Cost of Living Comparison Between Madinat Hamad and Manama Cost of Living Comparison Between Madinat Hamad and Manama

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,173 per month in Madinat Hamad vs $1,491 in Manama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,899 per month in Madinat Hamad vs $2,432 in Manama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,625 per month in Madinat Hamad vs $3,373 in Manama, rent included.

Madinat Hamad is about 21% cheaper than Manama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Madinat Hamad sits 12% below the global median, while Manama is 11% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.71 BHD 1.02

$6.71 BHD 2.52

-59.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.8 BHD 19.87

$52.5 BHD 19.72

0.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.33 BHD 2.75

$7.64 BHD 2.87

-4.06%

Cappuccino

$2.62 BHD 0.98

$5.19 BHD 1.95

-49.52%

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

$0.81 BHD 0.30

$0.80 BHD 0.30

1.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 BHD 0.14

$0.36 BHD 0.14

2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.82 BHD 2.94

$8.04 BHD 3.02

-2.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.70 BHD 4.02

$10.43 BHD 3.92

2.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 BHD 0.58

$1.70 BHD 0.64

-8.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 BHD 0.40

$1.34 BHD 0.50

-19.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.39 BHD 0.90

$2.43 BHD 0.91

-1.65%

Eggs

$1.98 BHD 0.74

$2.48 BHD 0.93

-20.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.46 BHD 3.18

$8.87 BHD 3.33

-4.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.53 BHD 2.83

$7.73 BHD 2.91

-2.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.29 BHD 3.87

$10.10 BHD 3.80

1.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 BHD 0.81

$2.43 BHD 0.91

-11.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 BHD 0.61

$2.02 BHD 0.76

-19.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 BHD 0.66

$1.70 BHD 0.64

2.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 BHD 0.45

$1.18 BHD 0.44

2.54%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 BHD 0.35

$0.87 BHD 0.33

6.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 BHD 0.39

$1.08 BHD 0.40

-4.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 BHD 0.57

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 BHD 0.21

$0.86 BHD 0.32

-36.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.77 BHD 2.54

$6.59 BHD 2.48

2.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.42 BHD 6.93

$18.59 BHD 6.99

-0.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.32 BHD 1.25

$3.38 BHD 1.27

-1.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 BHD 1.25

$3.19 BHD 1.20

4.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 BHD 0.24

$0.83 BHD 0.31

-24.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.92 BHD 13.13

$31.62 BHD 11.89

10.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.55 BHD 1.71

$4.53 BHD 1.70

0.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.39 BHD 1.28

$4.01 BHD 1.51

-15.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.32 BHD 9.89

$26.24 BHD 9.87

0.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 BHD 0.13

$0.52 BHD 0.20

-30.77%

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

$37.3K BHD 14.0K

$37.1K BHD 13.9K

0.62%

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

$20.7K BHD 7,782

$20.8K BHD 7,809

-0.34%

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

$120 BHD 44.97

$124 BHD 46.47

-3.24%

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

$23.99 BHD 9.02

$27.44 BHD 10.32

-12.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.72 BHD 7.04

$38.91 BHD 14.63

-51.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$118 BHD 44.45

$70.6 BHD 26.54

67.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.0 BHD 19.54

$43.91 BHD 16.51

18.38%

Cinema Ticket

$5.37 BHD 2.02

$10.72 BHD 4.03

-49.91%

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

$387 BHD 145

$394 BHD 148

-1.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,985 BHD 3,378

$8,871 BHD 3,336

1.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.29 BHD 17.41

$46.39 BHD 17.44

-0.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.6 BHD 23.54

$63.4 BHD 23.82

-1.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 BHD 30.79

$83.2 BHD 31.26

-1.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.4 BHD 33.25

$89.5 BHD 33.63

-1.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$402 BHD 151

$822 BHD 309

-51.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 BHD 120

$554 BHD 208

-42.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$809 BHD 304

$1,764 BHD 663

-54.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 BHD 245

$1,223 BHD 460

-46.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,580 BHD 970

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,957 BHD 736

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$661 BHD 249

$2,391 BHD 899

-72.34%

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 Madinat Hamad: April 26, 2026

Last update for Manama: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $402 in Madinat Hamad versus $822 in Manama. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 261% 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 $53.0 in Madinat Hamad versus $52.0 in Manama. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Madinat Hamad vs $264 in Manama – so Madinat Hamad 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

Madinat Hamad vs Manama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,173 in Madinat Hamad, $1,491 in Manama – roughly 27% apart. Manama costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,760 per month in Madinat Hamad and $2,237 in Manama. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Madinat Hamad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 10% less in Madinat Hamad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $387 per month in Madinat Hamad and $394 in Manama. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Madinat Hamad, where all-in costs run around $1,173, than in Manama at $1,491. In Madinat Hamad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Manama has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,173 in Madinat Hamad to $1,491 in Manama. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Madinat Hamad. 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.