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: $1,219 in Al Muharraq versus $1,479 in Manama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,752 in Al Muharraq versus $2,410 in Manama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,284 in Al Muharraq versus $3,340 in Manama.

Living in Al Muharraq costs roughly 18% less than in Manama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Al Muharraq is 9% below, Manama is 11% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.09 BHD 1.54

$6.57 BHD 2.48

-37.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.83 BHD 10.11

$52.0 BHD 19.60

-48.39%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.29 BHD 1.99

$7.56 BHD 2.85

-30.03%

Cappuccino

$4.07 BHD 1.53

$5.46 BHD 2.06

-25.46%

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

$0.85 BHD 0.32

$0.79 BHD 0.30

7.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 BHD 0.14

$0.37 BHD 0.14

-2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.36 BHD 2.02

$8.01 BHD 3.02

-33.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.82 BHD 2.95

$10.46 BHD 3.94

-25.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 BHD 0.49

$1.65 BHD 0.62

-21.21%

White Bread (500g)

$0.52 BHD 0.20

$1.33 BHD 0.50

-60.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.32 BHD 0.87

$2.34 BHD 0.88

-0.85%

Eggs

$2.33 BHD 0.88

$2.40 BHD 0.90

-2.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.62 BHD 1.74

$8.62 BHD 3.25

-46.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.15 BHD 1.94

$7.50 BHD 2.83

-31.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.93 BHD 2.99

$10.23 BHD 3.86

-22.48%

Apples (1kg)

$1.20 BHD 0.45

$2.45 BHD 0.92

-51.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 BHD 0.60

$2.10 BHD 0.79

-24.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.07 BHD 0.40

$1.70 BHD 0.64

-37.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 BHD 0.46

$1.17 BHD 0.44

4.27%

Potato (1kg)

$0.76 BHD 0.29

$0.92 BHD 0.35

-17.39%

Onion (1kg)

$0.52 BHD 0.20

$1.08 BHD 0.41

-51.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 BHD 0.44

$1.44 BHD 0.54

-19.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 BHD 0.19

$0.91 BHD 0.34

-43.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.27 BHD 1.99

$6.48 BHD 2.44

-18.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.78 BHD 7.08

$18.75 BHD 7.07

0.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.35 BHD 1.26

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 BHD 1.19

$3.14 BHD 1.18

0.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 BHD 0.31

$0.78 BHD 0.29

6.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.29 BHD 12.17

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.70 BHD 1.77

$4.66 BHD 1.76

0.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.69 BHD 1.01

$4.00 BHD 1.51

-32.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.23 BHD 1.97

$26.04 BHD 9.81

-79.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.44 BHD 0.17

$0.53 BHD 0.20

-16.98%

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

$37.0K BHD 14.0K

$37.7K BHD 14.2K

-1.76%

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

$15.6K BHD 5,896

$20.7K BHD 7,813

-24.54%

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

$105 BHD 39.71

$122 BHD 46.06

-13.80%

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

$21.06 BHD 7.94

$26.99 BHD 10.17

-21.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.15 BHD 14.76

$38.99 BHD 14.70

0.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$52.3 BHD 19.72

$71.4 BHD 26.90

-26.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.42 BHD 16.74

Cinema Ticket

$7.15 BHD 2.70

$10.53 BHD 3.97

-32.10%

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

$387 BHD 146

$394 BHD 148

-1.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,944 BHD 2,240

$8,780 BHD 3,309

-32.30%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$26.95 BHD 10.16

$46.27 BHD 17.44

-41.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.9 BHD 24.09

$61.5 BHD 23.19

3.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.4 BHD 31.44

$82.8 BHD 31.21

0.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 BHD 34.02

$89.4 BHD 33.71

0.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$608 BHD 229

$803 BHD 303

-24.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$504 BHD 190

$548 BHD 207

-7.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$969 BHD 365

$1,794 BHD 676

-46.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$790 BHD 298

$1,208 BHD 455

-34.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,011 BHD 758

$2,668 BHD 1,006

-24.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,612 BHD 608

$1,960 BHD 739

-17.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,549 BHD 584

$2,276 BHD 858

-31.96%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Manama: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $608 in Al Muharraq and $803 in Manama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manama pays 47% 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 $52.0 in Manama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $201 vs $262 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 21% in total monthly costs ($1,219 vs $1,479 including rent). Al Muharraq is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 47% 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: $608 in Al Muharraq versus $803 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 $1,219 per month in Al Muharraq versus $1,479 in Manama – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,219 in Al Muharraq versus $1,479 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 21% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.