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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,077 in Al Muharraq versus $1,555 in Manama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,603 in Al Muharraq versus $2,484 in Manama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,129 in Al Muharraq versus $3,413 in Manama.

Living in Al Muharraq costs roughly 31% less than in Manama, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Al Muharraq is 22% below, Manama is 13% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.57 BHD 0.97

$6.78 BHD 2.56

-62.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.31 BHD 9.92

$53.5 BHD 20.17

-50.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.88 BHD 2.22

$7.59 BHD 2.86

-22.53%

Cappuccino

$3.87 BHD 1.46

$4.88 BHD 1.84

-20.70%

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

$0.82 BHD 0.31

$0.88 BHD 0.33

-6.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 BHD 0.12

$0.30 BHD 0.11

6.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.70 BHD 2.52

$6.80 BHD 2.56

-1.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.78 BHD 2.55

$10.22 BHD 3.85

-33.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 BHD 0.49

$1.46 BHD 0.55

-10.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 BHD 0.40

$1.10 BHD 0.41

-3.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.35 BHD 0.88

$2.29 BHD 0.86

2.62%

Eggs

$2.23 BHD 0.84

$2.31 BHD 0.87

-3.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.60 BHD 1.36

$8.87 BHD 3.34

-59.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.86 BHD 1.83

$6.60 BHD 2.49

-26.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.68 BHD 3.27

$8.55 BHD 3.22

1.52%

Apples (1kg)

$1.08 BHD 0.41

$2.40 BHD 0.90

-55.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 BHD 0.71

$2.27 BHD 0.86

-16.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.04 BHD 0.39

$1.94 BHD 0.73

-46.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 BHD 0.55

$1.46 BHD 0.55

-0.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 BHD 0.38

$1.02 BHD 0.38

-1.96%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 BHD 0.19

$1.43 BHD 0.54

-64.34%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.50 BHD 0.19

$1.51 BHD 0.57

-66.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 BHD 0.19

$0.78 BHD 0.29

-34.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.39 BHD 2.03

$5.27 BHD 1.99

2.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.90 BHD 7.12

$18.59 BHD 7.01

1.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.65 BHD 1.38

$3.50 BHD 1.32

4.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 BHD 1.01

$2.58 BHD 0.97

3.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 BHD 0.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.84 BHD 14.26

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.19 BHD 1.96

$5.24 BHD 1.98

-0.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 BHD 0.51

$3.52 BHD 1.33

-61.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.32 BHD 2.00

$16.09 BHD 6.06

-66.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 BHD 0.19

$0.64 BHD 0.24

-20.31%

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

$37.2K BHD 14.0K

$36.4K BHD 13.7K

2.33%

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

$20.1K BHD 7,582

$20.8K BHD 7,829

-3.16%

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

$154 BHD 58.0

$151 BHD 56.9

2.03%

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

$20.94 BHD 7.89

$24.64 BHD 9.29

-15.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.50 BHD 13.00

$34.82 BHD 13.12

-0.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.3 BHD 23.49

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.02 BHD 11.31

Cinema Ticket

$10.54 BHD 3.97

$10.59 BHD 3.99

-0.47%

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

$496 BHD 187

$488 BHD 184

1.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.0K BHD 4,132

$10.8K BHD 4,059

1.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 BHD 19.47

$51.0 BHD 19.21

1.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.0 BHD 21.50

$57.5 BHD 21.65

-0.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.4 BHD 33.33

$87.5 BHD 32.99

1.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.5 BHD 34.11

$90.6 BHD 34.13

-0.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$460 BHD 173

$997 BHD 376

-53.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$365 BHD 138

$649 BHD 245

-43.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,014 BHD 382

$2,076 BHD 783

-51.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$725 BHD 273

$1,387 BHD 523

-47.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,997 BHD 753

$2,576 BHD 971

-22.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,592 BHD 600

$1,960 BHD 739

-18.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,763 BHD 664

$2,337 BHD 881

-24.56%

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 Muharraq: September 6, 2026

Last update for Manama: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $460 in Al Muharraq and $997 in Manama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manama pays 33% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $26.00 in Al Muharraq vs $54.0 in Manama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $251 per month, with Al Muharraq 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 Muharraq vs Manama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Muharraq and Manama differ by about 44% in total monthly costs ($1,077 vs $1,555 including rent). Al Muharraq is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 33% 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: $460 in Al Muharraq versus $997 in Manama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 22% higher in Manama. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,077 per month in Al Muharraq versus $1,555 in Manama – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,077 in Al Muharraq versus $1,555 in Manama, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al Muharraq but tight or insufficient in Manama. The gap between the two cities makes Al Muharraq 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 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 Al Muharraq gentler on the wallet – expenses run 44% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.