Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bahrain and the United States

Name: United States
Address: US

For one person, living is cheaper in Bahrain: $1,576 a month against $2,701 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $13,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

77

Cost of Living Index in Bahrain
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Bahrain Living Index
133

Cost of Living Index in the United States
Learn more

United States Living Index

Jump to prices

🇧🇭 Bahrain

$1,576

/mo nomad

🇺🇸 United States

$2,701

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bahrain and in the United States

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bahrain and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,576 in Bahrain versus $2,701 in the United States.

Bahrain $1,576
United States $2,701

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,420 in Bahrain versus $3,980 in the United States.

Bahrain $2,420
United States $3,980

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,264 in Bahrain versus $5,258 in the United States.

Bahrain $3,264
United States $5,258

Internal cost variation is higher in the United States: monthly costs span $980 to $5,162, compared to $125–$1,998 in Bahrain. City choice carries more weight in the United States.

Living in Bahrain costs about 42% less than in the United States on average.

Both countries sit above the global median: Bahrain 17% above, the United States 100% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.94 BHD 2.62

$19.92 $19.92

-65.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.43 BHD 15.26

$81.0 $81.0

-50.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.04 BHD 3.03

$12.07 $12.07

-33.39%

Cappuccino

$4.69 BHD 1.77

$5.55 $5.55

-15.50%

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

$0.98 BHD 0.37

$2.67 $2.67

-63.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 BHD 0.12

$2.09 $2.09

-84.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.42 BHD 2.42

$5.96 $5.96

7.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.53 BHD 3.60

$7.76 $7.76

22.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 BHD 0.59

$1.05 $1.05

49.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 BHD 0.47

$3.55 $3.55

-65.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.69 BHD 1.01

$4.64 $4.64

-42.03%

Eggs

$2.58 BHD 0.97

$4.18 $4.18

-38.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.86 BHD 3.72

$12.76 $12.76

-22.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.22 BHD 2.35

$12.63 $12.63

-50.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.05 BHD 3.79

$17.22 $17.22

-41.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.61 BHD 0.99

$5.15 $5.15

-49.32%

Banana (1kg)

$2.22 BHD 0.84

$1.64 $1.64

35.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 BHD 0.83

$4.46 $4.46

-50.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 BHD 0.59

$4.98 $4.98

-68.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 BHD 0.45

$2.84 $2.84

-58.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 BHD 0.43

$3.09 $3.09

-62.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 BHD 0.63

$2.19 $2.19

-23.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 BHD 0.26

$2.27 $2.27

-69.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.85 BHD 2.21

$10.61 $10.61

-44.86%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.92 BHD 9.03

$14.71 $14.71

62.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.69 BHD 1.39

$2.10 $2.10

75.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 BHD 1.19

$3.82 $3.82

-17.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 BHD 0.29

$2.35 $2.35

-67.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.99 BHD 13.96

$64.1 $64.1

-42.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 BHD 1.99

$3.57 $3.57

47.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.46 BHD 1.30

$1.85 $1.85

87.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.60 BHD 5.89

$30.19 $30.19

-48.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 BHD 0.22

$1.07 $1.07

-43.93%

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

$37.7K BHD 14.2K

$35.3K $35.3K

6.82%

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

$20.5K BHD 7,735

$25.9K $25.9K

-20.87%

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

$134 BHD 50.4

$217 $217

-38.33%

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

$26.12 BHD 9.86

$61.4 $61.4

-57.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$41.13 BHD 15.52

$74.4 $74.4

-44.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.9 BHD 29.04

$45.08 $45.08

70.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.77 BHD 13.50

$23.07 $23.07

55.05%

Cinema Ticket

$10.38 BHD 3.92

$14.79 $14.79

-29.82%

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

$527 BHD 199

$1,480 $1,480

-64.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,526 BHD 3,595

$25.5K $25.5K

-62.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$54.3 BHD 20.48

$53.0 $53.0

2.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$51.1 BHD 19.30

$42.75 $42.75

19.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 BHD 32.00

$94.3 $94.3

-10.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.7 BHD 33.11

$115 $115

-23.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$920 BHD 347

$1,678 $1,678

-45.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$621 BHD 234

$1,313 $1,313

-52.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,807 BHD 682

$2,649 $2,649

-31.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,224 BHD 462

$2,183 $2,183

-43.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,596 BHD 980

$3,374 $3,374

-23.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,910 BHD 721

$2,661 $2,661

-28.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,300 BHD 868

$4,404 $4,404

-47.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.33

6.55

-3.36%

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

Last update for Bahrain: October 13, 2026

Last update for the United States: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Bahrain

$621 39.4%

United States

$1.3K 48.6% 112% $693

Groceries & Markets

Bahrain

$276 17.5%

United States

$411 15.2% 48.6% $134

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Bahrain

$201 12.7%

United States

$352 13% 75.5% $152

Eating Out

Bahrain

$192 12.2%

United States

$327 12.1% 69.8% $134

Clothing & Footwear

Bahrain

$125 7.9%

United States

$137 5.1% 9.9% $12

Sport & Entertainment

Bahrain

$98 6.2%

United States

$75 2.8% 23.6% $23

Getting Around

Bahrain

$63 4%

United States

$86 3.2% 37.7% $24

Cost Breakdown

National rent averages: $464 in Bahrain, $1,609 in the United States. Capital cities: $1,011 in Manama vs $2,730 in Washington, DC.

National salary averages: $2,206 in Bahrain, $4,533 in the United States. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.

Cost Highlights

Rent is 247% higher in the United States.

Dining out costs 79% more in the United States.

Public transport is 50% more expensive in the United States.

Salaries are 105% higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.

Good to know

🇧🇭 Bahrain

🇺🇸 United States

🕒 Local time

11:49 11:49 AM

04:49 4:49 AM

7 h behind Bahrain

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

1,569,666

340,110,988

💱 Currency

Bahraini Dinar BHD .د.ب

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 BHD = 2.65 USD

1 BHD = 2.36 EUR

1 USD = 0.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to BHD – Bahraini Dinar Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇧🇭 Bahraini Dinar (.د.ب)

Bahraini Dinar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 0.377 BHD (1 BHD = 2.65 USD). 1 EUR = 0.424 BHD (1 BHD = 2.36 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

USD to BHD in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Bahrain United States 11,820 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight

From you

Bahrain
United States

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

At $1,576 per month in Bahrain and $2,701 in the United States, there's a 71% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.

Day-to-day life is cheaper in Bahrain: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.

Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $1,609 in the United States and $464 in Bahrain. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.

In Bahrain, $2,500 covers most cities easily; in the United States it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.

It depends on what you're after: Bahrain wins on affordability; the United States may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.