Cost of Living Comparison Between Sidon and BeirutCost of Living Comparison Between Sidon and Beirut
Monthly Cost of Living
πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,023 in Sidon versus $1,437 in Beirut.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,745 in Sidon versus $2,353 in Beirut.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,468 in Sidon versus $3,269 in Beirut.
πLiving in Sidon costs roughly 29% less than in Beirut, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πThe two cities straddle the global median: Sidon is 24% below, Beirut is 7% above.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Sidon
Beirut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.96LBPΒ 980.9K
$10.76LBPΒ 963.0K
1.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.6LBPΒ 5.4M
$59.7LBPΒ 5.3M
1.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.09LBPΒ 723.9K
$8.04LBPΒ 720.0K
0.62%
Cappuccino
$3.28LBPΒ 293.3K
$3.27LBPΒ 292.4K
0.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66LBPΒ 148.2K
$1.58LBPΒ 141.4K
5.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94LBPΒ 84.5K
$0.92LBPΒ 82.4K
2.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.57LBPΒ 319.5K
$3.45LBPΒ 308.9K
3.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.13LBPΒ 459.0K
$5.06LBPΒ 453.3K
1.38%
π Groceries & Markets
Sidon
Beirut
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.79LBPΒ 160.0K
$1.79LBPΒ 160.5K
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.81LBPΒ 72.1K
$0.85LBPΒ 76.5K
-4.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.84LBPΒ 164.5K
$1.82LBPΒ 163.3K
1.10%
Eggs
$3.19LBPΒ 285.9K
$3.19LBPΒ 285.4K
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.11LBPΒ 994.0K
$11.51LBPΒ 1.0M
-3.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.57LBPΒ 856.3K
$9.60LBPΒ 859.6K
-0.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.28LBPΒ 1.0M
$11.36LBPΒ 1.0M
-0.70%
Apples(1kg)
$1.74LBPΒ 155.9K
$1.73LBPΒ 154.6K
0.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.53LBPΒ 136.8K
$1.45LBPΒ 129.4K
5.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.14LBPΒ 101.7K
$1.15LBPΒ 103.0K
-0.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.06LBPΒ 94.5K
$1.08LBPΒ 96.9K
-1.85%
Potato(1kg)
$1.01LBPΒ 90.6K
$0.99LBPΒ 88.2K
2.02%
Onion(1kg)
$0.99LBPΒ 88.9K
$1.04LBPΒ 92.8K
-4.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89LBPΒ 79.4K
$0.81LBPΒ 72.8K
9.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57LBPΒ 50.7K
$0.52LBPΒ 46.7K
9.62%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.46LBPΒ 220.0K
$2.46LBPΒ 220.6K
-
Wine(Bottle)
$9.97LBPΒ 892.2K
$9.95LBPΒ 890.6K
0.20%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23LBPΒ 110.5K
$1.24LBPΒ 110.6K
-0.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20LBPΒ 196.8K
$2.20LBPΒ 197.3K
-
π Getting Around
Sidon
Beirut
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.02LBPΒ 180.9K
$1.96LBPΒ 175.4K
3.06%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$71.1LBPΒ 6.4M
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.05LBPΒ 451.6K
$4.94LBPΒ 442.2K
2.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.24LBPΒ 110.7K
$1.28LBPΒ 114.5K
-3.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.16LBPΒ 1.8M
$19.91LBPΒ 1.8M
1.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.96LBPΒ 86.1K
$0.90LBPΒ 80.9K
6.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6KLBPΒ 3.1B
$34.8KLBPΒ 3.1B
-0.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8KLBPΒ 2.5B
$27.6KLBPΒ 2.5B
0.64%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sidon
Beirut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$215LBPΒ 19.2M
$218LBPΒ 19.5M
-1.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.11LBPΒ 3.3M
$37.46LBPΒ 3.4M
-0.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.07LBPΒ 3.3M
$37.30LBPΒ 3.3M
-0.62%
π Sport & Entertainment
Sidon
Beirut
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$32.44LBPΒ 2.9M
$68.4LBPΒ 6.1M
-52.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.81LBPΒ 878.0K
$29.84LBPΒ 2.7M
-67.12%
Cinema Ticket
$6.13LBPΒ 548.9K
$8.13LBPΒ 727.3K
-24.60%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Sidon
Beirut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$300LBPΒ 26.9M
$297LBPΒ 26.6M
1.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,393LBPΒ 393.2M
$4,404LBPΒ 394.1M
-0.23%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Sidon
Beirut
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.7LBPΒ 6.4M
$71.6LBPΒ 6.4M
0.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.31LBPΒ 4.0M
$44.80LBPΒ 4.0M
-1.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$122LBPΒ 10.9M
$120LBPΒ 10.8M
1.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.5LBPΒ 8.5M
$95.5LBPΒ 8.6M
-1.07%
π Accommodation & Living
Sidon
Beirut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$246LBPΒ 22.0M
$809LBPΒ 72.4M
-69.61%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$98.1LBPΒ 8.8M
$370LBPΒ 33.1M
-73.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$598LBPΒ 53.6M
$2,023LBPΒ 181.0M
-70.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$397LBPΒ 35.5M
$950LBPΒ 85.0M
-58.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,019LBPΒ 91.2M
$3,685LBPΒ 329.8M
-72.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$866LBPΒ 77.5M
$1,978LBPΒ 177.1M
-56.22%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Sidon
Beirut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$651LBPΒ 58.2M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.16
11.16
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sidon: June 1, 2026
Last update for Beirut: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $246 in Sidon and $809 in Beirut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
πDining out: $61.0 in Sidon vs $60.0 in Beirut. Groceries flip the comparison at $235 vs $236, with Sidon 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
Sidon vs Beirut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beirut cheaper than Sidon?
Sidon is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 40% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,534 in Sidon and $2,155 in Beirut 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 Sidon and Beirut?
Rent for a central apartment: $246 in Sidon 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 Sidon and Beirut?
Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Beirut. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Sidon vs Beirut?
All in, you'll spend $1,023 per month in Sidon versus $1,437 in Beirut β a 40% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Sidon or Beirut?
At $1,023 in Sidon versus $1,437 in Beirut, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sidon but tight or insufficient in Beirut. The gap between the two cities makes Sidon the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Sidon or Beirut?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better β 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 Sidon gentler on the wallet β expenses run 40% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.