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: $1,213 in Al Muharraq versus $1,496 in Manama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,756 in Al Muharraq versus $2,408 in Manama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,299 in Al Muharraq versus $3,319 in Manama.

Living in Al Muharraq costs roughly 19% less than in Manama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Al Muharraq is 9% below, Manama is 12% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.00 BHD 1.51

$6.48 BHD 2.44

-38.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.62 BHD 10.04

$53.5 BHD 20.16

-50.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.19 BHD 1.96

$7.27 BHD 2.74

-28.61%

Cappuccino

$3.90 BHD 1.47

$5.34 BHD 2.01

-26.97%

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

$0.84 BHD 0.32

$0.87 BHD 0.33

-3.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 BHD 0.15

$0.36 BHD 0.14

8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.44 BHD 2.05

$8.09 BHD 3.05

-32.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.05 BHD 3.04

$10.54 BHD 3.97

-23.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 BHD 0.51

$1.71 BHD 0.64

-21.64%

White Bread (500g)

$0.55 BHD 0.21

$1.27 BHD 0.48

-56.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.31 BHD 0.87

$2.43 BHD 0.91

-4.94%

Eggs

$2.45 BHD 0.92

$2.47 BHD 0.93

-0.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.45 BHD 1.68

$8.59 BHD 3.24

-48.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 BHD 1.90

$7.74 BHD 2.92

-34.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.17 BHD 3.08

$10.28 BHD 3.88

-20.53%

Apples (1kg)

$1.22 BHD 0.46

$2.36 BHD 0.89

-48.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 BHD 0.63

$2.11 BHD 0.79

-20.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 BHD 0.41

$1.77 BHD 0.67

-37.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 BHD 0.44

$1.18 BHD 0.44

-1.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 BHD 0.31

$0.93 BHD 0.35

-12.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.53 BHD 0.20

$1.09 BHD 0.41

-51.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 BHD 0.46

$1.46 BHD 0.55

-17.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 BHD 0.19

$0.86 BHD 0.32

-40.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.20 BHD 1.96

$6.58 BHD 2.48

-20.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.50 BHD 6.97

$18.88 BHD 7.12

-2.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.34 BHD 1.26

$3.44 BHD 1.30

-2.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 BHD 1.20

$3.29 BHD 1.24

-3.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 BHD 0.31

$0.83 BHD 0.31

1.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.28 BHD 11.79

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.57 BHD 1.72

$4.58 BHD 1.72

-0.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.59 BHD 0.98

$3.96 BHD 1.49

-34.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.19 BHD 1.96

$26.86 BHD 10.13

-80.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.43 BHD 0.16

$0.52 BHD 0.19

-17.31%

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

$36.8K BHD 13.9K

-0.04%

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

$15.9K BHD 5,976

$20.7K BHD 7,796

-23.35%

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

$105 BHD 39.57

$121 BHD 45.53

-13.08%

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

$21.38 BHD 8.06

$26.86 BHD 10.13

-20.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.44 BHD 14.49

$38.52 BHD 14.52

-0.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.1 BHD 19.63

$71.0 BHD 26.78

-26.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.13 BHD 17.01

Cinema Ticket

$7.50 BHD 2.83

$10.78 BHD 4.06

-30.43%

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

$388 BHD 146

$382 BHD 144

1.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,915 BHD 2,230

$8,953 BHD 3,375

-33.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.00 BHD 10.18

$46.73 BHD 17.62

-42.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.6 BHD 23.59

$63.8 BHD 24.03

-1.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.9 BHD 31.24

$84.8 BHD 31.98

-2.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 BHD 33.51

$88.8 BHD 33.47

0.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$612 BHD 231

$818 BHD 308

-25.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$502 BHD 189

$559 BHD 211

-10.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$964 BHD 363

$1,791 BHD 675

-46.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$801 BHD 302

$1,244 BHD 469

-35.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,998 BHD 753

$2,629 BHD 991

-24.00%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,617 BHD 610

$1,941 BHD 732

-16.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,574 BHD 593

$2,360 BHD 890

-33.33%

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 Muharraq: June 1, 2026

Last update for Manama: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $612 in Al Muharraq and $818 in Manama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manama pays 50% 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: $27.00 in Al Muharraq vs $53.0 in Manama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $265 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 23% in total monthly costs ($1,213 vs $1,496 including rent). Al Muharraq is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Manama earns 50% 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: $612 in Al Muharraq versus $818 in Manama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Manama. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,213 per month in Al Muharraq versus $1,496 in Manama – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,213 in Al Muharraq versus $1,496 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 23% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.