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: $881 in Hamra versus $1,390 in Beirut.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,391 in Hamra versus $2,293 in Beirut.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,901 in Hamra versus $3,195 in Beirut.

Living in Hamra costs roughly 37% less than in Beirut, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Hamra is 34% below, Beirut is 4% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.86 LBP 972.3K
$10.63 LBP 951.4K
2.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.7 LBP 5.4M
$59.8 LBP 5.4M
1.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.98 LBP 714.6K
$7.84 LBP 701.7K
1.79%
Cappuccino
$3.43 LBP 306.9K
$3.32 LBP 296.7K
3.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 LBP 142.2K
$1.57 LBP 140.7K
1.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 LBP 82.1K
$0.87 LBP 77.7K
5.75%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.59 LBP 321.3K
$3.48 LBP 311.5K
3.16%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.87 LBP 435.6K
$4.95 LBP 442.9K
-1.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.80 LBP 161.0K
$1.77 LBP 158.6K
1.69%
White Bread (500g)
$0.85 LBP 75.7K
$0.79 LBP 70.8K
7.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.84 LBP 164.6K
$1.82 LBP 162.5K
1.10%
Eggs
$3.21 LBP 287.2K
$3.10 LBP 277.8K
3.55%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.49 LBP 1.0M
$11.08 LBP 992.0K
3.70%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.49 LBP 849.2K
$9.37 LBP 838.3K
1.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.44 LBP 1.0M
$11.46 LBP 1.0M
-0.17%
Apples (1kg)
$1.78 LBP 159.4K
$1.74 LBP 155.9K
2.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 LBP 131.9K
$1.45 LBP 130.0K
1.38%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.15 LBP 102.7K
$1.14 LBP 102.2K
0.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.09 LBP 97.3K
$1.05 LBP 94.1K
3.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.01 LBP 90.1K
$1.00 LBP 89.1K
1.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.05 LBP 93.7K
$1.04 LBP 93.4K
0.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.81 LBP 72.9K
$0.89 LBP 79.8K
-8.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 LBP 46.2K
$0.53 LBP 47.2K
-1.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54 LBP 226.9K
$2.52 LBP 225.9K
0.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.85 LBP 881.7K
$10.18 LBP 911.3K
-3.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 LBP 114.9K
$1.30 LBP 116.1K
-1.54%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 LBP 197.8K
$2.13 LBP 190.2K
3.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.97 LBP 176.1K
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$71.1 LBP 6.4M
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.06 LBP 452.5K
$4.95 LBP 442.8K
2.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.28 LBP 114.3K
$1.26 LBP 113.2K
1.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.08 LBP 1.8M
$20.02 LBP 1.8M
0.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.90 LBP 80.5K
$0.93 LBP 83.3K
-3.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.8K LBP 3.1B
$34.9K LBP 3.1B
-0.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.3K LBP 2.5B
$28.0K LBP 2.5B
1.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$215 LBP 19.2M
$217 LBP 19.4M
-0.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.24 LBP 3.4M
$37.42 LBP 3.3M
2.19%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$37.73 LBP 3.4M
$37.20 LBP 3.3M
1.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$68.3 LBP 6.1M
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$29.66 LBP 2.7M
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.87 LBP 704.8K
$7.83 LBP 700.5K
0.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 LBP 27.4M
$305 LBP 27.3M
0.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,500 LBP 402.7M
$4,511 LBP 403.7M
-0.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.8 LBP 6.3M
$69.7 LBP 6.2M
0.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.95 LBP 4.0M
$44.73 LBP 4.0M
0.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$125 LBP 11.2M
$121 LBP 10.9M
2.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.3 LBP 8.6M
$94.7 LBP 8.5M
1.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$789 LBP 70.6M
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$376 LBP 33.7M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,956 LBP 175.1M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$970 LBP 86.8M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,944 LBP 352.9M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,952 LBP 174.7M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hamra
Beirut
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$715 LBP 64.0M
-
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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Beirut: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $61.0 in Hamra vs $60.0 in Beirut for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $236 vs $233 per month, with Beirut 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 Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 58% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,321 in Hamra and $2,085 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?
Shoppers in Beirut pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
What are total monthly expenses in Hamra and in Beirut?
All in, you'll spend $881 per month in Hamra versus $1,390 in Beirut – a 58% 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 $881 in Hamra versus $1,390 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 58% less than in Beirut. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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