Cost of Living Comparison Between Budaiya and Manama Cost of Living Comparison Between Budaiya and Manama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $688 in Budaiya versus $1,496 in Manama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,120 in Budaiya versus $2,408 in Manama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,552 in Budaiya versus $3,319 in Manama.

Living in Budaiya costs roughly 54% less than in Manama, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Budaiya is 49% below, Manama is 12% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.45 BHD 2.05

$6.48 BHD 2.44

-15.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.0 BHD 19.62

$53.5 BHD 20.16

-2.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.47 BHD 2.82

$7.27 BHD 2.74

2.75%

Cappuccino

$5.11 BHD 1.93

$5.34 BHD 2.01

-4.31%

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

$0.82 BHD 0.31

$0.87 BHD 0.33

-5.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 BHD 0.11

$0.36 BHD 0.14

-22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.88 BHD 2.97

$8.09 BHD 3.05

-2.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.64 BHD 4.01

$10.54 BHD 3.97

0.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 BHD 0.62

$1.71 BHD 0.64

-4.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 BHD 0.48

$1.27 BHD 0.48

0.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.21 BHD 0.46

$2.43 BHD 0.91

-50.21%

Eggs

$1.55 BHD 0.59

$2.47 BHD 0.93

-37.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$2.73 BHD 1.03

$8.59 BHD 3.24

-68.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.70 BHD 2.90

$7.74 BHD 2.92

-0.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.04 BHD 1.52

$10.28 BHD 3.88

-60.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 BHD 0.90

$2.36 BHD 0.89

0.85%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 BHD 0.79

$2.11 BHD 0.79

-0.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.68 BHD 0.63

$1.77 BHD 0.67

-5.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.05 BHD 0.40

$1.18 BHD 0.44

-11.02%

Potato (1kg)

$0.81 BHD 0.31

$0.93 BHD 0.35

-12.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 BHD 0.41

$1.09 BHD 0.41

-0.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.31 BHD 0.50

$1.46 BHD 0.55

-10.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 BHD 0.20

$0.86 BHD 0.32

-37.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.75 BHD 2.17

$6.58 BHD 2.48

-12.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.19 BHD 4.97

$18.88 BHD 7.12

-30.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 BHD 0.65

$3.44 BHD 1.30

-49.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 BHD 0.67

$3.29 BHD 1.24

-46.20%

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)

$2.69 BHD 1.01

$4.58 BHD 1.72

-41.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.61 BHD 0.98

$3.96 BHD 1.49

-34.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.02 BHD 9.81

$26.86 BHD 10.13

-3.13%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 BHD 0.13

$0.52 BHD 0.19

-30.77%

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

$37.8K BHD 14.2K

$36.8K BHD 13.9K

2.61%

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

$20.9K BHD 7,884

$20.7K BHD 7,796

1.12%

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

$91.7 BHD 34.57

$121 BHD 45.53

-24.08%

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

$27.22 BHD 10.26

$26.86 BHD 10.13

1.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.96 BHD 10.16

$38.52 BHD 14.52

-30.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.0 BHD 26.78

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.13 BHD 17.01

Cinema Ticket

$7.91 BHD 2.98

$10.78 BHD 4.06

-26.62%

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

$395 BHD 149

$382 BHD 144

3.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,960 BHD 3,378

$8,953 BHD 3,375

0.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.98 BHD 17.34

$46.73 BHD 17.62

-1.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.5 BHD 23.56

$63.8 BHD 24.03

-1.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.2 BHD 31.35

$84.8 BHD 31.98

-1.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.1 BHD 33.22

$88.8 BHD 33.47

-0.77%

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)

$1,791 BHD 675

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,244 BHD 469

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)

$2,360 BHD 890

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.56

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

Last update for Budaiya: June 1, 2026

Last update for Manama: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $52.0 in Budaiya vs $53.0 in Manama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $265 per month, with Budaiya cheaper across the board.

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

Budaiya vs Manama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Budaiya wins on cost – living expenses run 117% lower than in Manama. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Budaiya the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,033 in Budaiya and $2,243 in Manama to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Manama. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $688 per month in Budaiya versus $1,496 in Manama – a 117% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $688 in Budaiya versus $1,496 in Manama, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Budaiya but tight or insufficient in Manama. The gap between the two cities makes Budaiya the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Budaiya and Manama are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Budaiya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 117% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.