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