😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,744 in Monroe, LA versus $1,610 in Hamrun.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,853 in Monroe, LA versus $2,696 in Hamrun.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,963 in Monroe, LA versus $3,781 in Hamrun.
😐Living in Monroe, LA is roughly 8% more expensive than Hamrun, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Monroe, LA30% above, Hamrun20% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Monroe, LA
Hamrun
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.83$14.83
$17.48€15.05
-15.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.22$39.22
$75.0€64.6
-47.68%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.11$10.11
$8.99€7.74
12.46%
Cappuccino
$2.95$2.95
$1.86€1.60
58.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96$1.96
$2.22€1.91
-11.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.26$1.26
$1.60€1.38
-21.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.03$5.03
$2.83€2.43
77.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$6.62$6.62
$2.05€1.77
222.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Monroe, LA
Hamrun
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25$1.25
$1.36€1.17
-8.09%
White Bread(500g)
$2.70$2.70
$1.31€1.12
106.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.31$2.31
$4.32€3.72
-46.53%
Eggs
$2.97$2.97
$4.49€3.87
-33.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.56$8.56
$10.23€8.81
-16.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.84$7.84
$9.27€7.98
-15.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.80$14.80
$13.77€11.86
7.48%
Apples(1kg)
$5.51$5.51
$4.32€3.72
27.55%
Banana(1kg)
$2.10$2.10
$3.06€2.63
-31.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.26$5.26
$3.25€2.80
61.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.93$3.93
$3.70€3.19
6.22%
Potato(1kg)
$3.00$3.00
$2.48€2.13
20.97%
Onion(1kg)
$2.73$2.73
$1.29€1.11
111.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.47$1.47
$2.37€2.04
-37.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.78$1.78
$1.19€1.02
49.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.91$7.91
$6.65€5.72
18.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.15$12.15
$8.40€7.24
44.64%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82$1.82
$1.86€1.60
-2.15%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75$2.75
$2.24€1.93
22.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Monroe, LA
Hamrun
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.05$2.05
$2.38€2.05
-13.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.90$3.90
$5.82€5.01
-32.99%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.27$1.27
$1.06€0.91
19.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$59.0$59.0
$49.78€42.86
18.58%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79$0.79
$1.57€1.35
-49.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.2K$37.2K
$38.9K€33.5K
-4.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.9K$24.9K
$37.3K€32.1K
-33.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Monroe, LA
Hamrun
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$136$136
$95.2€82.0
42.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$44.02$44.02
$28.05€24.15
56.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.1$63.1
$28.75€24.76
119.48%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Monroe, LA
Hamrun
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.75$45.75
$63.1€54.3
-27.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$23.25€20.02
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.81$11.81
$10.49€9.04
12.58%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Monroe, LA
Hamrun
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$810$810
$429€369
89.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,848$9,848
$11.0K€9,504
-10.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Monroe, LA
Hamrun
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$35.54$35.54
$91.4€78.7
-61.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.76$42.76
$38.65€33.29
10.63%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$63.4$63.4
$101€87.3
-37.45%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.0$77.0
$100€86.4
-23.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Monroe, LA
Hamrun
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,040$1,040
$705€607
47.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$768$768
$643€554
19.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,580$2,580
$1,641€1,413
57.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,913$1,913
$1,414€1,218
35.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,008$2,008
$2,938€2,530
-31.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,808$1,808
$2,333€2,009
-22.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Monroe, LA
Hamrun
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,625$3,625
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.61
2.7
144.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Monroe, LA: May 31, 2026
Last update for Hamrun: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,040 in Monroe, LA and $705 in Hamrun. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Monroe, LA vs $75.0 in Hamrun. Groceries flip the comparison at $331 vs $316, with Hamrun 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
Monroe, LA vs Hamrun: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hamrun cheaper than Monroe, LA?
Hamrun is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,616 in Monroe, LA and $2,415 in Hamrun 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.
What is the rent difference between Monroe, LA and Hamrun?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,040 in Monroe, LA versus $705 in Hamrun. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Monroe, LA and Hamrun?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Monroe, LA. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Monroe, LA vs Hamrun?
All in, you'll spend $1,744 per month in Monroe, LA versus $1,610 in Hamrun – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for Monroe, LA or Hamrun?
At $1,610 in Hamrun versus $1,744 in Monroe, LA, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Hamrun but tight or insufficient in Monroe, LA. The gap between the two cities makes Hamrun the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Monroe, LA or Hamrun?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is safer, Monroe, LA or Hamrun?
Safety-wise, Monroe, LA and Hamrun are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Hamrun gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Monroe, LA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Monroe, LA vs other spots: cost of living compared