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: $2,643 in United States versus $948 in Lebanon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,857 in United States versus $1,474 in Lebanon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,070 in United States versus $2,000 in Lebanon.

Living in United States is roughly 179% more expensive than Lebanon on average.

United States (97% above) and Lebanon (29% below) straddle the global median.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Lebanon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.04 $20.04
$10.16 LBP 909.4K
97.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$76.0 $76.0
$49.51 LBP 4.4M
53.54%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.42 $11.42
$7.89 LBP 706.0K
44.74%
Cappuccino
$5.39 $5.39
$2.94 LBP 262.8K
83.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.55 $2.55
$1.53 LBP 136.7K
66.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04 $2.04
$0.94 LBP 84.2K
117.02%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.14 $6.14
$4.05 LBP 362.3K
51.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.18 $7.18
$4.99 LBP 446.2K
43.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Lebanon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.74 LBP 156.1K
-40.23%
White Bread (500g)
$3.65 $3.65
$0.78 LBP 69.5K
367.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.73 $4.73
$1.54 LBP 138.0K
207.14%
Eggs
$4.38 $4.38
$2.81 LBP 251.1K
55.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.76 $12.76
$9.69 LBP 867.1K
31.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.42 $12.42
$8.55 LBP 765.3K
45.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.41 $16.41
$10.79 LBP 966.0K
52.09%
Apples (1kg)
$5.42 $5.42
$1.56 LBP 139.5K
247.44%
Banana (1kg)
$1.65 $1.65
$1.46 LBP 130.9K
13.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.59 $4.59
$1.05 LBP 93.9K
337.14%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.91 $4.91
$1.04 LBP 93.2K
372.12%
Potato (1kg)
$2.92 $2.92
$0.77 LBP 69.3K
279.22%
Onion (1kg)
$3.13 $3.13
$0.99 LBP 88.4K
216.16%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.26 $2.26
$0.81 LBP 72.3K
179.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.30 $2.30
$0.63 LBP 56.3K
265.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.89 $9.89
$2.49 LBP 222.5K
297.19%
Wine (Bottle)
$15.10 $15.10
$10.06 LBP 900.6K
50.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91 $1.91
$1.20 LBP 107.3K
59.17%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$2.01 LBP 179.6K
82.09%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Lebanon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.48 $2.48
$2.03 LBP 182.1K
22.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.8 $64.8
$71.1 LBP 6.4M
-8.78%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.84 $3.84
$4.86 LBP 435.0K
-20.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.76 $1.76
$1.47 LBP 131.9K
19.73%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.58 $30.58
$25.37 LBP 2.3M
20.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.96 $0.96
$0.95 LBP 84.9K
1.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K $30.5K
$29.5K LBP 2.6B
3.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K $26.4K
$25.0K LBP 2.2B
5.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Lebanon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$204 $204
$178 LBP 15.9M
14.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$57.3 $57.3
$34.31 LBP 3.1M
66.92%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$71.2 $71.2
$37.06 LBP 3.3M
92.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Lebanon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$46.67 $46.67
$51.0 LBP 4.6M
-8.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.12 $22.12
$23.62 LBP 2.1M
-6.35%
Cinema Ticket
$13.84 $13.84
$8.22 LBP 735.4K
68.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Lebanon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,384 $1,384
$274 LBP 24.6M
404.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$22.7K $22.7K
$3,802 LBP 340.3M
497.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Lebanon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.0 $53.0
$59.3 LBP 5.3M
-10.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.17 $43.17
$52.3 LBP 4.7M
-17.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$90.6 $90.6
$109 LBP 9.8M
-16.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$114 $114
$93.5 LBP 8.4M
22.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Lebanon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,766 $1,766
$569 LBP 50.9M
210.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,459 $1,459
$297 LBP 26.6M
391.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,832 $2,832
$1,281 LBP 114.6M
121.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,411 $2,411
$632 LBP 56.6M
281.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,287 $3,287
$2,990 LBP 267.6M
9.96%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,650 $2,650
$1,604 LBP 143.5M
65.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Lebanon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,379 $4,379
$653 LBP 58.5M
570.15%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.51
10.94
-40.49%

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

Last update for United States: May 30, 2026

Last update for Lebanon: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $1,637 in United States, $171 in Lebanon. Capital cities: $2,591 in Washington, DC vs $809 in Beirut.

National salary averages: $4,500 in United States, $673 in Lebanon. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 857% higher in United States.

Dining out costs 43% more in United States.

Public transport is 79% more expensive in United States.

Salaries are 569% higher in United States, giving United States stronger purchasing power.

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 $749 per month in Lebanon and $3,212 in United States, there's a 329% 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?
Lebanon is simply cheaper day-to-day: 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 beats 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 $1,500 a realistic budget in Lebanon or United States?
In Lebanon, $1,500 covers most cities easily. In United States, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Lebanon or 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

Similar countries