Cost of Living Comparison Between Zouk Mikael and Beirut Cost of Living Comparison Between Zouk Mikael and Beirut

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,098 in Zouk Mikael versus $1,390 in Beirut.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,697 in Zouk Mikael versus $2,293 in Beirut.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,296 in Zouk Mikael versus $3,195 in Beirut.

Living in Zouk Mikael costs roughly 21% less than in Beirut, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Zouk Mikael is 18% below, Beirut is 4% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zouk Mikael
Beirut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.66 LBP 954.1K
$10.63 LBP 951.4K
0.28%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.3 LBP 5.4M
$59.8 LBP 5.4M
0.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.98 LBP 714.1K
$7.84 LBP 701.7K
1.79%
Cappuccino
$3.26 LBP 291.8K
$3.32 LBP 296.7K
-1.81%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 LBP 142.1K
$1.57 LBP 140.7K
1.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 LBP 81.9K
$0.87 LBP 77.7K
5.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.55 LBP 317.3K
$3.48 LBP 311.5K
2.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.94 LBP 442.1K
$4.95 LBP 442.9K
-0.20%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zouk Mikael
Beirut
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.71 LBP 152.8K
$1.77 LBP 158.6K
-3.39%
White Bread (500g)
$0.30 LBP 26.5K
$0.79 LBP 70.8K
-62.03%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.83 LBP 163.5K
$1.82 LBP 162.5K
0.55%
Eggs
$3.21 LBP 287.0K
$3.10 LBP 277.8K
3.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.98 LBP 445.7K
$11.08 LBP 992.0K
-55.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.41 LBP 842.6K
$9.37 LBP 838.3K
0.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.62 LBP 1.0M
$11.46 LBP 1.0M
1.40%
Apples (1kg)
$1.75 LBP 156.3K
$1.74 LBP 155.9K
0.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 LBP 137.1K
$1.45 LBP 130.0K
5.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.15 LBP 102.6K
$1.14 LBP 102.2K
0.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.05 LBP 93.7K
$1.05 LBP 94.1K
-
Potato (1kg)
$0.42 LBP 37.5K
$1.00 LBP 89.1K
-58.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 LBP 92.9K
$1.04 LBP 93.4K
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.81 LBP 72.9K
$0.89 LBP 79.8K
-8.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 LBP 46.4K
$0.53 LBP 47.2K
-1.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.48 LBP 222.4K
$2.52 LBP 225.9K
-1.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.92 LBP 888.2K
$10.18 LBP 911.3K
-2.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 LBP 77.3K
$1.30 LBP 116.1K
-33.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.13 LBP 190.6K
$2.13 LBP 190.2K
-
🚌 Getting Around
Zouk Mikael
Beirut
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.97 LBP 176.1K
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$71.1 LBP 6.4M
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.09 LBP 455.4K
$4.95 LBP 442.8K
2.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.26 LBP 112.8K
$1.26 LBP 113.2K
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.95 LBP 1.8M
$20.02 LBP 1.8M
-0.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 LBP 78.7K
$0.93 LBP 83.3K
-5.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.0K LBP 3.1B
$34.9K LBP 3.1B
0.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3K LBP 2.4B
$28.0K LBP 2.5B
-2.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zouk Mikael
Beirut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$167 LBP 15.0M
$217 LBP 19.4M
-22.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.35 LBP 3.3M
$37.42 LBP 3.3M
-0.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.61 LBP 3.4M
$37.20 LBP 3.3M
1.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zouk Mikael
Beirut
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$68.3 LBP 6.1M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.66 LBP 2.7M
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.10 LBP 724.9K
$7.83 LBP 700.5K
3.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zouk Mikael
Beirut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 LBP 27.4M
$305 LBP 27.3M
0.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,529 LBP 405.4M
$4,511 LBP 403.7M
0.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zouk Mikael
Beirut
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.8 LBP 6.3M
$69.7 LBP 6.2M
1.51%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.67 LBP 4.0M
$44.73 LBP 4.0M
-0.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.9 LBP 6.7M
$121 LBP 10.9M
-38.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$93.7 LBP 8.4M
$94.7 LBP 8.5M
-1.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zouk Mikael
Beirut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$501 LBP 44.9M
$789 LBP 70.6M
-36.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$304 LBP 27.2M
$376 LBP 33.7M
-19.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$998 LBP 89.3M
$1,956 LBP 175.1M
-49.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$510 LBP 45.6M
$970 LBP 86.8M
-47.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,944 LBP 352.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,952 LBP 174.7M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zouk Mikael
Beirut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$715 LBP 64.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.25
11.16
-61.92%

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

Last update for Zouk Mikael: July 11, 2026

Last update for Beirut: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $501 in Zouk Mikael and $789 in Beirut. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $60.0 in Zouk Mikael vs $60.0 in Beirut for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $233 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, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 27% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,647 in Zouk Mikael and $2,085 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.
What is the rent difference between Zouk Mikael and Beirut?
Rent for a central apartment: $501 in Zouk Mikael versus $789 in Beirut. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Zouk Mikael and in Beirut?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% 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 $1,098 per month in Zouk Mikael versus $1,390 in Beirut – a 27% 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 $1,098 in Zouk Mikael versus $1,390 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 27% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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