🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,004 in Zouk Mikael versus $1,655 in Beirut.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Zouk Mikael versus $2,680 in Beirut.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,150 in Zouk Mikael versus $3,705 in Beirut.
🌍Living in Zouk Mikael costs roughly 39% less than in Beirut, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Zouk Mikael is 27% below, Beirut is 20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zouk Mikael
Beirut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.85LBP 1.1M
$12.16LBP 1.1M
-2.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$63.5LBP 5.7M
$63.7LBP 5.7M
-0.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.18LBP 911.4K
$10.05LBP 899.8K
1.29%
Cappuccino
$4.59LBP 411.0K
$4.67LBP 417.8K
-1.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29LBP 205.4K
$2.36LBP 210.9K
-2.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91LBP 81.5K
$0.89LBP 79.4K
2.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.13LBP 458.9K
$4.98LBP 446.0K
3.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93LBP 441.1K
$5.05LBP 451.9K
-2.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zouk Mikael
Beirut
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.86LBP 166.4K
$1.93LBP 172.6K
-3.63%
White Bread(500g)
$0.90LBP 80.4K
$0.89LBP 79.6K
1.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.20LBP 197.0K
$2.14LBP 192.0K
2.80%
Eggs
$3.50LBP 313.3K
$3.65LBP 326.4K
-4.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.37LBP 1.2M
$13.65LBP 1.2M
-2.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.39LBP 930.0K
$10.78LBP 965.1K
-3.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.99LBP 1.3M
$14.25LBP 1.3M
-1.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.99LBP 267.5K
$3.08LBP 275.6K
-2.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64LBP 146.8K
$1.70LBP 152.1K
-3.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.68LBP 150.4K
$1.66LBP 148.8K
1.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52LBP 136.0K
$1.49LBP 133.1K
2.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40LBP 125.1K
$1.36LBP 121.3K
2.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63LBP 145.8K
$1.66LBP 148.5K
-1.81%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16LBP 103.7K
$1.17LBP 104.7K
-0.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67LBP 60.4K
$0.74LBP 66.2K
-9.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.94LBP 263.4K
$3.03LBP 271.5K
-2.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.90LBP 885.8K
$9.80LBP 877.2K
1.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32LBP 118.0K
$1.31LBP 117.4K
0.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47LBP 220.9K
$2.49LBP 222.5K
-0.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Zouk Mikael
Beirut
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$2.24LBP 200.2K
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$77.1LBP 6.9M
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.88LBP 436.9K
$4.88LBP 436.8K
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.27LBP 203.5K
$2.30LBP 206.3K
-1.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$22.61LBP 2.0M
$22.46LBP 2.0M
0.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.05LBP 93.5K
$1.00LBP 89.9K
5.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$53.7KLBP 4.8B
$52.5KLBP 4.7B
2.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2KLBP 2.9B
$32.5KLBP 2.9B
-0.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zouk Mikael
Beirut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$229LBP 20.5M
$227LBP 20.4M
0.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.00LBP 2.1M
$23.70LBP 2.1M
-2.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.36LBP 3.4M
$38.37LBP 3.4M
-0.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zouk Mikael
Beirut
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$84.7LBP 7.6M
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.38LBP 3.1M
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.18LBP 910.7K
$10.15LBP 908.6K
0.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zouk Mikael
Beirut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$694LBP 62.1M
$680LBP 60.9M
2.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.9KLBP 971.5M
$10.8KLBP 967.7M
0.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zouk Mikael
Beirut
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.1LBP 6.0M
$68.6LBP 6.1M
-2.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.17LBP 4.4M
$49.01LBP 4.4M
0.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$137LBP 12.2M
$138LBP 12.4M
-1.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$119LBP 10.7M
$121LBP 10.8M
-1.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zouk Mikael
Beirut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$929LBP 83.1M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$504LBP 45.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
-
$2,255LBP 201.8M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
-
$1,058LBP 94.7M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$3,902LBP 349.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,805LBP 161.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zouk Mikael
Beirut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$716LBP 64.1M
-
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 Zouk Mikael: September 7, 2026
Last update for Beirut: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒Dining out: $64.0 in Zouk Mikael vs $64.0 in Beirut for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $275 vs $281 per month, with Zouk Mikael 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
Zouk Mikael vs Beirut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beirut cheaper than Zouk Mikael?
Zouk Mikael is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 65% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,506 in Zouk Mikael and $2,482 in Beirut 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.
How do food prices compare in Zouk Mikael and in Beirut?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Beirut. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Zouk Mikael and in Beirut?
All in, you'll spend $1,004 per month in Zouk Mikael versus $1,655 in Beirut – a 65% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Zouk Mikael or in Beirut?
At $1,004 in Zouk Mikael versus $1,655 in Beirut, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Zouk Mikael but tight or insufficient in Beirut. The gap between the two cities makes Zouk Mikael the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Zouk Mikael 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 Zouk Mikael gentler on the wallet – expenses run 65% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Zouk Mikael vs other spots: cost of living compared