Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamra and Beirut Cost of Living Comparison Between Hamra and Beirut

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,009 in Hamra versus $1,655 in Beirut.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,605 in Hamra versus $2,680 in Beirut.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,201 in Hamra versus $3,705 in Beirut.

Living in Hamra costs roughly 39% less than in Beirut, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Hamra is 27% below, Beirut is 20% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.06 LBP 1.1M
$12.16 LBP 1.1M
-0.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.2 LBP 5.7M
$63.7 LBP 5.7M
0.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.17 LBP 910.6K
$10.05 LBP 899.8K
1.19%
Cappuccino
$4.77 LBP 426.5K
$4.67 LBP 417.8K
2.14%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 LBP 211.4K
$2.36 LBP 210.9K
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 LBP 74.2K
$0.89 LBP 79.4K
-6.74%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.02 LBP 449.1K
$4.98 LBP 446.0K
0.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.93 LBP 441.2K
$5.05 LBP 451.9K
-2.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.96 LBP 175.7K
$1.93 LBP 172.6K
1.55%
White Bread (500g)
$0.90 LBP 80.5K
$0.89 LBP 79.6K
1.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.16 LBP 193.7K
$2.14 LBP 192.0K
0.93%
Eggs
$3.65 LBP 326.6K
$3.65 LBP 326.4K
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.24 LBP 1.2M
$13.65 LBP 1.2M
-3.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.77 LBP 963.8K
$10.78 LBP 965.1K
-0.09%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.15 LBP 1.3M
$14.25 LBP 1.3M
-0.70%
Apples (1kg)
$3.11 LBP 278.2K
$3.08 LBP 275.6K
0.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.64 LBP 146.9K
$1.70 LBP 152.1K
-3.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.67 LBP 149.6K
$1.66 LBP 148.8K
0.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 LBP 133.2K
$1.49 LBP 133.1K
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.36 LBP 121.6K
$1.36 LBP 121.3K
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 LBP 145.2K
$1.66 LBP 148.5K
-2.41%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.21 LBP 108.7K
$1.17 LBP 104.7K
3.42%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 LBP 61.0K
$0.74 LBP 66.2K
-8.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99 LBP 267.3K
$3.03 LBP 271.5K
-1.32%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.20 LBP 912.8K
$9.80 LBP 877.2K
4.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32 LBP 118.0K
$1.31 LBP 117.4K
0.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 LBP 222.0K
$2.49 LBP 222.5K
-0.40%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$2.24 LBP 200.2K
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$77.1 LBP 6.9M
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.88 LBP 436.9K
$4.88 LBP 436.8K
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.21 LBP 197.5K
$2.30 LBP 206.3K
-3.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$22.34 LBP 2.0M
$22.46 LBP 2.0M
-0.53%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 LBP 93.6K
$1.00 LBP 89.9K
5.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$54.3K LBP 4.9B
$52.5K LBP 4.7B
3.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K LBP 2.9B
$32.5K LBP 2.9B
-0.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$227 LBP 20.3M
$227 LBP 20.4M
-0.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.60 LBP 2.1M
$23.70 LBP 2.1M
-0.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.29 LBP 3.4M
$38.37 LBP 3.4M
-0.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$84.7 LBP 7.6M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$34.38 LBP 3.1M
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.14 LBP 907.9K
$10.15 LBP 908.6K
-0.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$684 LBP 61.2M
$680 LBP 60.9M
0.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K LBP 967.0M
$10.8K LBP 967.7M
-0.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.3 LBP 6.1M
$68.6 LBP 6.1M
-0.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.0 LBP 4.5M
$49.01 LBP 4.4M
2.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$136 LBP 12.2M
$138 LBP 12.4M
-1.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 LBP 10.7M
$121 LBP 10.8M
-1.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$929 LBP 83.1M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$504 LBP 45.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,255 LBP 201.8M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,058 LBP 94.7M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,902 LBP 349.3M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,805 LBP 161.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$716 LBP 64.1M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11
11
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Hamra: September 6, 2026

Last update for Beirut: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $64.0 in Hamra vs $64.0 in Beirut for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $280 vs $281 per month, with Hamra cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Hamra vs Beirut: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Beirut cheaper than Hamra?
Hamra is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 64% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,514 in Hamra and $2,482 in Beirut to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do food prices compare in Hamra and in Beirut?
Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Beirut. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Hamra and in Beirut?
All in, you'll spend $1,009 per month in Hamra versus $1,655 in Beirut – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Hamra or in Beirut?
At $1,009 in Hamra versus $1,655 in Beirut, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Hamra but tight or insufficient in Beirut. The gap between the two cities makes Hamra the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Hamra or Beirut more family-friendly?
For families, Hamra is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Beirut, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Hamra gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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