Cost of Living Comparison Between Amwaj and Manama Cost of Living Comparison Between Amwaj and Manama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $633 per month in Amwaj vs $1,496 in Manama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,926 per month in Amwaj vs $2,408 in Manama, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,218 per month in Amwaj vs $3,319 in Manama, rent included.

Amwaj is about 58% cheaper than Manama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Amwaj sits 53% below the global median, while Manama is 12% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.41 BHD 2.04

$6.48 BHD 2.44

-16.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 BHD 20.16

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.10 BHD 3.43

$7.27 BHD 2.74

25.17%

Cappuccino

$2.69 BHD 1.01

$5.34 BHD 2.01

-49.63%

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

$1.05 BHD 0.40

$0.87 BHD 0.33

20.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 BHD 0.24

$0.36 BHD 0.14

77.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.06 BHD 3.04

$8.09 BHD 3.05

-0.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.44 BHD 3.94

$10.54 BHD 3.97

-0.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 BHD 0.64

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 BHD 0.48

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.43 BHD 0.91

Eggs

$2.47 BHD 0.93

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.59 BHD 3.24

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.18 BHD 3.84

$7.74 BHD 2.92

31.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.28 BHD 3.88

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 BHD 0.89

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 BHD 0.79

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 BHD 0.67

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 BHD 0.44

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 BHD 0.35

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 BHD 0.41

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BHD 0.32

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.26 BHD 1.98

$6.58 BHD 2.48

-20.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 BHD 7.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.44 BHD 1.30

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 BHD 1.24

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 BHD 0.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.28 BHD 11.79

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 BHD 1.72

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.96 BHD 1.49

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.86 BHD 10.13

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 BHD 0.19

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)

$36.6K BHD 13.8K

$20.7K BHD 7,796

76.99%

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

$160 BHD 60.2

$121 BHD 45.53

32.10%

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

$26.99 BHD 10.17

$26.86 BHD 10.13

0.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.5 BHD 25.46

$38.52 BHD 14.52

75.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.0 BHD 26.78

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.13 BHD 17.01

Cinema Ticket

$10.78 BHD 4.06

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

$382 BHD 144

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.1K BHD 4,925

$8,953 BHD 3,375

45.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.3 BHD 24.63

$46.73 BHD 17.62

39.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.9 BHD 24.86

$63.8 BHD 24.03

3.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.0 BHD 35.44

$84.8 BHD 31.98

10.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 BHD 44.18

$88.8 BHD 33.47

31.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 BHD 308

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 BHD 211

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,377 BHD 896

$1,791 BHD 675

32.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,135 BHD 805

$1,244 BHD 469

71.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,629 BHD 991

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,941 BHD 732

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,939 BHD 1,485

$2,360 BHD 890

66.89%

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 1, 2026

Last update for Manama: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 67% higher in Amwaj, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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 Manama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manama costs about 136% 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 $949 per month in Amwaj and $2,243 in Manama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $633 in Amwaj and $1,496 in Manama. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 420% more in Manama, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Amwaj, where all-in costs run around $633, than in Manama at $1,496. In Amwaj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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, Manama makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.