🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,140 in Bahrain versus $2,360 in United Kingdom.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,809 in Bahrain versus $3,471 in United Kingdom.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,477 in Bahrain versus $4,581 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–$2,025) and United Kingdom ($1,688–$4,005) 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
$7.09BHD 2.66
$20.50£15.17
-65.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.5BHD 20.11
$89.6£66.3
-40.30%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.14BHD 3.06
$10.05£7.44
-19.00%
Cappuccino
$4.84BHD 1.82
$4.53£3.35
6.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85BHD 0.32
$2.47£1.83
-65.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38BHD 0.14
$1.70£1.25
-77.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$7.91BHD 2.98
$6.61£4.89
19.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.48BHD 3.94
$6.48£4.80
61.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bahrain
United Kingdom
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69BHD 0.63
$1.64£1.21
3.05%
White Bread(500g)
$1.41BHD 0.53
$1.70£1.26
-17.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.60BHD 0.98
$2.20£1.63
18.18%
Eggs
$2.61BHD 0.98
$3.98£2.94
-34.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.24BHD 3.48
$9.62£7.12
-3.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.47BHD 2.81
$9.02£6.67
-17.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.17BHD 4.20
$14.00£10.36
-20.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.51BHD 0.94
$3.07£2.27
-18.24%
Banana(1kg)
$2.12BHD 0.80
$1.61£1.19
31.68%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04BHD 0.77
$2.82£2.09
-27.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35BHD 0.51
$3.58£2.65
-62.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.98BHD 0.37
$1.61£1.19
-39.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.09BHD 0.41
$1.52£1.13
-28.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.64BHD 0.62
$1.16£0.86
41.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.71BHD 0.27
$1.50£1.11
-52.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.18BHD 2.32
$20.28£15.01
-69.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.91BHD 7.86
$10.76£7.96
94.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.15BHD 1.18
$2.90£2.14
8.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39BHD 1.27
$3.27£2.42
3.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Bahrain
United Kingdom
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.82BHD 0.31
$3.25£2.40
-74.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.02BHD 12.04
$96.6£71.5
-66.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.21BHD 1.96
$5.41£4.00
-3.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.09BHD 1.54
$1.55£1.14
163.87%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$32.50BHD 12.22
$27.40£20.28
18.61%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.48BHD 0.18
$2.00£1.48
-76.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.4KBHD 12.9K
$38.6K£28.6K
-10.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.4KBHD 7,671
$40.1K£29.7K
-49.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bahrain
United Kingdom
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123BHD 46.33
$324£239
-61.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.29BHD 10.26
$17.16£12.70
59.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$40.75BHD 15.32
$42.46£31.42
-4.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bahrain
United Kingdom
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$78.7BHD 29.58
$46.45£34.38
69.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$52.3BHD 19.66
$16.23£12.01
222.24%
Cinema Ticket
$10.62BHD 3.99
$13.44£9.94
-20.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bahrain
United Kingdom
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$435BHD 163
$1,720£1,273
-74.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,644BHD 3,250
$21.1K£15.6K
-59.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bahrain
United Kingdom
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.83BHD 17.98
$89.6£66.3
-46.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.5BHD 20.86
$43.89£32.48
26.43%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$86.5BHD 32.54
$101£74.6
-14.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.2BHD 33.17
$105£78.1
-16.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bahrain
United Kingdom
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$851BHD 320
$1,396£1,033
-39.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$614BHD 231
$1,126£833
-45.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,712BHD 644
$2,346£1,736
-27.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,127BHD 424
$1,877£1,389
-39.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,612BHD 982
$5,923£4,383
-55.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,874BHD 705
$4,613£3,413
-59.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bahrain
United Kingdom
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,232BHD 839
$3,374£2,497
-33.85%
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: April 25, 2026
Last update for United Kingdom: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $478 in Bahrain, $1,267 in United Kingdom. Capital cities: $822 in Manama vs $3,034 in London.
💰National salary averages: $2,250 in Bahrain, $3,209 in United Kingdom. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 165% higher in United Kingdom.
⭐Dining out costs 110% more in United Kingdom.
⭐Public transport is 564% more expensive in United Kingdom.
⭐Salaries are 43% 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 $1,044 per month in Bahrain and $2,847 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.