How to Price Products in Dollars in Lebanon 2026
Pricing in Lebanon has become a science — between fresh dollars, Lebanese lira, and fluctuating exchange rates, many sellers get lost. This guide helps you price correctly.
Currency Reality in Lebanon
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Fresh dollar | Cash USD — the real commerce currency |
| Lollar | Bank-trapped dollars — can't be withdrawn as real USD |
| Sayrafa rate | Official exchange rate (~89,500 LBP) |
| Parallel market rate | Real exchange rate — changes daily |
Golden Pricing Rules
Rule #1: Price in USD ($) — Dollar is the trust currency. $50 is universally understood.
Rule #2: Calculate all costs in dollars regardless of what currency you paid.
Rule #3: Adequate profit margin
| Category | Suggested Margin |
|---|---|
| Homemade food | 200-300% of ingredient cost |
| Clothing | 100-200% |
| Used electronics | 15-30% |
| Services | 50-100% |
| Artisan products | 200-400% |
Rule #4: Psychological pricing — $49 > $50, $99 > $100, "Starting from $25"
Handling Exchange Rate Fluctuations
Strategy 1: Price in dollars only — simplest and clearest.
Strategy 2: Dollar price + lira equivalent — "$50 (or LBP equivalent at today's rate)"
Strategy 3: Weekly review — update prices weekly if your costs are in lira.
Common Pricing Mistakes
| Mistake | Solution |
|---|---|
| Pricing in lira only | Always use $ as primary currency |
| Forgetting delivery cost | Include or clearly itemize delivery |
| Outdated prices | Update monthly at minimum |
| Underpricing | Calculate ALL costs — your time has value too |
| No visible price | Lebanese hate "DM for price" — show it clearly |
