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: $813 in 'ali versus $1,995 in Saar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,317 in 'ali versus $2,793 in Saar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,821 in 'ali versus $3,590 in Saar.

Living in 'ali costs roughly 59% less than in Saar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: 'ali is 39% below, Saar is 49% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.56 BHD 2.47

$10.47 BHD 3.95

-37.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.7 BHD 20.25

$32.54 BHD 12.27

65.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 BHD 1.99

$10.40 BHD 3.92

-49.23%

Cappuccino

$5.42 BHD 2.04

$5.81 BHD 2.19

-6.71%

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

$0.78 BHD 0.30

$0.96 BHD 0.36

-18.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 BHD 0.14

$0.44 BHD 0.17

-15.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.86 BHD 2.96

$6.09 BHD 2.30

29.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.77 BHD 4.06

$9.04 BHD 3.41

19.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 BHD 0.65

$1.67 BHD 0.63

2.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 BHD 0.49

$1.31 BHD 0.50

-1.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 BHD 0.87

$2.63 BHD 0.99

-12.55%

Eggs

$2.51 BHD 0.95

$2.60 BHD 0.98

-3.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.55 BHD 3.23

$13.16 BHD 4.96

-35.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.86 BHD 2.96

$6.60 BHD 2.49

19.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.06 BHD 3.79

$15.79 BHD 5.95

-36.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 BHD 0.89

$3.88 BHD 1.46

-38.92%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 BHD 0.76

$2.37 BHD 0.89

-14.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 BHD 0.64

$3.60 BHD 1.36

-53.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 BHD 0.44

$1.93 BHD 0.73

-39.90%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 BHD 0.34

$0.69 BHD 0.26

28.99%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 BHD 0.41

$1.68 BHD 0.63

-35.71%

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

Wine (Bottle)

$18.47 BHD 6.96

$26.54 BHD 10.01

-30.41%

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

$5.28 BHD 1.99

-10.42%

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

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

$121 BHD 45.67

$135 BHD 50.8

-9.99%

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

$27.33 BHD 10.30

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.29 BHD 14.43

$32.34 BHD 12.19

18.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$189 BHD 71.2

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$108 BHD 40.75

Cinema Ticket

$10.64 BHD 4.01

$20.97 BHD 7.90

-49.26%

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

$395 BHD 149

$553 BHD 209

-28.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,058 BHD 3,415

$7,994 BHD 3,014

13.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.39 BHD 17.11

$91.6 BHD 34.52

-50.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.1 BHD 23.78

$39.16 BHD 14.76

61.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 BHD 31.53

$107 BHD 40.37

-21.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.8 BHD 32.73

$106 BHD 39.82

-17.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,309 BHD 494

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$944 BHD 356

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,131 BHD 804

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,171 BHD 441

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,216 BHD 835

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,723 BHD 1,404

$2,428 BHD 915

53.36%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Saar: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

'ali pays 53% 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 $263 vs $287, 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 145% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

'ali pays 53% more on average, 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 $813 per month in 'ali versus $1,995 in Saar – a 145% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $813 in 'ali versus $1,995 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 145% less than in Saar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.