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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $813 in 'ali versus $1,563 in Seef.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,317 in 'ali versus $2,472 in Seef.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,821 in 'ali versus $3,382 in Seef.

Living in 'ali costs roughly 48% less than in Seef, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: 'ali is 39% below, Seef is 17% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.56 BHD 2.47

$10.67 BHD 4.02

-38.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.7 BHD 20.25

$39.23 BHD 14.79

36.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 BHD 1.99

$9.47 BHD 3.57

-44.24%

Cappuccino

$5.42 BHD 2.04

$5.41 BHD 2.04

0.18%

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

$0.78 BHD 0.30

$1.50 BHD 0.57

-48.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 BHD 0.14

$0.77 BHD 0.29

-51.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.86 BHD 2.96

$10.66 BHD 4.02

-26.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.77 BHD 4.06

$18.69 BHD 7.04

-42.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 BHD 0.65

$1.58 BHD 0.60

8.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 BHD 0.49

$1.31 BHD 0.49

-1.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 BHD 0.87

$3.14 BHD 1.19

-26.75%

Eggs

$2.51 BHD 0.95

$1.56 BHD 0.59

60.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.55 BHD 3.23

$10.66 BHD 4.02

-19.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.86 BHD 2.96

$7.49 BHD 2.82

4.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.06 BHD 3.79

$15.94 BHD 6.01

-36.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 BHD 0.89

$3.27 BHD 1.23

-27.52%

Banana (1kg)

$2.03 BHD 0.76

$2.26 BHD 0.85

-10.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 BHD 0.64

$2.59 BHD 0.98

-34.75%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 BHD 0.44

$1.89 BHD 0.71

-38.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 BHD 0.34

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 BHD 0.41

$1.30 BHD 0.49

-16.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 BHD 0.57

$1.91 BHD 0.72

-20.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 BHD 0.33

$0.51 BHD 0.19

72.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.74 BHD 2.54

$2.62 BHD 0.99

157.25%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.47 BHD 6.96

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.34 BHD 1.26

$3.86 BHD 1.46

-13.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 BHD 1.25

$2.69 BHD 1.01

23.42%

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

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

$121 BHD 45.67

$90.7 BHD 34.19

33.59%

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

$27.33 BHD 10.30

$24.21 BHD 9.13

12.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.29 BHD 14.43

$46.51 BHD 17.54

-17.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$74.2 BHD 27.97

Cinema Ticket

$10.64 BHD 4.01

$10.69 BHD 4.03

-0.47%

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

$395 BHD 149

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,058 BHD 3,415

$8,027 BHD 3,026

12.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.39 BHD 17.11

$31.51 BHD 11.88

44.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.1 BHD 23.78

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 BHD 31.53

$118 BHD 44.49

-29.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.8 BHD 32.73

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$983 BHD 371

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$734 BHD 277

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,330 BHD 878

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,454 BHD 548

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,723 BHD 1,404

$3,342 BHD 1,260

11.41%

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 Seef: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

'ali pays 11% 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 $39.00 in Seef for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $263 vs $256 per month, with Seef cheaper across the board.

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 Seef: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

'ali is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 92% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

'ali pays 11% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Shoppers in Seef pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in 'ali – a meal for two runs $54.0 versus $39.00 in Seef. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $813 in 'ali versus $1,563 in Seef, a $1,500 budget is realistic in 'ali but tight or insufficient in Seef. The gap between the two cities makes 'ali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, 'ali is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Seef, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, 'ali and Seef 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 92% less than in Seef. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.