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 $721 per month in Isa Town vs $1,496 in Manama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,715 per month in Isa Town vs $2,408 in Manama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,710 per month in Isa Town vs $3,319 in Manama, rent included.

Isa Town is about 52% cheaper than Manama, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Isa Town sits 46% below the global median, while Manama is 12% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.91 BHD 2.98

$6.48 BHD 2.44

22.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.15 BHD 9.86

$53.5 BHD 20.16

-51.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.69 BHD 2.52

$7.27 BHD 2.74

-7.98%

Cappuccino

$4.56 BHD 1.72

$5.34 BHD 2.01

-14.61%

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

$0.89 BHD 0.34

$0.87 BHD 0.33

2.30%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 BHD 0.10

$0.36 BHD 0.14

-27.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.48 BHD 2.44

$8.09 BHD 3.05

-19.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.54 BHD 3.97

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 BHD 0.73

$1.71 BHD 0.64

13.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.62 BHD 0.61

$1.27 BHD 0.48

27.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.61 BHD 1.36

$2.43 BHD 0.91

48.56%

Eggs

$2.66 BHD 1.00

$2.47 BHD 0.93

7.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.29 BHD 5.01

$8.59 BHD 3.24

54.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.70 BHD 2.53

$7.74 BHD 2.92

-13.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.16 BHD 6.09

$10.28 BHD 3.88

57.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 BHD 0.86

$2.36 BHD 0.89

-3.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.29 BHD 0.87

$2.11 BHD 0.79

8.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 BHD 0.83

$1.77 BHD 0.67

23.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.01 BHD 0.76

$1.18 BHD 0.44

70.34%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 BHD 0.77

$0.93 BHD 0.35

119.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 BHD 0.54

$1.09 BHD 0.41

32.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 BHD 0.34

$1.46 BHD 0.55

-39.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 BHD 0.29

$0.86 BHD 0.32

-10.47%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 BHD 2.48

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 BHD 7.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.44 BHD 1.30

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 BHD 1.24

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 BHD 0.39

$0.83 BHD 0.31

25.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.23 BHD 4.99

$31.28 BHD 11.79

-57.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.23 BHD 1.97

$4.58 BHD 1.72

14.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.96 BHD 1.49

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.86 BHD 10.13

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 BHD 0.29

$0.52 BHD 0.19

48.08%

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

$36.8K BHD 13.9K

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

$13.2K BHD 4,994

$20.7K BHD 7,796

-35.95%

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

$121 BHD 45.53

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

$26.86 BHD 10.13

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.81 BHD 15.01

$38.52 BHD 14.52

3.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$108 BHD 40.76

$71.0 BHD 26.78

52.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.13 BHD 17.01

Cinema Ticket

$10.56 BHD 3.98

$10.78 BHD 4.06

-2.04%

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

$382 BHD 144

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,942 BHD 2,994

$8,953 BHD 3,375

-11.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.48 BHD 15.26

$46.73 BHD 17.62

-13.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$13.46 BHD 5.07

$63.8 BHD 24.03

-78.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.5 BHD 30.34

$84.8 BHD 31.98

-5.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 BHD 39.76

$88.8 BHD 33.47

18.80%

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)

$1,334 BHD 503

$1,791 BHD 675

-25.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,046 BHD 394

$1,244 BHD 469

-15.97%

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)

$1,058 BHD 399

$2,360 BHD 890

-55.15%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Manama: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 123% 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 $53.0 in Manama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $248 vs $265 – 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 Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,081 per month in Isa Town and $2,243 in Manama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $721 in Isa Town and $1,496 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 $53.0 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 $721, than in Manama at $1,496. 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.