Standard Iftar Meal Will Now Cost Double The Minimum Wage

Main image courtesy of Agence France-Presse (AFP)

According to the The American University of Beirut’s Crisis Observatory, the cost of a standard Iftar meal consisting of: lentil soup, fattoush, and a chicken and rice dish (not factoring in the cost of dessert or any additional appetizers/drinks) is now two and a half times minimum wage.

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— Larissa Aoun (@LarissaAounSky) April 12, 2021

Today, minimum wage in Lebanon stands at a meager 650,000 Lebanese Lira. For those who plan on an average meal this Ramadan season, it is anticipated to cost nearly 60,000 L.L/day or 1,800,000 LL per month.

In 2012, The Ministry of Economy And Trade released a Fattouch Index, which is approximates the costs associated with making a bowl of fattoush for a family of five. With the spike of prices seen this past year, a bowl is now at a substantial amount of 18,500, marking a 210% increase from last year.