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