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