😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,079 in Zouk Mikael versus $1,005 in Byblos.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,677 in Zouk Mikael versus $1,614 in Byblos.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,275 in Zouk Mikael versus $2,223 in Byblos.
🌍Living in Zouk Mikael is roughly 7% more expensive than in Byblos, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Zouk Mikael19% lower, Byblos25% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Zouk Mikael
Byblos
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.73LBP 960.0K
$7.89LBP 705.7K
35.99%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.8LBP 5.3M
$42.19LBP 3.8M
41.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.77LBP 695.5K
$7.93LBP 710.1K
-2.02%
Cappuccino
$3.41LBP 305.2K
$2.91LBP 260.6K
17.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58LBP 141.1K
$0.98LBP 87.5K
61.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86LBP 77.1K
$1.01LBP 90.7K
-14.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.54LBP 317.2K
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.88LBP 436.7K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Zouk Mikael
Byblos
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70LBP 152.6K
$1.20LBP 107.2K
41.67%
White Bread(500g)
$0.30LBP 26.8K
$0.62LBP 55.8K
-51.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.80LBP 161.5K
$1.56LBP 139.6K
15.38%
Eggs
$3.08LBP 275.6K
$2.08LBP 186.4K
48.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.86LBP 434.8K
$8.98LBP 804.0K
-45.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.53LBP 853.3K
$8.07LBP 722.6K
18.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.47LBP 1.0M
$12.06LBP 1.1M
-4.89%
Apples(1kg)
$1.81LBP 162.4K
$3.05LBP 272.6K
-40.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45LBP 130.0K
$2.06LBP 184.3K
-29.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.11LBP 99.3K
$0.98LBP 87.6K
13.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.04LBP 93.4K
$1.98LBP 177.6K
-47.47%
Potato(1kg)
$0.38LBP 34.2K
$0.99LBP 88.3K
-61.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.03LBP 92.3K
$1.02LBP 91.5K
0.98%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.82LBP 73.3K
$1.02LBP 91.1K
-19.61%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55LBP 49.5K
$1.02LBP 91.0K
-46.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53LBP 226.4K
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$9.89LBP 885.1K
$3.97LBP 355.3K
149.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87LBP 77.7K
$1.50LBP 134.1K
-42.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20LBP 197.3K
$1.97LBP 176.1K
11.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Zouk Mikael
Byblos
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.03LBP 91.9K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.90LBP 438.3K
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.23LBP 110.0K
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.09LBP 1.8M
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.89LBP 79.7K
$0.96LBP 85.6K
-7.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8KLBP 3.1B
$22.2KLBP 2.0B
56.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3KLBP 2.4B
$22.8KLBP 2.0B
19.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Zouk Mikael
Byblos
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$173LBP 15.5M
$102LBP 9.1M
69.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.23LBP 3.4M
$22.14LBP 2.0M
72.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.12LBP 3.3M
$25.21LBP 2.3M
47.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Zouk Mikael
Byblos
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
-
$37.89LBP 3.4M
-
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.49LBP 1.7M
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.17LBP 731.3K
$9.90LBP 886.0K
-17.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Zouk Mikael
Byblos
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$297LBP 26.6M
$393LBP 35.2M
-24.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,449LBP 398.2M
$3,036LBP 271.7M
46.55%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Zouk Mikael
Byblos
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.1LBP 6.3M
$100LBP 9.0M
-30.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.14LBP 4.0M
$98.3LBP 8.8M
-55.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.7LBP 6.6M
$121LBP 10.8M
-38.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.8LBP 8.6M
$152LBP 13.6M
-37.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Zouk Mikael
Byblos
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$499LBP 44.7M
$298LBP 26.7M
67.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$298LBP 26.6M
$227LBP 20.3M
31.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003LBP 89.8M
$804LBP 71.9M
24.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$502LBP 44.9M
$396LBP 35.4M
26.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,346LBP 120.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$826LBP 73.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Zouk Mikael
Byblos
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$988LBP 88.4M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.25
8
-46.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Zouk Mikael: July 26, 2026
Last update for Byblos: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $499 in Zouk Mikael and $298 in Byblos. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $60.0 in Zouk Mikael vs $42.00 in Byblos. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 vs $218, with Zouk Mikael cheaper for home cooking.
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
Is Byblos cheaper than Zouk Mikael?
Byblos is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,619 in Zouk Mikael and $1,507 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.
What is the rent difference between Zouk Mikael and Byblos?
Rent for a central apartment: $499 in Zouk Mikael versus $298 in Byblos. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $297 in Zouk Mikael versus $393 in Byblos. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Zouk Mikael or in Byblos?
Dining out is cheaper in Byblos – a meal for two runs $42.00 versus $60.0 in Zouk Mikael. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Zouk Mikael or in Byblos?
At $1,005 in Byblos versus $1,079 in Zouk Mikael, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Byblos but tight or insufficient in Zouk Mikael. The gap between the two cities makes Byblos the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Zouk Mikael or in Byblos?
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 Byblos gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Zouk Mikael. 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