Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Hidd and Manama Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Hidd and Manama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,756 in Al Hidd versus $1,606 in Manama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,145 in Al Hidd versus $2,517 in Manama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,535 in Al Hidd versus $3,428 in Manama.

Living in Al Hidd is roughly 9% more expensive than in Manama, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Al Hidd 28% above, Manama 17% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.73 BHD 2.54

$6.67 BHD 2.52

0.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.33 BHD 15.21

$52.1 BHD 19.64

-22.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.57 BHD 2.86

$7.30 BHD 2.75

3.70%

Cappuccino

$3.78 BHD 1.43

$4.82 BHD 1.82

-21.58%

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

$0.82 BHD 0.31

$0.84 BHD 0.32

-2.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 BHD 0.06

$0.33 BHD 0.12

-54.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.81 BHD 2.57

$6.65 BHD 2.51

2.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.18 BHD 3.84

$9.84 BHD 3.71

3.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 BHD 0.53

$1.43 BHD 0.54

-1.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 BHD 0.40

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.35 BHD 0.89

$2.30 BHD 0.87

2.17%

Eggs

$2.29 BHD 0.86

$2.22 BHD 0.84

3.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.82 BHD 3.33

$8.78 BHD 3.31

0.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.33 BHD 2.01

$6.33 BHD 2.39

-15.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.38 BHD 2.03

$8.45 BHD 3.19

-36.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 BHD 0.86

$2.39 BHD 0.90

-4.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 BHD 0.84

$2.35 BHD 0.89

-4.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 BHD 0.71

Tomato (1kg)

$1.41 BHD 0.53

$1.44 BHD 0.54

-2.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 BHD 0.38

$1.06 BHD 0.40

-4.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 BHD 0.51

$1.43 BHD 0.54

-4.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 BHD 0.57

$1.55 BHD 0.59

-2.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 BHD 0.31

$0.78 BHD 0.29

6.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.21 BHD 1.96

$5.18 BHD 1.95

0.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.75 BHD 7.07

$18.37 BHD 6.92

2.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.54 BHD 1.34

$3.47 BHD 1.31

2.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 BHD 1.01

$2.62 BHD 0.99

1.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.62 BHD 0.61

$0.64 BHD 0.24

153.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.1 BHD 19.62

$37.78 BHD 14.24

37.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.33 BHD 2.01

$5.38 BHD 2.03

-0.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.47 BHD 1.31

$3.51 BHD 1.32

-1.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.82 BHD 5.96

$15.79 BHD 5.95

0.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 BHD 0.24

$0.64 BHD 0.24

1.56%

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

$19.7K BHD 7,436

$37.3K BHD 14.0K

-47.06%

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

$20.8K BHD 7,837

$20.4K BHD 7,676

2.09%

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

$154 BHD 58.1

$154 BHD 58.0

0.28%

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

$24.76 BHD 9.33

$24.27 BHD 9.15

2.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.48 BHD 13.38

$34.61 BHD 13.05

2.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 BHD 23.31

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.1 BHD 19.65

$30.54 BHD 11.51

70.66%

Cinema Ticket

$10.67 BHD 4.02

$10.77 BHD 4.06

-0.93%

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

$493 BHD 186

$495 BHD 187

-0.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.9K BHD 4,119

$10.9K BHD 4,097

0.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 BHD 19.50

$50.5 BHD 19.06

2.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.4 BHD 21.64

$57.7 BHD 21.74

-0.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.5 BHD 33.36

$87.2 BHD 32.86

1.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.0 BHD 33.54

$91.0 BHD 34.30

-2.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$675 BHD 255

$1,002 BHD 378

-32.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$942 BHD 355

$643 BHD 242

46.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$789 BHD 298

$2,079 BHD 784

-62.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$651 BHD 245

$1,381 BHD 521

-52.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,652 BHD 1,000

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,959 BHD 739

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,916 BHD 722

$2,273 BHD 857

-15.70%

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 Al Hidd: September 13, 2026

Last update for Manama: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $675 in Al Hidd and $1,002 in Manama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manama pays 19% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $40.00 in Al Hidd vs $52.0 in Manama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $248 per month, with Al Hidd 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

Al Hidd vs Manama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manama is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 19% lower in Manama. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $675 in Al Hidd versus $1,002 in Manama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Manama runs roughly 38% less than in Al Hidd. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $493 in Al Hidd versus $495 in Manama. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,606 in Manama versus $1,756 in Al Hidd, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Manama but tight or insufficient in Al Hidd. The gap between the two cities makes Manama 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, Al Hidd and Manama 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 Manama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Al Hidd. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.