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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $835 in 'ali versus $2,002 in Saar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,311 in 'ali versus $2,765 in Saar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,786 in 'ali versus $3,527 in Saar.

Living in 'ali costs roughly 58% less than in Saar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: 'ali is 39% below, Saar is 45% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.70 BHD 2.53

$10.80 BHD 4.07

-37.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.8 BHD 20.28

$33.08 BHD 12.47

62.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.53 BHD 2.84

$10.71 BHD 4.04

-29.69%

Cappuccino

$4.84 BHD 1.83

$5.87 BHD 2.21

-17.55%

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

$0.83 BHD 0.31

$1.66 BHD 0.63

-50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 BHD 0.11

$0.95 BHD 0.36

-68.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.48 BHD 2.44

$6.15 BHD 2.32

5.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.97 BHD 3.76

$9.08 BHD 3.42

9.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 BHD 0.56

$1.68 BHD 0.63

-11.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 BHD 0.40

$1.34 BHD 0.51

-20.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 BHD 0.87

$2.59 BHD 0.98

-11.20%

Eggs

$2.33 BHD 0.88

$2.70 BHD 1.02

-13.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.71 BHD 3.28

$13.20 BHD 4.98

-34.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.42 BHD 2.42

$6.48 BHD 2.44

-0.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.79 BHD 3.31

$15.61 BHD 5.88

-43.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.41 BHD 0.91

$3.87 BHD 1.46

-37.73%

Banana (1kg)

$2.23 BHD 0.84

$2.43 BHD 0.92

-8.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 BHD 0.70

$3.78 BHD 1.42

-50.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 BHD 0.52

$2.03 BHD 0.76

-32.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 BHD 0.38

$0.63 BHD 0.24

58.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.42 BHD 0.53

$1.64 BHD 0.62

-13.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 BHD 0.58

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 BHD 0.32

$0.82 BHD 0.31

2.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.41 BHD 2.04

Wine (Bottle)

$18.77 BHD 7.07

$26.93 BHD 10.15

-30.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.49 BHD 1.32

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 BHD 1.01

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 BHD 0.30

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.17 BHD 1.95

$5.25 BHD 1.98

-1.52%

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

$0.61 BHD 0.23

14.75%

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

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

$151 BHD 57.1

$132 BHD 49.72

14.74%

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

$24.86 BHD 9.37

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.36 BHD 13.33

$32.21 BHD 12.14

9.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$160 BHD 60.4

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$108 BHD 40.70

Cinema Ticket

$10.71 BHD 4.04

$15.75 BHD 5.94

-32.00%

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

$480 BHD 181

$558 BHD 210

-13.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K BHD 4,063

$8,065 BHD 3,040

33.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 BHD 18.94

$91.8 BHD 34.59

-45.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.5 BHD 22.05

$40.30 BHD 15.19

45.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.6 BHD 33.77

$107 BHD 40.25

-16.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.2 BHD 34.37

$108 BHD 40.72

-15.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,334 BHD 503

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$926 BHD 349

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,109 BHD 795

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,216 BHD 458

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 BHD 839

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,759 BHD 1,417

$2,391 BHD 901

57.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

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

Last update for 'ali: September 7, 2026

Last update for Saar: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

'ali pays 57% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $54.0 in 'ali vs $33.00 in Saar. Groceries flip the comparison at $251 vs $298, with 'ali 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

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

'ali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment. The 140% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 57% higher in 'ali, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Saar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $835 per month in 'ali versus $2,002 in Saar – a 140% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $835 in 'ali versus $2,002 in Saar, a $1,500 budget is realistic in 'ali but tight or insufficient in Saar. The gap between the two cities makes 'ali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Saar 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 'ali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 140% less than in Saar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.