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: $889 in Hamra versus $1,437 in Beirut.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,403 in Hamra versus $2,353 in Beirut.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,918 in Hamra versus $3,269 in Beirut.

Living in Hamra costs roughly 38% less than in Beirut, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Hamra is 34% below, Beirut is 7% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.68 LBP 955.9K
$10.76 LBP 963.0K
-0.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.8 LBP 5.4M
$59.7 LBP 5.3M
1.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.98 LBP 714.1K
$8.04 LBP 720.0K
-0.75%
Cappuccino
$3.31 LBP 296.4K
$3.27 LBP 292.4K
1.22%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 LBP 142.2K
$1.58 LBP 141.4K
0.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 LBP 78.0K
$0.92 LBP 82.4K
-5.43%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.43 LBP 306.8K
$3.45 LBP 308.9K
-0.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.92 LBP 440.2K
$5.06 LBP 453.3K
-2.77%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.79 LBP 160.2K
$1.79 LBP 160.5K
-
White Bread (500g)
$0.85 LBP 76.3K
$0.85 LBP 76.5K
-
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.75 LBP 156.6K
$1.82 LBP 163.3K
-3.85%
Eggs
$3.17 LBP 283.5K
$3.19 LBP 285.4K
-0.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.32 LBP 1.0M
$11.51 LBP 1.0M
-1.65%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.31 LBP 833.2K
$9.60 LBP 859.6K
-3.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.23 LBP 1.0M
$11.36 LBP 1.0M
-1.14%
Apples (1kg)
$1.72 LBP 154.3K
$1.73 LBP 154.6K
-0.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.53 LBP 137.3K
$1.45 LBP 129.4K
5.52%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.14 LBP 102.3K
$1.15 LBP 103.0K
-0.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.10 LBP 98.2K
$1.08 LBP 96.9K
1.85%
Potato (1kg)
$0.94 LBP 84.4K
$0.99 LBP 88.2K
-5.05%
Onion (1kg)
$0.99 LBP 88.8K
$1.04 LBP 92.8K
-4.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.86 LBP 77.0K
$0.81 LBP 72.8K
6.17%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 LBP 50.3K
$0.52 LBP 46.7K
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.43 LBP 217.1K
$2.46 LBP 220.6K
-1.22%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.05 LBP 899.9K
$9.95 LBP 890.6K
1.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 LBP 114.9K
$1.24 LBP 110.6K
3.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 LBP 193.0K
$2.20 LBP 197.3K
-1.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.96 LBP 175.4K
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$71.1 LBP 6.4M
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.90 LBP 438.8K
$4.94 LBP 442.2K
-0.81%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.27 LBP 113.6K
$1.28 LBP 114.5K
-0.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$19.91 LBP 1.8M
$19.91 LBP 1.8M
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 LBP 78.5K
$0.90 LBP 80.9K
-2.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K LBP 3.2B
$34.8K LBP 3.1B
1.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K LBP 2.5B
$27.6K LBP 2.5B
2.25%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$211 LBP 18.9M
$218 LBP 19.5M
-2.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.01 LBP 3.3M
$37.46 LBP 3.4M
-1.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.63 LBP 3.4M
$37.30 LBP 3.3M
0.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$68.4 LBP 6.1M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.84 LBP 2.7M
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.03 LBP 718.9K
$8.13 LBP 727.3K
-1.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$302 LBP 27.1M
$297 LBP 26.6M
1.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,376 LBP 391.7M
$4,404 LBP 394.1M
-0.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.0 LBP 6.3M
$71.6 LBP 6.4M
-2.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.64 LBP 4.1M
$44.80 LBP 4.0M
1.88%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$122 LBP 10.9M
$120 LBP 10.8M
1.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.6 LBP 8.5M
$95.5 LBP 8.6M
-0.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$809 LBP 72.4M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$370 LBP 33.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$2,023 LBP 181.0M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$950 LBP 85.0M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,685 LBP 329.8M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,978 LBP 177.1M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$651 LBP 58.2M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.16
11.16
-

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

Last update for Hamra: May 31, 2026

Last update for Beirut: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $61.0 in Hamra vs $60.0 in Beirut. Groceries flip the comparison at $234 vs $236, with Hamra cheaper for home cooking.

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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 62% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,333 in Hamra and $2,155 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 Beirut?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Beirut. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Hamra vs Beirut?
All in, you'll spend $889 per month in Hamra versus $1,437 in Beirut – a 62% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for Hamra or Beirut?
At $889 in Hamra versus $1,437 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 62% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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