Cost of Living Comparison Between Amwaj and Budaiya Cost of Living Comparison Between Amwaj and Budaiya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $627 per month in Amwaj vs $670 in Budaiya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,911 per month in Amwaj vs $1,135 in Budaiya, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,194 per month in Amwaj vs $1,600 in Budaiya, rent included.

Amwaj is about 6% cheaper than Budaiya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Amwaj and Budaiya are more affordable than the global median – Amwaj 53% lower, Budaiya 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.29 BHD 1.99

$5.28 BHD 1.99

0.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.9 BHD 19.92

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.34 BHD 3.52

$7.12 BHD 2.68

31.18%

Cappuccino

$2.70 BHD 1.02

$4.90 BHD 1.85

-44.90%

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

$1.04 BHD 0.39

$0.82 BHD 0.31

26.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.69 BHD 0.26

$0.28 BHD 0.11

146.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.14 BHD 3.07

$7.83 BHD 2.95

3.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.57 BHD 3.98

$10.42 BHD 3.93

1.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 BHD 0.65

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 BHD 0.49

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 BHD 0.44

Eggs

$1.56 BHD 0.59

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.63 BHD 0.99

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.11 BHD 3.81

$7.56 BHD 2.85

33.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.90 BHD 1.47

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 BHD 0.90

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 BHD 0.79

Oranges (1kg)

$1.67 BHD 0.63

Tomato (1kg)

$1.08 BHD 0.41

Potato (1kg)

$0.79 BHD 0.30

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 BHD 0.40

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.31 BHD 0.49

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 BHD 0.21

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.16 BHD 1.94

$5.78 BHD 2.18

-10.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.05 BHD 4.92

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 BHD 0.64

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 BHD 0.66

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 BHD 1.03

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.61 BHD 0.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.78 BHD 10.10

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.38 BHD 0.14

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

$37.1K BHD 14.0K

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

$37.7K BHD 14.2K

$20.4K BHD 7,688

84.59%

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

$160 BHD 60.5

$88.5 BHD 33.34

81.33%

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

$26.12 BHD 9.85

$27.19 BHD 10.25

-3.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.7 BHD 25.13

$27.05 BHD 10.19

146.47%

Cinema Ticket

$8.08 BHD 3.05

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

$393 BHD 148

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.4K BHD 5,036

$8,922 BHD 3,363

49.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.7 BHD 24.75

$45.41 BHD 17.11

44.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.4 BHD 25.02

$62.6 BHD 23.58

6.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.0 BHD 35.42

$84.7 BHD 31.92

10.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$120 BHD 45.13

$87.3 BHD 32.92

37.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,340 BHD 882

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,128 BHD 802

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,922 BHD 1,478

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.75

8.56

-32.83%

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

Last update for Amwaj: June 6, 2026

Last update for Budaiya: June 7, 2026

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

Amwaj vs Budaiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Budaiya costs about 7% more than Amwaj, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $940 per month in Amwaj and $1,005 in Budaiya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $627 in Amwaj and $670 in Budaiya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 274% more in Budaiya, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $627 in Amwaj and $670 in Budaiya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Amwaj – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Amwaj. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Budaiya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.