🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,139 in Bahrain versus $2,363 in United Kingdom.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,802 in Bahrain versus $3,474 in United Kingdom.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,464 in Bahrain versus $4,584 in United Kingdom.
🙂Living in Bahrain costs about 52% less than in United Kingdom on average.
📊Bahrain (15% below) and United Kingdom (76% above) straddle the global median.
📏Bahrain ($62.0–$1,993) and United Kingdom ($1,675–$3,930) have similar cost spreads. Where you settle within each country has roughly equal impact on the budget.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bahrain
United Kingdom
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.97BHD 2.63
$20.18£15.00
-65.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5BHD 20.15
$86.9£64.6
-38.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.89BHD 2.97
$10.31£7.67
-23.47%
Cappuccino
$4.83BHD 1.82
$4.67£3.47
3.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83BHD 0.31
$2.45£1.82
-66.12%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39BHD 0.15
$1.75£1.30
-77.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.04BHD 3.03
$6.61£4.92
21.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.59BHD 3.99
$6.31£4.70
67.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bahrain
United Kingdom
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67BHD 0.63
$1.65£1.23
1.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.34BHD 0.50
$1.72£1.28
-22.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.60BHD 0.98
$2.29£1.71
13.54%
Eggs
$2.62BHD 0.99
$4.14£3.08
-36.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.35BHD 3.52
$9.97£7.41
-6.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.60BHD 2.86
$8.88£6.60
-14.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.25BHD 4.24
$14.15£10.52
-20.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.57BHD 0.97
$2.97£2.21
-13.47%
Banana(1kg)
$2.16BHD 0.82
$1.68£1.25
28.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.11BHD 0.80
$2.85£2.12
-25.96%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35BHD 0.51
$3.41£2.53
-60.41%
Potato(1kg)
$1.00BHD 0.38
$1.66£1.24
-39.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.06BHD 0.40
$1.53£1.13
-30.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.69BHD 0.64
$1.16£0.86
45.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.70BHD 0.26
$1.51£1.12
-53.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.30BHD 2.37
$20.73£15.41
-69.61%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.90BHD 7.88
$10.85£8.07
92.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.18BHD 1.20
$2.83£2.10
12.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38BHD 1.28
$3.31£2.46
2.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Bahrain
United Kingdom
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.83BHD 0.31
$3.19£2.37
-73.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$31.28BHD 11.79
$94.8£70.5
-67.02%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.45BHD 2.06
$5.46£4.06
-0.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.94BHD 1.49
$1.53£1.14
157.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$33.79BHD 12.74
$26.66£19.83
26.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.52BHD 0.19
$1.91£1.42
-72.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8KBHD 12.8K
$38.2K£28.4K
-11.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1KBHD 7,951
$41.1K£30.5K
-48.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bahrain
United Kingdom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123BHD 46.22
$327£243
-62.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.30BHD 10.29
$17.50£13.01
56.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.74BHD 15.35
$42.25£31.41
-3.57%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bahrain
United Kingdom
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$78.7BHD 29.65
$45.93£34.15
71.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$52.1BHD 19.65
$15.90£11.82
227.92%
Cinema Ticket
$10.55BHD 3.98
$13.46£10.01
-21.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bahrain
United Kingdom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$449BHD 169
$1,735£1,290
-74.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,721BHD 3,287
$20.7K£15.4K
-57.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bahrain
United Kingdom
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.03BHD 17.72
$89.5£66.5
-47.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$56.7BHD 21.36
$44.65£33.19
26.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.1BHD 32.44
$104£77.1
-16.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.7BHD 33.05
$102£75.7
-13.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bahrain
United Kingdom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$860BHD 324
$1,418£1,055
-39.39%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$609BHD 229
$1,139£847
-46.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,696BHD 639
$2,313£1,720
-26.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,133BHD 427
$1,837£1,366
-38.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,630BHD 991
$5,858£4,355
-55.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,867BHD 704
$4,550£3,383
-58.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bahrain
United Kingdom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,220BHD 837
$3,230£2,402
-31.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.97
5.75
38.61%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bahrain: June 8, 2026
Last update for United Kingdom: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $476 in Bahrain, $1,265 in United Kingdom. Capital cities: $801 in Manama vs $3,031 in London.
💰National salary averages: $2,214 in Bahrain, $3,192 in United Kingdom. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 166% higher in United Kingdom.
⭐Dining out costs 110% more in United Kingdom.
⭐Public transport is 564% more expensive in United Kingdom.
⭐Salaries are 44% higher in United Kingdom, giving Bahrain stronger purchasing power.
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
Bahrain vs United Kingdom: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between Bahrain and United Kingdom?
At $1,028 per month in Bahrain and $2,803 in United Kingdom, there's a 173% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Bahrain is simply cheaper day-to-day: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent in United Kingdom beats Bahrain across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Bahrain or United Kingdom?
In Bahrain, $2,500 covers most cities easily. In United Kingdom, it works in regional areas but falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
Should I move to Bahrain or United Kingdom?
It depends on what you're after. Bahrain wins on affordability; United Kingdom may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.