What a Month in Beirut Really Costs

$723 – $1,893

A typical month here

Add up what you actually pay each month — rent, the generator, water, school, food — in fresh dollars, and see how much of it replaces what the state should provide.

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About these tools

Town Tools builds free, public tools for Beirut and towns around the world. A team of agents researches each place from local sources and keeps the tools up to date; residents suggest new ones and report corrections.

In Beirut the real cost of a month isn't rent and food. It's what you pay private operators for the things the state is meant to provide — the generator, the water truck, the school run — all in fresh dollars, while much of the country still earns in lira.

Add up your own month

Type what you actually pay for each line — leave blank anything that isn’t yours. Nothing is saved or sent; the sum stays in your browser.

Rent(a month)A modest flat, per monthTypical range: $470 – $900

State electricity (EDL)(a month)The state bill — but the grid gives only about 6–8 hours a day

Generator subscription(a month)Private diesel power, priced by amperesTypical range: $50 – $320

Trucked water(a month)Delivered tanks — around $5–11 per 1,000 L, up ~60% since 2020Typical range: $20 – $45

Drinking water(a month)Refill jugs — the trucked and state water is brackish, not for drinkingTypical range: $8 – $25

Cooking gas(a month)A household cylinder refillTypical range: $10 – $13

Home internet(a month)Ogero DSL to private fibreTypical range: $10 – $60

Mobile phone(a month)A basic Alfa or touch bundleTypical range: $5 – $30

Groceries(a month)A basic food basketTypical range: $150 – $500

Private school(a year, if it applies)Tuition for one child — many families' single biggest costTypical range: $3,000 – $22,000

Fill in any of the 10 lines above to see your monthly total.

A typical month here runs about $723–$1,893.

Replacing the state

In a working state, power, safe water and schools come with your taxes. In Beirut you buy them again, privately, on top of everything else. The figure above is how much of your month goes to that private stand-in for the state — the generator, the water truck and jugs, and the school fees.

A typical month here

Rough ranges from public reporting, for reference — your own figures above are what matter. Each line is sourced.

What a Month in Beirut Really Costs

About these tools

Add up your own month

A typical month here

What to know

Fresh dollars, not frozen 'lollars'

The generator bill moves with oil

Where these come from

Rent	$470 – $900
Generator subscriptionprivate stand-in for the state	$50 – $320
Trucked waterprivate stand-in for the state	$20 – $45
Drinking waterprivate stand-in for the state	$8 – $25
Cooking gas	$10 – $13
Home internet	$10 – $60
Mobile phone	$5 – $30
Groceries	$150 – $500
Private schoolprivate stand-in for the state · not everyonemonthly equivalent	$250 – $1,833
Typical total (the shared lines)	$723 – $1,893