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: $807 in 'ali versus $2,027 in Saar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,328 in 'ali versus $2,835 in Saar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,849 in 'ali versus $3,643 in Saar.

Living in 'ali costs roughly 60% less than in Saar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: 'ali is 40% below, Saar is 52% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.79 BHD 2.56

$10.58 BHD 3.99

-35.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.9 BHD 19.94

$33.34 BHD 12.57

58.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.19 BHD 1.96

$10.40 BHD 3.92

-50.10%

Cappuccino

$5.16 BHD 1.95

$5.89 BHD 2.22

-12.39%

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

$0.77 BHD 0.29

$0.91 BHD 0.34

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 BHD 0.14

$0.45 BHD 0.17

-17.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.80 BHD 2.94

$5.93 BHD 2.24

31.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.58 BHD 3.99

$9.23 BHD 3.48

14.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 BHD 0.64

$1.73 BHD 0.65

-1.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 BHD 0.50

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.37 BHD 0.89

$2.58 BHD 0.97

-8.14%

Eggs

$2.51 BHD 0.94

$2.69 BHD 1.02

-6.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.90 BHD 3.35

$13.43 BHD 5.06

-33.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.52 BHD 2.83

$6.45 BHD 2.43

16.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.02 BHD 3.78

$16.04 BHD 6.05

-37.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 BHD 0.89

$3.93 BHD 1.48

-39.69%

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 BHD 0.77

$2.36 BHD 0.89

-13.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.67 BHD 0.63

$3.74 BHD 1.41

-55.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 BHD 0.46

$1.93 BHD 0.73

-37.31%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 BHD 0.35

$0.63 BHD 0.24

47.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 BHD 0.40

$1.68 BHD 0.63

-36.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 BHD 0.55

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 BHD 0.33

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 BHD 2.48

Wine (Bottle)

$18.82 BHD 7.09

$26.25 BHD 9.90

-28.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.47 BHD 1.31

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 BHD 1.21

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.61 BHD 1.74

$5.20 BHD 1.96

-11.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.88 BHD 1.46

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.03 BHD 10.19

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 BHD 0.19

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

$37.2K BHD 14.0K

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

$20.6K BHD 7,753

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

$121 BHD 45.54

$132 BHD 49.67

-8.32%

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

$26.75 BHD 10.08

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.21 BHD 14.40

$31.23 BHD 11.77

22.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$189 BHD 71.3

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$108 BHD 40.61

Cinema Ticket

$10.49 BHD 3.95

$21.00 BHD 7.92

-50.05%

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

$385 BHD 145

$551 BHD 208

-30.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,940 BHD 3,370

$7,879 BHD 2,970

13.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.23 BHD 17.05

$92.9 BHD 35.01

-51.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.1 BHD 23.78

$39.73 BHD 14.98

58.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 BHD 31.86

$104 BHD 39.26

-18.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.9 BHD 33.88

$105 BHD 39.66

-14.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,341 BHD 505

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$917 BHD 346

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,110 BHD 795

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,192 BHD 449

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,188 BHD 825

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,720 BHD 1,402

$2,377 BHD 896

56.49%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.56

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

Last update for 'ali: July 13, 2026

Last update for Saar: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

'ali pays 56% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $53.0 in 'ali vs $33.00 in Saar. Groceries flip the comparison at $264 vs $288, 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 151% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 56% 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 9% higher in Saar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $807 per month in 'ali versus $2,027 in Saar – a 151% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $807 in 'ali versus $2,027 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 151% less than in Saar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.