437 in Beirut, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Koura but tight or insufficient in Beirut. The gap between the two cities makes Koura the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Koura or 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 Koura gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.