Cost of Living Comparison Between Sidon and Beirut Cost of Living Comparison Between Sidon and Beirut

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,019 in Sidon versus $1,390 in Beirut.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,708 in Sidon versus $2,293 in Beirut.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,396 in Sidon versus $3,195 in Beirut.

Living in Sidon costs roughly 27% less than in Beirut, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sidon is 24% below, Beirut is 4% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sidon
Beirut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.94 LBP 978.9K
$10.63 LBP 951.4K
2.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.6 LBP 5.4M
$59.8 LBP 5.4M
1.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.91 LBP 708.3K
$7.84 LBP 701.7K
0.89%
Cappuccino
$3.41 LBP 305.5K
$3.32 LBP 296.7K
2.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 LBP 142.9K
$1.57 LBP 140.7K
1.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 LBP 79.5K
$0.87 LBP 77.7K
2.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.57 LBP 319.1K
$3.48 LBP 311.5K
2.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.07 LBP 453.8K
$4.95 LBP 442.9K
2.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sidon
Beirut
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 LBP 152.0K
$1.77 LBP 158.6K
-3.95%
White Bread (500g)
$0.80 LBP 71.9K
$0.79 LBP 70.8K
1.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.82 LBP 162.8K
$1.82 LBP 162.5K
-
Eggs
$3.16 LBP 283.0K
$3.10 LBP 277.8K
1.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.08 LBP 991.3K
$11.08 LBP 992.0K
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.35 LBP 837.2K
$9.37 LBP 838.3K
-0.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.65 LBP 1.0M
$11.46 LBP 1.0M
1.66%
Apples (1kg)
$1.74 LBP 155.6K
$1.74 LBP 155.9K
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 LBP 134.6K
$1.45 LBP 130.0K
3.45%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.13 LBP 101.4K
$1.14 LBP 102.2K
-0.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.06 LBP 94.8K
$1.05 LBP 94.1K
0.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.00 LBP 89.5K
$1.00 LBP 89.1K
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 LBP 92.3K
$1.04 LBP 93.4K
-0.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.82 LBP 73.3K
$0.89 LBP 79.8K
-7.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 LBP 49.7K
$0.53 LBP 47.2K
5.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.51 LBP 224.7K
$2.52 LBP 225.9K
-0.40%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.81 LBP 878.4K
$10.18 LBP 911.3K
-3.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.29 LBP 115.4K
$1.30 LBP 116.1K
-0.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 LBP 190.4K
$2.13 LBP 190.2K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sidon
Beirut
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.02 LBP 180.8K
$1.97 LBP 176.1K
2.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$71.1 LBP 6.4M
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.97 LBP 444.5K
$4.95 LBP 442.8K
0.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.28 LBP 114.7K
$1.26 LBP 113.2K
1.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.17 LBP 1.8M
$20.02 LBP 1.8M
0.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.95 LBP 85.0K
$0.93 LBP 83.3K
2.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.6K LBP 3.2B
$34.9K LBP 3.1B
2.20%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K LBP 2.5B
$28.0K LBP 2.5B
0.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sidon
Beirut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$214 LBP 19.2M
$217 LBP 19.4M
-1.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.03 LBP 3.4M
$37.42 LBP 3.3M
1.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.53 LBP 3.4M
$37.20 LBP 3.3M
0.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sidon
Beirut
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$33.48 LBP 3.0M
$68.3 LBP 6.1M
-50.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.97 LBP 892.6K
$29.66 LBP 2.7M
-66.39%
Cinema Ticket
$6.18 LBP 552.8K
$7.83 LBP 700.5K
-21.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sidon
Beirut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 LBP 27.4M
$305 LBP 27.3M
0.51%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,454 LBP 398.6M
$4,511 LBP 403.7M
-1.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sidon
Beirut
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.1 LBP 6.4M
$69.7 LBP 6.2M
1.94%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.83 LBP 4.0M
$44.73 LBP 4.0M
0.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$121 LBP 10.9M
$121 LBP 10.9M
-0.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.2 LBP 8.6M
$94.7 LBP 8.5M
1.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sidon
Beirut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$253 LBP 22.6M
$789 LBP 70.6M
-67.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$102 LBP 9.1M
$376 LBP 33.7M
-72.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$596 LBP 53.4M
$1,956 LBP 175.1M
-69.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$394 LBP 35.2M
$970 LBP 86.8M
-59.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,944 LBP 352.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,952 LBP 174.7M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sidon
Beirut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$715 LBP 64.0M
-
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 Sidon: July 12, 2026

Last update for Beirut: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $253 in Sidon and $789 in Beirut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $61.0 in Sidon vs $60.0 in Beirut. Groceries flip the comparison at $233 vs $233, 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, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 36% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,529 in Sidon and $2,085 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: $253 in Sidon versus $789 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 in 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 and in Beirut?
All in, you'll spend $1,019 per month in Sidon versus $1,390 in Beirut – a 36% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Sidon or in Beirut?
At $1,019 in Sidon versus $1,390 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 in 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 Sidon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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