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 $711 per month in Isa Town vs $1,479 in Manama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,732 per month in Isa Town vs $2,410 in Manama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,752 per month in Isa Town vs $3,340 in Manama, rent included.

Isa Town is about 52% cheaper than Manama, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Isa Town sits 47% below the global median, while Manama is 11% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.87 BHD 2.97

$6.57 BHD 2.48

19.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.77 BHD 10.09

$52.0 BHD 19.60

-48.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.69 BHD 2.52

$7.56 BHD 2.85

-11.51%

Cappuccino

$4.76 BHD 1.79

$5.46 BHD 2.06

-12.82%

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

$0.84 BHD 0.32

$0.79 BHD 0.30

6.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 BHD 0.11

$0.37 BHD 0.14

-24.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.81 BHD 2.57

$8.01 BHD 3.02

-14.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.46 BHD 3.94

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 BHD 0.74

$1.65 BHD 0.62

18.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.57 BHD 0.59

$1.33 BHD 0.50

18.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.65 BHD 1.37

$2.34 BHD 0.88

55.98%

Eggs

$2.53 BHD 0.96

$2.40 BHD 0.90

5.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.25 BHD 4.99

$8.62 BHD 3.25

53.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.49 BHD 2.44

$7.50 BHD 2.83

-13.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.17 BHD 6.10

$10.23 BHD 3.86

58.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.23 BHD 0.84

$2.45 BHD 0.92

-8.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.19 BHD 0.82

$2.10 BHD 0.79

4.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 BHD 0.86

$1.70 BHD 0.64

34.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.94 BHD 0.73

$1.17 BHD 0.44

65.81%

Potato (1kg)

$2.01 BHD 0.76

$0.92 BHD 0.35

118.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.50 BHD 0.57

$1.08 BHD 0.41

38.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 BHD 0.34

$1.44 BHD 0.54

-36.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 BHD 0.31

$0.91 BHD 0.34

-9.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.48 BHD 2.44

Wine (Bottle)

$18.75 BHD 7.07

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.35 BHD 1.26

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 BHD 1.18

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 BHD 0.41

$0.78 BHD 0.29

39.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.30 BHD 5.01

$32.29 BHD 12.17

-58.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.31 BHD 2.00

$4.66 BHD 1.76

13.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.00 BHD 1.51

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.04 BHD 9.81

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 BHD 0.32

$0.53 BHD 0.20

58.49%

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

$37.7K BHD 14.2K

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

$13.4K BHD 5,045

$20.7K BHD 7,813

-35.43%

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

$122 BHD 46.06

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

$26.99 BHD 10.17

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$40.16 BHD 15.14

$38.99 BHD 14.70

3.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$106 BHD 39.81

$71.4 BHD 26.90

48.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.42 BHD 16.74

Cinema Ticket

$10.66 BHD 4.02

$10.53 BHD 3.97

1.23%

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

$394 BHD 148

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,846 BHD 2,957

$8,780 BHD 3,309

-10.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.41 BHD 14.85

$46.27 BHD 17.44

-14.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.01 BHD 4.90

$61.5 BHD 23.19

-78.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.1 BHD 30.57

$82.8 BHD 31.21

-2.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 BHD 40.42

$89.4 BHD 33.71

19.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$803 BHD 303

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$548 BHD 207

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,323 BHD 499

$1,794 BHD 676

-26.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,071 BHD 404

$1,208 BHD 455

-11.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,668 BHD 1,006

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,960 BHD 739

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,079 BHD 407

$2,276 BHD 858

-52.60%

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 Isa Town: July 11, 2026

Last update for Manama: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 111% 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 $27.00 in Isa Town versus $52.0 in Manama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $246 vs $262 – making Isa Town the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 108%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,067 per month in Isa Town and $2,218 in Manama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $711 in Isa Town and $1,479 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 $27.00 in Isa Town and $52.0 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 $711, than in Manama at $1,479. 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.