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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $613 per month in Amwaj vs $1,595 in Manama, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,394 per month in Amwaj vs $2,515 in Manama, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,175 per month in Amwaj vs $3,435 in Manama, rent included.

Amwaj is about 62% cheaper than Manama, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Amwaj sits 55% below the global median, while Manama is 16% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.63 BHD 4.01

$6.80 BHD 2.56

56.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.28 BHD 11.79

$53.6 BHD 20.22

-41.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 BHD 3.70

$7.61 BHD 2.87

29.04%

Cappuccino

$3.94 BHD 1.49

$4.88 BHD 1.84

-19.26%

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

$2.16 BHD 0.82

$0.88 BHD 0.33

145.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 BHD 0.26

$0.30 BHD 0.11

126.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 BHD 2.96

$6.53 BHD 2.46

20.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.74 BHD 4.05

$10.04 BHD 3.78

6.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 BHD 0.40

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 BHD 0.86

Eggs

$2.34 BHD 0.88

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.83 BHD 3.33

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 BHD 2.46

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.79 BHD 3.31

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 BHD 0.90

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 BHD 0.85

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 BHD 0.73

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 BHD 0.54

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 BHD 0.39

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 BHD 0.53

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 BHD 0.58

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 BHD 0.29

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.38 BHD 2.03

$5.25 BHD 1.98

2.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.49 BHD 6.97

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.52 BHD 1.33

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 BHD 0.98

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 BHD 0.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.34 BHD 14.08

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.41 BHD 2.04

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.50 BHD 1.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.94 BHD 6.01

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 BHD 0.28

$0.70 BHD 0.26

5.71%

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

$36.9K BHD 13.9K

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

$37.8K BHD 14.2K

$20.4K BHD 7,676

85.60%

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

$132 BHD 49.82

$154 BHD 58.0

-14.11%

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

$23.82 BHD 8.98

$24.04 BHD 9.06

-0.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 BHD 25.31

$35.64 BHD 13.44

88.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.9 BHD 23.33

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.03 BHD 11.32

Cinema Ticket

$10.56 BHD 3.98

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

$493 BHD 186

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K BHD 5,024

$10.9K BHD 4,093

22.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.0 BHD 24.50

$50.9 BHD 19.20

27.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.9 BHD 24.85

$56.6 BHD 21.34

16.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.6 BHD 35.27

$86.2 BHD 32.49

8.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 BHD 44.94

$88.9 BHD 33.51

34.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$990 BHD 373

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 BHD 240

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,393 BHD 902

$2,078 BHD 783

15.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,992 BHD 1,128

$1,389 BHD 524

115.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,636 BHD 994

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,954 BHD 736

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,932 BHD 1,482

$2,346 BHD 885

67.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

12.72%

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

Last update for Amwaj: August 31, 2026

Last update for Manama: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 68% higher in Amwaj, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Amwaj versus $54.0 in Manama. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

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 160% 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 $920 per month in Amwaj and $2,392 in Manama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $613 in Amwaj and $1,595 in Manama. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Amwaj and $54.0 in Manama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Amwaj, where all-in costs run around $613, than in Manama at $1,595. 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.