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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,004 in Zouk Mikael versus $995 in Byblos.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,577 in Zouk Mikael versus $1,617 in Byblos.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,150 in Zouk Mikael versus $2,239 in Byblos.

Living in Zouk Mikael is roughly 1% more expensive than in Byblos, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Zouk Mikael 27% lower, Byblos 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.85 LBP 1.1M

$8.95 LBP 801.0K

32.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.5 LBP 5.7M

$42.78 LBP 3.8M

48.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.18 LBP 911.4K

$6.99 LBP 625.2K

45.64%

Cappuccino

$4.59 LBP 411.0K

$3.06 LBP 273.9K

50.00%

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

$2.29 LBP 205.4K

$1.03 LBP 91.9K

122.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 LBP 81.5K

$1.01 LBP 90.4K

-9.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.13 LBP 458.9K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.93 LBP 441.1K

Milk (1 liter)

$1.86 LBP 166.4K

$1.19 LBP 106.9K

56.30%

White Bread (500g)

$0.90 LBP 80.4K

$0.62 LBP 55.6K

45.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 LBP 197.0K

$1.60 LBP 143.0K

37.50%

Eggs

$3.50 LBP 313.3K

$2.15 LBP 192.9K

62.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.37 LBP 1.2M

$9.12 LBP 816.1K

46.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.39 LBP 930.0K

$8.29 LBP 742.1K

25.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.99 LBP 1.3M

$11.95 LBP 1.1M

17.07%

Apples (1kg)

$2.99 LBP 267.5K

$3.07 LBP 274.6K

-2.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 LBP 146.8K

$2.03 LBP 181.7K

-19.21%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.68 LBP 150.4K

$0.97 LBP 86.8K

73.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 LBP 136.0K

$2.06 LBP 183.9K

-26.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 LBP 125.1K

$0.97 LBP 87.0K

44.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 LBP 145.8K

$1.02 LBP 91.5K

59.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 LBP 103.7K

$1.02 LBP 91.5K

13.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 LBP 60.4K

$0.98 LBP 87.5K

-31.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.94 LBP 263.4K

Wine (Bottle)

$9.90 LBP 885.8K

$4.02 LBP 359.6K

146.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 LBP 118.0K

$1.49 LBP 133.1K

-11.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 LBP 220.9K

$2.06 LBP 184.3K

19.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 LBP 90.7K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.88 LBP 436.9K

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.27 LBP 203.5K

$0.98 LBP 87.6K

131.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$22.61 LBP 2.0M

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.05 LBP 93.5K

$0.90 LBP 80.5K

16.67%

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

$53.7K LBP 4.8B

$22.9K LBP 2.0B

134.46%

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

$32.2K LBP 2.9B

$22.4K LBP 2.0B

43.69%

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

$229 LBP 20.5M

$102 LBP 9.1M

125.06%

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

$23.00 LBP 2.1M

$22.62 LBP 2.0M

1.68%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.36 LBP 3.4M

$25.43 LBP 2.3M

50.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.38 LBP 3.3M

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.69 LBP 3.6M

Cinema Ticket

$10.18 LBP 910.7K

$10.17 LBP 910.3K

0.10%

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

$694 LBP 62.1M

$400 LBP 35.8M

73.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.9K LBP 971.5M

$3,051 LBP 273.1M

255.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.1 LBP 6.0M

$98.3 LBP 8.8M

-31.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.17 LBP 4.4M

$100 LBP 9.0M

-50.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 LBP 12.2M

$119 LBP 10.7M

14.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 LBP 10.7M

$151 LBP 13.5M

-20.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$303 LBP 27.1M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$221 LBP 19.8M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$790 LBP 70.7M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$395 LBP 35.3M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,323 LBP 118.4M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$852 LBP 76.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$998 LBP 89.3M

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 Zouk Mikael: September 7, 2026

Last update for Byblos: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $64.0 in Zouk Mikael vs $43.00 in Byblos for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $275 vs $220 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

Zouk Mikael vs Byblos: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Byblos is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,506 in Zouk Mikael and $1,493 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 $694 in Zouk Mikael versus $400 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 $64.0 in Zouk Mikael. 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.

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