Beirut ranked 290th worldwide and 6th regionally in the global cost of living index in mid-2023, with a score of 54.00.
The Global Cost of Living Index report was published recently by Numbeo, a statistics website which ranks cities around the world against New York’s figures. Four indicators are taken into account: the rent index, the groceries price index, the restaurant price index and the local purchasing power index in these cities.
Beirut ranked 290th worldwide and 6th regionally among the most expensive cities, with an index of 54.00. This means that prices in Beirut are 46% lower than in New York.
The index for rent is 81.40% lower in Beirut than in New York, commodity prices are 63.20% lower than in New York, restaurant prices are 58.70% lower than in New York, and purchasing power is 87.70% lower than in New York.
On the other hand, the historical evolution of Beirut’s cost-of-living index shows that prices in Lebanon have significantly risen in recent years due to the economic and financial crisis, and the devaluation of the Lebanese pound.
Regionally, Dubai emerged as the most expensive Arab city compared to New York, ranking 189th worldwide, followed by Khobar, 261st worldwide, and Abu Dhabi, 262nd worldwide.
Statistics show that the state of Hamilton in the USA is the most expensive in the world, with prices 40.40% higher than in New York, followed by Basel, Zurich and Lausanne.
