For one person, living is cheaper in Lebanon: $1,510 a month against $2,701 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $14,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Lebanon and in the United States
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Lebanon and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,510 in Lebanon versus $2,701 in the United States.
Lebanon $1,510
United States $2,701
Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,377 in Lebanon versus $3,980 in the United States.
Lebanon $2,377
United States $3,980
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,243 in Lebanon versus $5,258 in the United States.
Lebanon $3,243
United States $5,258
🌍
Living in Lebanon costs about 44% less than in the United States on average.
📊
Both countries sit above the global median: Lebanon 12% above, the United States 100% above.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Lebanon
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.11LBP 1.1M
$19.92$19.92
-39.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.5LBP 4.7M
$81.0$81.0
-35.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.03LBP 897.6K
$12.07$12.07
-16.90%
Cappuccino
$4.16LBP 372.4K
$5.55$5.55
-25.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06LBP 184.2K
$2.67$2.67
-22.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92LBP 82.4K
$2.09$2.09
-55.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.98LBP 445.5K
$5.96$5.96
-16.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67LBP 417.5K
$7.76$7.76
-39.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lebanon
United States
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87LBP 167.5K
$1.05$1.05
78.10%
White Bread(500g)
$0.85LBP 76.0K
$3.55$3.55
-76.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.09LBP 187.1K
$4.64$4.64
-54.96%
Eggs
$3.46LBP 309.8K
$4.18$4.18
-17.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.54LBP 943.4K
$12.76$12.76
-17.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.77LBP 874.5K
$12.63$12.63
-22.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.07LBP 1.2M
$17.22$17.22
-24.10%
Apples(1kg)
$2.60LBP 232.8K
$5.15$5.15
-49.51%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74LBP 156.0K
$1.64$1.64
6.10%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.50LBP 134.5K
$4.46$4.46
-66.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.33LBP 119.4K
$4.98$4.98
-73.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.16LBP 103.8K
$2.84$2.84
-59.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40LBP 125.3K
$3.09$3.09
-54.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.04LBP 93.4K
$2.19$2.19
-52.51%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79LBP 70.5K
$2.27$2.27
-65.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98LBP 266.9K
$10.61$10.61
-71.91%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.93LBP 889.0K
$14.71$14.71
-32.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30LBP 116.5K
$2.10$2.10
-38.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41LBP 215.9K
$3.82$3.82
-36.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Lebanon
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.95LBP 175.0K
$2.35$2.35
-17.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$76.3LBP 6.8M
$64.1$64.1
19.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.15LBP 460.5K
$3.57$3.57
44.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.03LBP 181.5K
$1.85$1.85
9.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.77LBP 2.0M
$30.19$30.19
-24.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07LBP 95.9K
$1.07$1.07
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.4KLBP 4.1B
$35.3K$35.3K
28.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7KLBP 2.8B
$25.9K$25.9K
22.43%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lebanon
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$196LBP 17.6M
$217$217
-9.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.04LBP 1.9M
$61.4$61.4
-65.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.82LBP 3.2M
$74.4$74.4
-51.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lebanon
United States
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$65.5LBP 5.9M
$45.08$45.08
45.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.10LBP 2.6M
$23.07$23.07
26.14%
Cinema Ticket
$10.14LBP 907.6K
$14.79$14.79
-31.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lebanon
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$585LBP 52.3M
$1,480$1,480
-60.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,646LBP 773.8M
$25.5K$25.5K
-66.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lebanon
United States
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.3LBP 6.6M
$53.0$53.0
39.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.2LBP 4.5M
$42.75$42.75
17.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139LBP 12.5M
$94.3$94.3
47.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114LBP 10.2M
$115$115
-1.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lebanon
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$793LBP 70.9M
$1,678$1,678
-52.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$423LBP 37.8M
$1,313$1,313
-67.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,765LBP 157.9M
$2,649$2,649
-33.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$882LBP 78.9M
$2,183$2,183
-59.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,105LBP 277.9M
$3,374$3,374
-7.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,459LBP 130.6M
$2,661$2,661
-45.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lebanon
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$682LBP 61.1M
$4,404$4,404
-84.50%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.88
6.55
66.11%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Lebanon: October 11, 2026
Last update for the United States: October 10, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🏠Accommodation & Living
Lebanon
$423 28%
United States
$1.3K 48.6% ↑ 211%$891
🛒Groceries & Markets
Lebanon
$256 17%
United States
$411 15.2% ↑ 60.3%$155
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lebanon
$253 16.8%
United States
$352 13% ↑ 39.1%$99
🍽Eating Out
Lebanon
$223 14.8%
United States
$327 12.1% ↑ 46.5%$104
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Lebanon
$170 11.3%
United States
$137 5.1% ↓ 19.1%$32
🚌Getting Around
Lebanon
$99 6.6%
United States
$86 3.2% ↓ 13.2%$13
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Lebanon
$86 5.7%
United States
$75 2.8% ↓ 12.9%$11
🏠Accommodation & Living
Lebanon
$882 27.2%
United States
$2.2K 41.5% ↑ 148%$1.3K
🛒Groceries & Markets
Lebanon
$600 18.5%
United States
$942 17.9% ↑ 57%$342
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lebanon
$274 8.5%
United States
$414 7.9% ↑ 50.8%$139
🍽Eating Out
Lebanon
$707 21.8%
United States
$1.1K 20.3% ↑ 50.7%$358
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Lebanon
$377 11.6%
United States
$305 5.8% ↓ 19.1%$72
🚌Getting Around
Lebanon
$203 6.3%
United States
$177 3.4% ↓ 12.6%$26
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Lebanon
$201 6.2%
United States
$172 3.3% ↓ 14.1%$28
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $195 in Lebanon, $1,609 in the United States. Capital cities: $944 in Beirut vs $2,730 in Washington, DC.
💰National salary averages: $693 in Lebanon, $4,533 in the United States. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 725% higher in the United States.
⭐Dining out costs 19% more in the United States.
⭐Public transport is 575% more expensive in the United States.
⭐Salaries are 554% higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.
Lebanon→United States10,250 km≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
Lebanon
United States
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
Lebanon vs United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Lebanon and the United States?
At $1,510 per month in Lebanon and $2,701 in the United States, there's a 79% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in Lebanon: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,609 in the United States and $195 in Lebanon. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Lebanon or in the United States?
In Lebanon, $2,500 covers most cities easily; in the United States it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Lebanon or to the United States?
It depends on what you're after: Lebanon wins on affordability; the United States may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.