Cost of Living Comparison Between Zahlah and Byblos Cost of Living Comparison Between Zahlah and Byblos

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $986 in Zahlah versus $992 in Byblos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,607 in Zahlah versus $1,626 in Byblos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,227 in Zahlah versus $2,261 in Byblos.

Living in Zahlah costs roughly 1% less than in Byblos, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zahlah 28% lower, Byblos 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.07 LBP 1.1M

$9.24 LBP 827.3K

30.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.6 LBP 5.7M

$43.14 LBP 3.9M

47.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.87 LBP 883.7K

$7.06 LBP 631.7K

39.80%

Cappuccino

$4.70 LBP 420.5K

$3.08 LBP 275.2K

52.60%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 LBP 203.4K

$0.97 LBP 87.0K

134.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 LBP 74.2K

$0.98 LBP 87.7K

-15.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.01 LBP 448.8K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.14 LBP 459.9K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.93 LBP 172.7K

$1.26 LBP 112.3K

53.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.87 LBP 78.1K

$0.61 LBP 54.6K

42.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 LBP 189.3K

$1.55 LBP 139.1K

36.77%

Eggs

$3.53 LBP 315.8K

$2.16 LBP 193.0K

63.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.26 LBP 1.2M

$8.78 LBP 785.9K

51.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.47 LBP 937.3K

$8.29 LBP 741.7K

26.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.33 LBP 1.3M

$11.77 LBP 1.1M

21.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 LBP 266.9K

$2.97 LBP 265.4K

0.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 LBP 152.7K

$2.03 LBP 181.7K

-15.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 LBP 151.7K

$0.99 LBP 88.4K

70.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 LBP 136.0K

$1.98 LBP 176.8K

-23.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.42 LBP 126.8K

$0.99 LBP 88.2K

43.43%

Onion (1kg)

$1.69 LBP 150.8K

$0.99 LBP 88.4K

70.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 LBP 103.9K

$0.99 LBP 88.3K

17.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 LBP 61.9K

$0.98 LBP 87.6K

-29.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.09 LBP 276.4K

Wine (Bottle)

$10.10 LBP 903.7K

$3.94 LBP 352.2K

156.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.34 LBP 119.7K

$1.56 LBP 139.8K

-14.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 LBP 229.3K

$1.95 LBP 174.5K

31.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 LBP 90.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.08 LBP 454.4K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.26 LBP 202.4K

$0.98 LBP 87.8K

130.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.27 LBP 2.0M

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 LBP 89.4K

$0.90 LBP 81.0K

11.11%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$53.7K LBP 4.8B

$22.8K LBP 2.0B

134.96%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.6K LBP 2.9B

$22.6K LBP 2.0B

44.48%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$232 LBP 20.8M

$101 LBP 9.0M

129.97%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$23.16 LBP 2.1M

$22.88 LBP 2.0M

1.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.07 LBP 3.4M

$25.04 LBP 2.2M

52.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.03 LBP 3.4M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.82 LBP 3.6M

Cinema Ticket

$9.91 LBP 887.0K

$10.08 LBP 902.2K

-1.69%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$688 LBP 61.6M

$402 LBP 36.0M

71.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.7K LBP 957.1M

$2,973 LBP 266.1M

259.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.3 LBP 6.1M

$101 LBP 9.0M

-32.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.59 LBP 4.3M

$99.8 LBP 8.9M

-51.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 LBP 12.3M

$121 LBP 10.8M

13.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 LBP 10.7M

$149 LBP 13.3M

-19.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$294 LBP 26.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$226 LBP 20.3M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$815 LBP 72.9M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 LBP 35.5M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,340 LBP 119.9M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$849 LBP 76.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$991 LBP 88.7M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

37.50%

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

Last update for Zahlah: September 14, 2026

Last update for Byblos: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $64.0 in Zahlah vs $43.00 in Byblos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $278 vs $218 per month, with Byblos 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

Zahlah vs Byblos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zahlah is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,479 in Zahlah and $1,487 in Byblos 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.

Childcare runs $688 in Zahlah versus $402 in Byblos. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Zahlah – a meal for two runs $64.0 versus $43.00 in Byblos. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $986 in Zahlah versus $992 in Byblos, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zahlah but tight or insufficient in Byblos. The gap between the two cities makes Zahlah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Zahlah and Byblos are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Zahlah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Byblos. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.