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: $1,215 in Al Muharraq versus $627 in Amwaj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,732 in Al Muharraq versus $1,911 in Amwaj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,250 in Al Muharraq versus $3,194 in Amwaj.

Living in Al Muharraq is roughly 94% more expensive than Amwaj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.03 BHD 1.52

$5.29 BHD 1.99

-23.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.37 BHD 9.94

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.40 BHD 2.04

$9.34 BHD 3.52

-42.18%

Cappuccino

$4.09 BHD 1.54

$2.70 BHD 1.02

51.48%

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

$0.79 BHD 0.30

$1.04 BHD 0.39

-24.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 BHD 0.15

$0.69 BHD 0.26

-42.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.17 BHD 1.95

$8.14 BHD 3.07

-36.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.87 BHD 2.96

$10.57 BHD 3.98

-25.54%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 BHD 0.49

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 BHD 0.19

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.32 BHD 0.87

Eggs

$2.45 BHD 0.92

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.63 BHD 1.74

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.00 BHD 1.88

$10.11 BHD 3.81

-50.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.16 BHD 3.07

Apples (1kg)

$1.17 BHD 0.44

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 BHD 0.60

Oranges (1kg)

$1.06 BHD 0.40

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 BHD 0.45

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 BHD 0.29

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 BHD 0.20

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 BHD 0.44

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 BHD 0.21

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.41 BHD 2.04

$5.16 BHD 1.94

4.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.21 BHD 6.86

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.39 BHD 1.28

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 BHD 1.25

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 BHD 0.30

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.77 BHD 1.80

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.73 BHD 1.03

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.26 BHD 1.98

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 BHD 0.17

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

$36.8K BHD 13.9K

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

$16.0K BHD 6,049

$37.7K BHD 14.2K

-57.38%

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

$105 BHD 39.66

$160 BHD 60.5

-34.39%

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

$21.00 BHD 7.91

$26.12 BHD 9.85

-19.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.01 BHD 14.33

$66.7 BHD 25.13

-42.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.9 BHD 19.92

Cinema Ticket

$7.25 BHD 2.73

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

$388 BHD 146

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,027 BHD 2,271

$13.4K BHD 5,036

-54.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.32 BHD 9.92

$65.7 BHD 24.75

-59.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.6 BHD 23.98

$66.4 BHD 25.02

-4.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.8 BHD 31.57

$94.0 BHD 35.42

-10.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.8 BHD 33.85

$120 BHD 45.13

-24.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$618 BHD 233

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$510 BHD 192

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$975 BHD 367

$2,340 BHD 882

-58.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$804 BHD 303

$2,128 BHD 802

-62.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,003 BHD 755

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,598 BHD 602

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,561 BHD 588

$3,922 BHD 1,478

-60.19%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Amwaj: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Amwaj pays 151% 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 94% in total monthly costs ($1,215 vs $627 including rent). Amwaj is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Amwaj earns 151% less. 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 298% higher in Al Muharraq. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,215 per month in Al Muharraq versus $627 in Amwaj – a 94% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $627 in Amwaj versus $1,215 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 94% less than in Al Muharraq. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.