Beirut - Post Report Question and Answers
What is the availability and cost of household help, and what types of help are typically employed by expatriates?
There is a cleaning mafia of sorts here, the going rate is about $50 per session and many of the cleaners offer 200 - 250/month as well. Several people have cleaners, and since they are cleared through the embassy they can come and go with ease. There are cheaper cleaners you can get, but you will have to escort them to your house. - Aug 2024
The Community Liaison Office (CLO) has a list of vetted housekeepers. I believe they all just clean but it's possible some do additional tasks like gardening, dog walking, or cooking. - Oct 2020
Running rate for cleaning every week is US$50/week. There is one cleaner who has started recently who charges US$20/week, but she is pretty much fully booked up. - May 2019
Domestic help is priced based on the race of the person. Filipinos are the most expensive because they speak English, Bengali are usually the cheapest at US$5. Domestic workers are taken everywhere: grocery stores to push the cart, church to watch the kids, birthday parties to watch kids, out to eat to watch the kids, pretty much everywhere and they sit in the back of the car. From what I have seen, they are not treated very well in general. - Jul 2016
I paid someone US$33 for a eight hour shift to clean my apartment once a week. There is lots of domestic help available. - Feb 2015
The maid mafia will hit you up soon after your arrival. The cost is comparable to the U.S. (US$50) per cleaning, though they work hard and do a good job. - Nov 2014
US$25-30/day. - Apr 2014
US$5-$7 per hour for cleaning. Many people get live-in help and it's quite affordable. - Jan 2014
Very inexpensive ($5/hr for cleaning). US$400-$500/month for a live-in maid/nanny (although that doesn't include the agency fees or airline tickets). Most domestic help is from the Philippines, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, or West Africa. - Apr 2012
Available at prices ranging from 150 to 200 USD/month for weekly cleaning. - Sep 2010
Most Lebanese contract workers from the Philippines, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, or Madagascar and then underpay them and keep their passport hostage. Lebanese are loathe to work as domestic workers. On the embassy compound, people contract one of several Philipinas to work on an hourly basis for about $10/hour. - Jul 2010
Available and cheap compared to Europe or U.S. - Jun 2009
Readily available here on compound. I pay US$25 for a day's worth of work. - Jun 2008
If you have residency you can go through an agency to find help. Costs varies and degree of responsibilty for these helpers also vary. - Mar 2008
