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