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: $1,066 in Zahlah versus $992 in Byblos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,666 in Zahlah versus $1,575 in Byblos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,265 in Zahlah versus $2,158 in Byblos.

Living in Zahlah is roughly 7% more expensive than Byblos, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zahlah 20% lower, Byblos 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.98 LBP 982.4K

$7.84 LBP 701.4K

40.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.6 LBP 5.4M

$43.18 LBP 3.9M

40.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.88 LBP 705.6K

$7.99 LBP 715.0K

-1.38%

Cappuccino

$3.42 LBP 306.3K

$3.05 LBP 273.2K

12.13%

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

$1.60 LBP 142.9K

$0.98 LBP 87.5K

63.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.92 LBP 82.4K

$1.03 LBP 91.9K

-10.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.44 LBP 307.6K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 LBP 180.1K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 LBP 91.2K

$1.20 LBP 107.3K

-15.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.79 LBP 71.1K

$0.65 LBP 58.3K

21.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.75 LBP 157.0K

$1.56 LBP 139.3K

12.18%

Eggs

$3.15 LBP 282.0K

$2.14 LBP 191.1K

47.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.08 LBP 991.2K

$8.83 LBP 790.7K

25.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.22 LBP 825.5K

$8.18 LBP 732.3K

12.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.57 LBP 1.0M

$11.79 LBP 1.1M

-1.87%

Apples (1kg)

$1.80 LBP 161.3K

$3.02 LBP 270.2K

-40.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 LBP 136.4K

$2.05 LBP 183.8K

-25.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 LBP 101.6K

$0.98 LBP 87.6K

16.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 LBP 93.7K

$1.98 LBP 176.8K

-46.97%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 LBP 82.9K

$0.99 LBP 88.3K

-6.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 LBP 92.9K

$0.98 LBP 88.1K

6.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 LBP 73.2K

$0.98 LBP 88.1K

-16.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 LBP 46.4K

$1.02 LBP 91.7K

-49.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 LBP 219.4K

Wine (Bottle)

$9.93 LBP 888.8K

$4.02 LBP 360.2K

147.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 LBP 110.0K

$1.50 LBP 134.1K

-18.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 LBP 198.5K

$1.98 LBP 177.5K

12.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 LBP 88.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.87 LBP 435.5K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.27 LBP 113.4K

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$19.86 LBP 1.8M

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 LBP 84.0K

$0.91 LBP 81.7K

3.30%

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

$34.4K LBP 3.1B

$22.1K LBP 2.0B

55.96%

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

$28.1K LBP 2.5B

$22.3K LBP 2.0B

25.95%

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

$218 LBP 19.5M

$103 LBP 9.2M

111.77%

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

$37.68 LBP 3.4M

$22.16 LBP 2.0M

70.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.38 LBP 3.3M

$25.31 LBP 2.3M

47.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.57 LBP 3.4M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.88 LBP 1.7M

Cinema Ticket

$8.09 LBP 723.8K

$9.98 LBP 893.4K

-18.94%

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

$304 LBP 27.2M

$401 LBP 35.9M

-24.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,375 LBP 391.6M

$2,996 LBP 268.1M

46.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$69.8 LBP 6.2M

$100 LBP 9.0M

-30.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.85 LBP 4.0M

$98.1 LBP 8.8M

-54.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 LBP 11.0M

$119 LBP 10.7M

3.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.6 LBP 8.5M

$150 LBP 13.5M

-37.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$299 LBP 26.7M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$202 LBP 18.1M

$229 LBP 20.5M

-11.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$790 LBP 70.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$407 LBP 36.4M

$400 LBP 35.8M

1.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,324 LBP 118.5M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$848 LBP 75.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,004 LBP 89.8M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.16

39.50%

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

Last update for Zahlah: June 1, 2026

Last update for Byblos: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $61.0 in Zahlah vs $43.00 in Byblos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $225 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

Byblos is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,600 in Zahlah and $1,488 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 $304 in Zahlah versus $401 in Byblos. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Byblos – a meal for two runs $43.00 versus $61.0 in Zahlah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Byblos gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 Byblos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Zahlah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.