Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Muharraq and Amwaj Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Muharraq and Amwaj

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Al Muharraq versus $620 in Amwaj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,735 in Al Muharraq versus $1,874 in Amwaj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,273 in Al Muharraq versus $3,128 in Amwaj.

Living in Al Muharraq is roughly 93% more expensive than in Amwaj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Muharraq 10% lower, Amwaj 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.04 BHD 1.52

$5.22 BHD 1.97

-22.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.36 BHD 9.94

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.28 BHD 1.99

$9.45 BHD 3.56

-44.13%

Cappuccino

$4.08 BHD 1.54

$2.57 BHD 0.97

58.75%

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

$0.86 BHD 0.32

$1.09 BHD 0.41

-21.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 BHD 0.15

$0.67 BHD 0.25

-41.79%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.34 BHD 2.01

$8.16 BHD 3.08

-34.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.92 BHD 2.99

$10.58 BHD 3.99

-25.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 BHD 0.49

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 BHD 0.21

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 BHD 0.87

Eggs

$2.35 BHD 0.89

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.62 BHD 1.74

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.07 BHD 1.91

$10.06 BHD 3.79

-49.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.92 BHD 2.99

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 BHD 0.44

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 BHD 0.63

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 BHD 0.41

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 BHD 0.45

Potato (1kg)

$0.78 BHD 0.29

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 BHD 0.20

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 BHD 0.46

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 BHD 0.21

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.43 BHD 2.05

$5.20 BHD 1.96

4.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.79 BHD 7.08

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.35 BHD 1.26

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 BHD 1.24

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 BHD 0.31

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.51 BHD 1.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.71 BHD 1.02

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.20 BHD 1.96

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 BHD 0.17

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

$37.3K BHD 14.1K

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

$15.8K BHD 5,947

$37.4K BHD 14.1K

-57.81%

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

$107 BHD 40.41

$162 BHD 60.9

-33.61%

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

$21.12 BHD 7.96

$26.00 BHD 9.80

-18.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.14 BHD 14.37

$66.6 BHD 25.10

-42.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$53.5 BHD 20.17

Cinema Ticket

$7.12 BHD 2.68

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

$386 BHD 145

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,901 BHD 2,224

$13.3K BHD 5,021

-55.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.07 BHD 9.83

$66.6 BHD 25.11

-60.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.0 BHD 24.13

$66.5 BHD 25.07

-3.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.3 BHD 31.78

$93.2 BHD 35.12

-9.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.4 BHD 33.33

$119 BHD 44.73

-25.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$627 BHD 236

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$503 BHD 190

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$954 BHD 360

$2,404 BHD 906

-60.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$780 BHD 294

$2,160 BHD 814

-63.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,986 BHD 749

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,603 BHD 604

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,542 BHD 581

$3,994 BHD 1,505

-61.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.56

5.75

48.87%

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

Last update for Al Muharraq: July 26, 2026

Last update for Amwaj: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Amwaj pays 159% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

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 Muharraq vs Amwaj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Muharraq and Amwaj differ by about 93% in total monthly costs ($1,197 vs $620 including rent). Amwaj is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 159% lower in Amwaj. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 302% higher in Al Muharraq. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,197 per month in Al Muharraq versus $620 in Amwaj – a 93% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $620 in Amwaj versus $1,197 in Al Muharraq, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Amwaj but tight or insufficient in Al Muharraq. The gap between the two cities makes Amwaj 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 Muharraq and Amwaj 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 Amwaj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% less than in Al Muharraq. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.