Cost of Living Comparison Between Isa Town and Manama Cost of Living Comparison Between Isa Town and Manama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $744 per month in Isa Town vs $1,595 in Manama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,758 per month in Isa Town vs $2,515 in Manama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,771 per month in Isa Town vs $3,435 in Manama, rent included.

Isa Town is about 53% cheaper than Manama, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Isa Town sits 46% below the global median, while Manama is 16% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.00 BHD 3.02

$6.80 BHD 2.56

17.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.39 BHD 9.95

$53.6 BHD 20.22

-50.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.82 BHD 2.57

$7.61 BHD 2.87

-10.38%

Cappuccino

$4.56 BHD 1.72

$4.88 BHD 1.84

-6.56%

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

$0.83 BHD 0.31

$0.88 BHD 0.33

-5.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 BHD 0.10

$0.30 BHD 0.11

-13.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.55 BHD 2.47

$6.53 BHD 2.46

0.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.04 BHD 3.78

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 BHD 0.52

$1.46 BHD 0.55

-6.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 BHD 0.50

$1.05 BHD 0.40

25.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$5.21 BHD 1.96

$2.29 BHD 0.86

127.51%

Eggs

$3.13 BHD 1.18

$2.34 BHD 0.88

33.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.82 BHD 4.08

$8.83 BHD 3.33

22.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.77 BHD 2.93

$6.53 BHD 2.46

18.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$21.18 BHD 7.98

$8.79 BHD 3.31

140.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.73 BHD 1.03

$2.40 BHD 0.90

13.75%

Banana (1kg)

$2.72 BHD 1.03

$2.24 BHD 0.85

21.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.67 BHD 1.01

$1.93 BHD 0.73

38.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.57 BHD 0.97

$1.43 BHD 0.54

79.72%

Potato (1kg)

$2.67 BHD 1.00

$1.04 BHD 0.39

156.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.55 BHD 0.58

$1.40 BHD 0.53

10.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.52 BHD 0.20

$1.54 BHD 0.58

-66.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 BHD 0.41

$0.77 BHD 0.29

40.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.25 BHD 1.98

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)

$1.07 BHD 0.40

$0.65 BHD 0.24

64.62%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.18 BHD 4.97

$37.34 BHD 14.08

-64.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.37 BHD 2.03

$5.41 BHD 2.04

-0.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.50 BHD 1.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.94 BHD 6.01

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 BHD 0.31

$0.70 BHD 0.26

17.14%

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)

$13.1K BHD 4,931

$20.4K BHD 7,676

-35.77%

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

$154 BHD 58.0

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

$24.04 BHD 9.06

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.61 BHD 14.93

$35.64 BHD 13.44

11.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$104 BHD 39.20

$61.9 BHD 23.33

67.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.03 BHD 11.32

Cinema Ticket

$10.55 BHD 3.98

$10.56 BHD 3.98

-0.09%

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

$493 BHD 186

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,916 BHD 2,985

$10.9K BHD 4,093

-27.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.28 BHD 15.18

$50.9 BHD 19.20

-20.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.00 BHD 4.90

$56.6 BHD 21.34

-77.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.4 BHD 29.94

$86.2 BHD 32.49

-7.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 BHD 40.36

$88.9 BHD 33.51

20.43%

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)

$1,331 BHD 502

$2,078 BHD 783

-35.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,067 BHD 402

$1,389 BHD 524

-23.21%

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)

$1,059 BHD 399

$2,346 BHD 885

-54.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

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

Last update for Isa Town: September 1, 2026

Last update for Manama: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 122% higher in Manama, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Isa Town versus $54.0 in Manama. Groceries tell a different story – $275 in Isa Town vs $251 in Manama – so Manama wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Isa Town vs Manama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Manama is pricier by about 114%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,117 per month in Isa Town 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 $744 in Isa Town 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 $26.00 in Isa Town and $54.0 in Manama. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Isa Town, where all-in costs run around $744, than in Manama at $1,595. In Isa Town it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Isa Town – 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 Isa Town. 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.