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: $813 in 'ali versus $633 in Amwaj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,317 in 'ali versus $1,926 in Amwaj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,821 in 'ali versus $3,218 in Amwaj.

Living in 'ali is roughly 28% more expensive than Amwaj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: 'ali 39% lower, Amwaj 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.56 BHD 2.47

$5.41 BHD 2.04

21.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.7 BHD 20.25

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 BHD 1.99

$9.10 BHD 3.43

-41.98%

Cappuccino

$5.42 BHD 2.04

$2.69 BHD 1.01

101.49%

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

$0.78 BHD 0.30

$1.05 BHD 0.40

-25.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 BHD 0.14

$0.64 BHD 0.24

-42.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.86 BHD 2.96

$8.06 BHD 3.04

-2.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.77 BHD 4.06

$10.44 BHD 3.94

3.16%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 BHD 0.65

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 BHD 0.49

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 BHD 0.87

Eggs

$2.51 BHD 0.95

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.55 BHD 3.23

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.86 BHD 2.96

$10.18 BHD 3.84

-22.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.06 BHD 3.79

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 BHD 0.89

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 BHD 0.76

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 BHD 0.64

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 BHD 0.44

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 BHD 0.34

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 BHD 0.41

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 BHD 0.57

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 BHD 0.33

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.74 BHD 2.54

$5.26 BHD 1.98

28.14%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.47 BHD 6.96

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.34 BHD 1.26

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 BHD 1.25

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.73 BHD 1.78

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.89 BHD 1.47

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.85 BHD 10.12

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 BHD 0.21

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

$37.7K BHD 14.2K

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

$20.6K BHD 7,759

$36.6K BHD 13.8K

-43.77%

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

$121 BHD 45.67

$160 BHD 60.2

-24.06%

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

$27.33 BHD 10.30

$26.99 BHD 10.17

1.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.29 BHD 14.43

$67.5 BHD 25.46

-43.30%

Cinema Ticket

$10.64 BHD 4.01

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

$395 BHD 149

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,058 BHD 3,415

$13.1K BHD 4,925

-30.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.39 BHD 17.11

$65.3 BHD 24.63

-30.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.1 BHD 23.78

$65.9 BHD 24.86

-4.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 BHD 31.53

$94.0 BHD 35.44

-11.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.8 BHD 32.73

$117 BHD 44.18

-25.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,377 BHD 896

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,135 BHD 805

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,723 BHD 1,404

$3,939 BHD 1,485

-5.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.56

5.75

48.87%

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

Last update for 'ali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Amwaj: June 1, 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.

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, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 28% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

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

Supermarket bills run roughly 416% higher in 'ali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $813 per month in 'ali versus $633 in Amwaj – a 28% 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 28% less than in 'ali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.