Cost of Living Comparison Between 'ali and Amwaj Cost of Living Comparison Between 'ali and Amwaj

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $835 in 'ali versus $623 in Amwaj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,311 in 'ali versus $2,413 in Amwaj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,786 in 'ali versus $4,203 in Amwaj.

Living in 'ali is roughly 34% more expensive than in Amwaj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: 'ali 39% lower, Amwaj 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.70 BHD 2.53

$10.53 BHD 3.97

-36.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.8 BHD 20.28

$31.90 BHD 12.02

68.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.53 BHD 2.84

$9.76 BHD 3.68

-22.85%

Cappuccino

$4.84 BHD 1.83

$4.07 BHD 1.53

18.92%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 BHD 0.31

$2.09 BHD 0.79

-60.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 BHD 0.11

$0.68 BHD 0.25

-55.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.48 BHD 2.44

$7.77 BHD 2.93

-16.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.97 BHD 3.76

$10.43 BHD 3.93

-4.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 BHD 0.56

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 BHD 0.40

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 BHD 0.87

Eggs

$2.33 BHD 0.88

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.71 BHD 3.28

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.42 BHD 2.42

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.79 BHD 3.31

Apples (1kg)

$2.41 BHD 0.91

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 BHD 0.84

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 BHD 0.70

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 BHD 0.52

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 BHD 0.38

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 BHD 0.53

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 BHD 0.58

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 BHD 0.32

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.41 BHD 2.04

$5.16 BHD 1.94

4.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.77 BHD 7.07

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.49 BHD 1.32

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 BHD 1.01

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.17 BHD 1.95

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.47 BHD 1.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.67 BHD 5.91

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 BHD 0.26

$0.68 BHD 0.26

2.94%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$36.5K BHD 13.8K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.9K BHD 7,894

$36.6K BHD 13.8K

-42.71%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$151 BHD 57.1

$129 BHD 48.46

17.72%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$24.86 BHD 9.37

$23.59 BHD 8.89

5.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.36 BHD 13.33

$65.5 BHD 24.69

-46.02%

Cinema Ticket

$10.71 BHD 4.04

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$480 BHD 181

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K BHD 4,063

$13.1K BHD 4,954

-17.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 BHD 18.94

$66.5 BHD 25.06

-24.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.5 BHD 22.05

$67.0 BHD 25.27

-12.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.6 BHD 33.77

$92.3 BHD 34.77

-2.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.2 BHD 34.37

$119 BHD 44.76

-23.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,367 BHD 892

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,084 BHD 1,162

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,759 BHD 1,417

$3,996 BHD 1,506

-5.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

-11.29%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for 'ali: September 7, 2026

Last update for Amwaj: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Amwaj pays 6% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out at a mid-range restaurant: $54.0 in 'ali vs $32.00 in Amwaj for two.

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

'ali vs Amwaj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Amwaj is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 34% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 6% lower in Amwaj. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Dining out is cheaper in Amwaj – a meal for two runs $32.00 versus $54.0 in 'ali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $835 per month in 'ali versus $623 in Amwaj – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Amwaj gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Safety-wise, 'ali and Amwaj are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Amwaj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in 'ali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.