Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Lebanon and the United States

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.

🇱🇧 Lebanon
$1,510
/mo nomad
🇺🇸 United States
$2,701
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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
🍽 Eating Out
Lebanon
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.11 LBP 1.1M
$19.92 $19.92
-39.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.5 LBP 4.7M
$81.0 $81.0
-35.23%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.03 LBP 897.6K
$12.07 $12.07
-16.90%
Cappuccino
$4.16 LBP 372.4K
$5.55 $5.55
-25.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 LBP 184.2K
$2.67 $2.67
-22.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 LBP 82.4K
$2.09 $2.09
-55.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.98 LBP 445.5K
$5.96 $5.96
-16.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.67 LBP 417.5K
$7.76 $7.76
-39.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Lebanon
United States
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 LBP 167.5K
$1.05 $1.05
78.10%
White Bread (500g)
$0.85 LBP 76.0K
$3.55 $3.55
-76.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.09 LBP 187.1K
$4.64 $4.64
-54.96%
Eggs
$3.46 LBP 309.8K
$4.18 $4.18
-17.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.54 LBP 943.4K
$12.76 $12.76
-17.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.77 LBP 874.5K
$12.63 $12.63
-22.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.07 LBP 1.2M
$17.22 $17.22
-24.10%
Apples (1kg)
$2.60 LBP 232.8K
$5.15 $5.15
-49.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.74 LBP 156.0K
$1.64 $1.64
6.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.50 LBP 134.5K
$4.46 $4.46
-66.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.33 LBP 119.4K
$4.98 $4.98
-73.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.16 LBP 103.8K
$2.84 $2.84
-59.15%
Onion (1kg)
$1.40 LBP 125.3K
$3.09 $3.09
-54.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.04 LBP 93.4K
$2.19 $2.19
-52.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 LBP 70.5K
$2.27 $2.27
-65.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98 LBP 266.9K
$10.61 $10.61
-71.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.93 LBP 889.0K
$14.71 $14.71
-32.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.30 LBP 116.5K
$2.10 $2.10
-38.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.41 LBP 215.9K
$3.82 $3.82
-36.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Lebanon
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.95 LBP 175.0K
$2.35 $2.35
-17.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$76.3 LBP 6.8M
$64.1 $64.1
19.08%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.15 LBP 460.5K
$3.57 $3.57
44.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.03 LBP 181.5K
$1.85 $1.85
9.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.77 LBP 2.0M
$30.19 $30.19
-24.58%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.07 LBP 95.9K
$1.07 $1.07
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$45.4K LBP 4.1B
$35.3K $35.3K
28.70%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K LBP 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)
$196 LBP 17.6M
$217 $217
-9.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.04 LBP 1.9M
$61.4 $61.4
-65.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.82 LBP 3.2M
$74.4 $74.4
-51.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Lebanon
United States
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$65.5 LBP 5.9M
$45.08 $45.08
45.21%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.10 LBP 2.6M
$23.07 $23.07
26.14%
Cinema Ticket
$10.14 LBP 907.6K
$14.79 $14.79
-31.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Lebanon
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$585 LBP 52.3M
$1,480 $1,480
-60.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,646 LBP 773.8M
$25.5K $25.5K
-66.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Lebanon
United States
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$74.3 LBP 6.6M
$53.0 $53.0
39.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.2 LBP 4.5M
$42.75 $42.75
17.36%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 LBP 12.5M
$94.3 $94.3
47.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 LBP 10.2M
$115 $115
-1.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Lebanon
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$793 LBP 70.9M
$1,678 $1,678
-52.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$423 LBP 37.8M
$1,313 $1,313
-67.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,765 LBP 157.9M
$2,649 $2,649
-33.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$882 LBP 78.9M
$2,183 $2,183
-59.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,105 LBP 277.9M
$3,374 $3,374
-7.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,459 LBP 130.6M
$2,661 $2,661
-45.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Lebanon
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$682 LBP 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.
Accommodation & Living
Lebanon
$423
United States
$1.3K 211% $891
Groceries & Markets
Lebanon
$256
United States
$411 60.3% $155
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Lebanon
$253
United States
$352 39.1% $99
Eating Out
Lebanon
$223
United States
$327 46.5% $104
Clothing & Footwear
Lebanon
$170
United States
$137 19.1% $32
Getting Around
Lebanon
$99
United States
$86 13.2% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Lebanon
$86
United States
$75 12.9% $11

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.

Good to know
🇱🇧 Lebanon
🇺🇸 United States
🕒 Local time
17:44 5:44 PM
10:44 10:44 AM
7 h behind Lebanon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,100,075
340,110,988
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to LBP – Lebanese Pound Converter

Lebanese Pound exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 89,500 LBP (100,000 LBP = 1.12 USD). 1 EUR = 100,618 LBP (1,000,000 LBP = 9.94 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Lebanon United States 10,250 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.

Lebanon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar countries

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?