Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Lebanon Cost of Living Comparison Between United States and Lebanon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,622 in United States versus $1,041 in Lebanon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,830 in United States versus $1,647 in Lebanon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,038 in United States versus $2,252 in Lebanon.

Living in United States is roughly 152% more expensive than in Lebanon on average.

United States (91% above) and Lebanon (24% below) straddle the global median.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Lebanon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$19.78 $19.78
$10.94 LBP 979.0K
80.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.4 $81.4
$50.7 LBP 4.5M
60.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.11 $12.11
$10.17 LBP 910.6K
19.08%
Cappuccino
$5.44 $5.44
$4.06 LBP 363.5K
33.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 $2.67
$2.15 LBP 192.6K
24.19%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08 $2.08
$0.91 LBP 81.9K
128.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.06 $6.06
$5.04 LBP 451.1K
20.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.14 $8.14
$5.07 LBP 453.9K
60.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Lebanon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.77 LBP 158.0K
-40.68%
White Bread (500g)
$3.65 $3.65
$0.88 LBP 78.5K
314.77%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.45 $4.45
$1.99 LBP 178.3K
123.62%
Eggs
$4.35 $4.35
$3.51 LBP 314.4K
23.93%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.73 $12.73
$11.05 LBP 988.6K
15.20%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.46 $12.46
$10.14 LBP 907.3K
22.88%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.95 $16.95
$12.46 LBP 1.1M
36.04%
Apples (1kg)
$5.30 $5.30
$2.67 LBP 239.1K
98.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 $1.70
$1.68 LBP 150.3K
1.19%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.40 $4.40
$1.51 LBP 135.2K
191.39%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.01 $5.01
$1.29 LBP 115.7K
288.37%
Potato (1kg)
$2.87 $2.87
$1.21 LBP 108.3K
137.19%
Onion (1kg)
$3.13 $3.13
$1.48 LBP 132.4K
111.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.32 $2.32
$1.04 LBP 93.1K
123.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.34 $2.34
$0.81 LBP 72.2K
188.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.55 $10.55
$2.95 LBP 264.1K
257.63%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.94 $14.94
$9.86 LBP 882.5K
51.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 $2.12
$1.35 LBP 120.4K
57.04%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 $3.69
$2.30 LBP 206.2K
60.43%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Lebanon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.37 $2.37
$2.05 LBP 183.7K
15.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.1 $65.1
$76.4 LBP 6.8M
-14.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.42 $3.42
$4.93 LBP 441.3K
-30.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.89 $1.89
$1.99 LBP 177.7K
-5.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.16 $30.16
$22.75 LBP 2.0M
32.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.98 $0.98
$1.03 LBP 92.1K
-4.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9K $35.9K
$44.3K LBP 4.0B
-18.87%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K $25.9K
$31.8K LBP 2.8B
-18.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Lebanon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$218 $218
$199 LBP 17.8M
9.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$61.0 $61.0
$22.25 LBP 2.0M
174.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.8 $74.8
$36.94 LBP 3.3M
102.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Lebanon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.42 $44.42
$64.2 LBP 5.7M
-30.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.53 $22.53
$29.41 LBP 2.6M
-23.39%
Cinema Ticket
$14.80 $14.80
$10.19 LBP 911.6K
45.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Lebanon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,476 $1,476
$578 LBP 51.7M
155.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.9K $25.9K
$8,184 LBP 732.5M
216.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Lebanon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.4 $54.4
$73.0 LBP 6.5M
-25.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.59 $43.59
$49.43 LBP 4.4M
-11.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$92.9 $92.9
$140 LBP 12.5M
-33.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$110 LBP 9.9M
3.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Lebanon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,639 $1,639
$788 LBP 70.5M
108.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,358 $1,358
$430 LBP 38.5M
215.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,699 $2,699
$1,746 LBP 156.2M
54.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,199 $2,199
$897 LBP 80.3M
145.20%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,269 $3,269
$3,084 LBP 276.0M
5.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,589 $2,589
$1,459 LBP 130.6M
77.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Lebanon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,357 $4,357
$713 LBP 63.8M
511.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.21
10.88
-42.92%

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

Last update for United States: August 30, 2026

Last update for Lebanon: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,606 in United States, $195 in Lebanon. Capital cities: $1,373 in Columbia, TN vs $943 in Beirut.

National salary averages: $4,519 in United States, $703 in Lebanon. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 724% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 27% more in United States.

Public transport is 575% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 543% higher in United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in United States.

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
United States vs Lebanon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Lebanon and United States?
At $841 per month in Lebanon and $3,080 in United States, there's a 266% 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 simply cheaper in Lebanon: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. 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 in United States is consistently higher than in Lebanon across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Lebanon or in United States?
In Lebanon, $2,500 covers most cities easily; in 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 United States?
It depends on what you're after: Lebanon wins on affordability; United States may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.

United States vs other spots: cost of living compared

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