Cost of Living Comparison Between Tripoli and Beirut Cost of Living Comparison Between Tripoli and Beirut

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,076 in Tripoli versus $1,655 in Beirut.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,653 in Tripoli versus $2,680 in Beirut.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,229 in Tripoli versus $3,705 in Beirut.

Living in Tripoli costs roughly 35% less than in Beirut, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Tripoli is 22% below, Beirut is 20% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tripoli
Beirut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.01 LBP 448.8K
$12.16 LBP 1.1M
-58.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.9 LBP 4.6M
$63.7 LBP 5.7M
-20.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.95 LBP 800.7K
$10.05 LBP 899.8K
-10.95%
Cappuccino
$4.05 LBP 362.8K
$4.67 LBP 417.8K
-13.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 LBP 135.8K
$2.36 LBP 210.9K
-35.59%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 LBP 76.9K
$0.89 LBP 79.4K
-3.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.95 LBP 442.8K
$4.98 LBP 446.0K
-0.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.89 LBP 437.2K
$5.05 LBP 451.9K
-3.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tripoli
Beirut
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 LBP 113.5K
$1.93 LBP 172.6K
-34.20%
White Bread (500g)
$0.81 LBP 72.1K
$0.89 LBP 79.6K
-8.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.47 LBP 131.7K
$2.14 LBP 192.0K
-31.31%
Eggs
$1.17 LBP 104.5K
$3.65 LBP 326.4K
-67.95%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.39 LBP 1.2M
$13.65 LBP 1.2M
-1.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.52 LBP 583.3K
$10.78 LBP 965.1K
-39.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.09 LBP 992.4K
$14.25 LBP 1.3M
-22.18%
Apples (1kg)
$3.00 LBP 268.1K
$3.08 LBP 275.6K
-2.60%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 LBP 152.5K
$1.70 LBP 152.1K
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 LBP 151.3K
$1.66 LBP 148.8K
1.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.51 LBP 45.9K
$1.49 LBP 133.1K
-65.77%
Potato (1kg)
$0.62 LBP 55.6K
$1.36 LBP 121.3K
-54.41%
Onion (1kg)
$1.70 LBP 151.9K
$1.66 LBP 148.5K
2.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.93 LBP 83.0K
$1.17 LBP 104.7K
-20.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 LBP 41.2K
$0.74 LBP 66.2K
-37.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.98 LBP 267.0K
$3.03 LBP 271.5K
-1.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.99 LBP 893.9K
$9.80 LBP 877.2K
1.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 LBP 118.2K
$1.31 LBP 117.4K
0.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.50 LBP 224.1K
$2.49 LBP 222.5K
0.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Tripoli
Beirut
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.24 LBP 200.2K
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$77.1 LBP 6.9M
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.08 LBP 454.6K
$4.88 LBP 436.8K
4.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.98 LBP 87.7K
$2.30 LBP 206.3K
-57.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.27 LBP 1.8M
$22.46 LBP 2.0M
-9.75%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 LBP 88.7K
$1.00 LBP 89.9K
-1.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$52.9K LBP 4.7B
$52.5K LBP 4.7B
0.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K LBP 2.9B
$32.5K LBP 2.9B
0.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tripoli
Beirut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$231 LBP 20.7M
$227 LBP 20.4M
1.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.04 LBP 1.3M
$23.70 LBP 2.1M
-40.76%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.13 LBP 2.0M
$38.37 LBP 3.4M
-42.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tripoli
Beirut
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.39 LBP 3.5M
$84.7 LBP 7.6M
-53.52%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.38 LBP 3.1M
-
Cinema Ticket
$9.82 LBP 878.6K
$10.15 LBP 908.6K
-3.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tripoli
Beirut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$682 LBP 61.0M
$680 LBP 60.9M
0.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,466 LBP 310.2M
$10.8K LBP 967.7M
-67.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tripoli
Beirut
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.9 LBP 6.2M
$68.6 LBP 6.1M
0.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.39 LBP 4.3M
$49.01 LBP 4.4M
-1.27%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 LBP 12.4M
$138 LBP 12.4M
0.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119 LBP 10.7M
$121 LBP 10.8M
-1.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tripoli
Beirut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$408 LBP 36.5M
$929 LBP 83.1M
-56.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$200 LBP 17.9M
$504 LBP 45.1M
-60.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$737 LBP 66.0M
$2,255 LBP 201.8M
-67.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$354 LBP 31.7M
$1,058 LBP 94.7M
-66.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,173 LBP 105.0M
$3,902 LBP 349.3M
-69.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$841 LBP 75.3M
$1,805 LBP 161.6M
-53.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tripoli
Beirut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$446 LBP 39.9M
$716 LBP 64.1M
-37.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11
11
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Tripoli: September 7, 2026

Last update for Beirut: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $408 in Tripoli and $929 in Beirut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Beirut pays 61% 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: $51.0 in Tripoli vs $64.0 in Beirut for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $218 vs $281 per month, with Tripoli cheaper across the board.

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
Tripoli vs Beirut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beirut cheaper than Tripoli?
Tripoli is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 54% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Tripoli or Beirut?
On paper, salaries run 61% lower in Beirut. 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 Tripoli and Beirut?
Rent for a central apartment: $408 in Tripoli versus $929 in Beirut. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Tripoli and in Beirut?
Supermarket bills run roughly 29% higher in Beirut. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Tripoli and in Beirut?
All in, you'll spend $1,076 per month in Tripoli versus $1,655 in Beirut – a 54% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Tripoli or in Beirut?
At $1,076 in Tripoli versus $1,655 in Beirut, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tripoli but tight or insufficient in Beirut. The gap between the two cities makes Tripoli the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Tripoli 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 Tripoli gentler on the wallet – expenses run 54% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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