The semi-annual study for the year 2022 conducted by the global database Numbeo regarding the cost of living around the world indicated that Beirut ranked 12th among 510 cities globally and first among 29 Arab cities included in the study. Additionally, Beirut was classified as the most expensive city among 73 cities in low to middle-income countries surveyed. The cost of living in Beirut, according to the semi-annual survey for 2022, was higher than about 98% of the cities included in the survey. The cost of living index is a relative indicator of consumer goods prices, which include grocery stores, restaurants, transportation centers, and public services. Numbeo uses prices in New York City as a benchmark for comparing prices in other cities. They also publish a rental index, which estimates apartment rental prices in a specific city compared to those in New York City. The Numbeo database relies on residents' opinions and uses data from official sources to calculate the indices.
According to the cost of living index, the prices of consumer goods in Beirut are higher than those in San Francisco and Oakland in the United States, and Oslo, the capital of Norway. They are lower than the prices of consumer goods in Santa Barbara and New York City in the United States and Nassau in the Bahamas. Furthermore, Beirut had the highest cost of consumer goods among Arab cities, with a score of 95.65 points, indicating that consumer goods prices in Beirut are 4.35% lower than those in New York City.
Beirut ranked 223rd globally, 7th among Arab cities, and 3rd among cities in low to middle-income countries on the rental index, which reflects the rental value of an apartment in a specific city compared to rental values in New York City. Globally, the rental cost of an apartment in Beirut surpassed that in Karlsruhe, Germany; Ghent, Belgium; and Augsburg, Germany, while being lower than the rental cost in Lund, Sweden; Leicester, United Kingdom; and Bilbao, Spain. Moreover, the rental cost of an apartment in Beirut was lower than that in Sharjah, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Manama, and Kuwait City among Arab cities. Beirut received a score of 24.19 points on the index, indicating that the rental cost of an apartment in Beirut is 75.81% lower than the rental cost of an apartment in New York City.
Additionally, the Grocery Index, which estimates prices in grocery stores in a specific city compared to those in New York City, ranked Beirut 38th globally, first among Arab cities and among cities in low to middle-income countries. On the global stage, grocery prices in Beirut were higher than those in Santa Barbara, Geneva, and New York City, but lower than those in Zurich, Bern, and Honolulu. Beirut achieved a score of 109.65 points, meaning that grocery prices in Beirut are 9.65% higher than those in New York City.
Finally, Beirut was ranked 104th globally, first among Arab cities and among cities in low to middle-income countries on the Restaurant Index, which compares meal and beverage prices in restaurants and nightclubs in a specific city to those in New York City. Globally, meal and beverage prices in restaurants and nightclubs in Beirut surpassed those in Indianapolis, USA, Melbourne, Australia, and Calgary, Canada, while being lower than those in Edmonton, Canada, Tampere, Finland, and Bristol, UK. The Lebanese capital recorded a score of 68.22 points on the index, meaning that restaurant and club prices in Beirut are 31.78% lower than those in New York City.
