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: $1,794 in Al Hidd versus $1,496 in Manama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,230 in Al Hidd versus $2,408 in Manama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,667 in Al Hidd versus $3,319 in Manama.

Living in Al Hidd is roughly 20% more expensive than Manama, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Al Hidd 34% above, Manama 12% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.78 BHD 2.56

$6.48 BHD 2.44

4.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.30 BHD 14.82

$53.5 BHD 20.16

-26.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.27 BHD 2.74

Cappuccino

$2.60 BHD 0.98

$5.34 BHD 2.01

-51.31%

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

$0.83 BHD 0.31

$0.87 BHD 0.33

-4.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.12 BHD 0.05

$0.36 BHD 0.14

-66.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.20 BHD 3.09

$8.09 BHD 3.05

1.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.46 BHD 3.94

$10.54 BHD 3.97

-0.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 BHD 0.62

$1.71 BHD 0.64

-4.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 BHD 0.48

$1.27 BHD 0.48

0.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 BHD 0.87

$2.43 BHD 0.91

-5.35%

Eggs

$2.47 BHD 0.93

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.80 BHD 3.32

$8.59 BHD 3.24

2.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.81 BHD 2.95

$7.74 BHD 2.92

0.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.25 BHD 3.86

$10.28 BHD 3.88

-0.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 BHD 0.90

$2.36 BHD 0.89

0.85%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 BHD 0.80

$2.11 BHD 0.79

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 BHD 0.67

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 BHD 0.46

$1.18 BHD 0.44

2.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 BHD 0.35

$0.93 BHD 0.35

1.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 BHD 0.41

$1.09 BHD 0.41

-0.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 BHD 0.57

$1.46 BHD 0.55

2.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 BHD 0.33

$0.86 BHD 0.32

2.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.52 BHD 2.46

$6.58 BHD 2.48

-0.91%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.80 BHD 7.09

$18.88 BHD 7.12

-0.42%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.32 BHD 1.25

$3.44 BHD 1.30

-3.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 BHD 1.21

$3.29 BHD 1.24

-2.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.60 BHD 0.60

$0.83 BHD 0.31

92.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$52.4 BHD 19.77

$31.28 BHD 11.79

67.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.56 BHD 1.72

$4.58 BHD 1.72

-0.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.08 BHD 1.54

$3.96 BHD 1.49

3.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.02 BHD 9.81

$26.86 BHD 10.13

-3.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.40 BHD 0.15

$0.52 BHD 0.19

-23.08%

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

$19.9K BHD 7,504

$36.8K BHD 13.9K

-45.95%

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

$20.5K BHD 7,715

$20.7K BHD 7,796

-1.04%

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

$123 BHD 46.31

$121 BHD 45.53

1.72%

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

$26.80 BHD 10.10

$26.86 BHD 10.13

-0.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.18 BHD 14.39

$38.52 BHD 14.52

-0.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.0 BHD 26.78

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.9 BHD 20.32

$45.13 BHD 17.01

19.41%

Cinema Ticket

$10.75 BHD 4.05

$10.78 BHD 4.06

-0.28%

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

$393 BHD 148

$382 BHD 144

2.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,888 BHD 3,351

$8,953 BHD 3,375

-0.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.74 BHD 17.25

$46.73 BHD 17.62

-2.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.7 BHD 23.27

$63.8 BHD 24.03

-3.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.1 BHD 31.34

$84.8 BHD 31.98

-2.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 BHD 33.49

$88.8 BHD 33.47

0.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$664 BHD 250

$818 BHD 308

-18.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$925 BHD 349

$559 BHD 211

65.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$790 BHD 298

$1,791 BHD 675

-55.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$807 BHD 304

$1,244 BHD 469

-35.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,629 BHD 991

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,941 BHD 732

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,946 BHD 734

$2,360 BHD 890

-17.53%

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 Al Hidd: June 1, 2026

Last update for Manama: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $664 in Al Hidd and $818 in Manama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manama pays 21% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $39.00 in Al Hidd vs $53.0 in Manama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $264 vs $265 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 Getting Around. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Manama earns 21% less. 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: $664 in Al Hidd versus $818 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 68% less than in Al Hidd. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $393 in Al Hidd versus $382 in Manama. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,496 in Manama versus $1,794 in Al Hidd, a $1,000 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 20% less than in Al Hidd. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.