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 $1,206 per month in Madinat Hamad vs $1,517 in Manama, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,905 per month in Madinat Hamad vs $2,437 in Manama, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,603 per month in Madinat Hamad vs $3,358 in Manama, rent included.

Madinat Hamad is about 20% cheaper than Manama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Madinat Hamad sits 9% below the global median, while Manama is 14% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.57 BHD 0.97

$6.83 BHD 2.57

-62.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 BHD 20.18

$53.7 BHD 20.23

-0.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.50 BHD 2.83

$7.59 BHD 2.86

-1.19%

Cappuccino

$2.68 BHD 1.01

$5.49 BHD 2.07

-51.18%

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

$0.85 BHD 0.32

$0.86 BHD 0.32

-1.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 BHD 0.15

$0.36 BHD 0.14

8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.90 BHD 2.98

$7.88 BHD 2.97

0.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.57 BHD 3.98

$10.74 BHD 4.05

-1.58%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 BHD 0.61

$1.69 BHD 0.64

-4.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 BHD 0.39

$1.35 BHD 0.51

-22.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.41 BHD 0.91

$2.38 BHD 0.90

1.26%

Eggs

$2.04 BHD 0.77

$2.48 BHD 0.94

-17.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.59 BHD 3.24

$8.88 BHD 3.35

-3.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.85 BHD 2.96

$7.78 BHD 2.93

0.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.36 BHD 3.90

$10.33 BHD 3.89

0.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.14 BHD 0.81

$2.33 BHD 0.88

-8.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 BHD 0.58

$2.09 BHD 0.79

-25.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 BHD 0.65

$1.69 BHD 0.64

2.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 BHD 0.46

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 BHD 0.35

$0.88 BHD 0.33

5.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.04 BHD 0.39

$1.07 BHD 0.40

-2.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 BHD 0.57

$1.45 BHD 0.55

3.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 BHD 0.20

$0.93 BHD 0.35

-44.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.50 BHD 2.45

$6.53 BHD 2.46

-0.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.49 BHD 6.97

$18.26 BHD 6.88

1.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.46 BHD 1.30

$3.36 BHD 1.27

2.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 BHD 1.23

$3.32 BHD 1.25

-1.51%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 BHD 0.26

$0.78 BHD 0.29

-12.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.98 BHD 13.18

$32.08 BHD 12.09

9.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.74 BHD 1.78

$4.74 BHD 1.79

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.34 BHD 1.26

$3.88 BHD 1.46

-13.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.68 BHD 10.06

$26.03 BHD 9.81

2.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 BHD 0.13

$0.52 BHD 0.20

-32.69%

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

$37.1K BHD 14.0K

0.10%

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

$21.1K BHD 7,969

$21.1K BHD 7,954

0.18%

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

$123 BHD 46.52

$124 BHD 46.60

-0.19%

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

$23.61 BHD 8.90

$26.75 BHD 10.08

-11.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.26 BHD 6.88

$37.92 BHD 14.29

-51.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$118 BHD 44.42

$72.1 BHD 27.17

63.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$53.3 BHD 20.10

$44.09 BHD 16.62

20.93%

Cinema Ticket

$5.33 BHD 2.01

$10.81 BHD 4.07

-50.69%

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

$382 BHD 144

$384 BHD 145

-0.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,807 BHD 3,319

$9,117 BHD 3,436

-3.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.43 BHD 17.12

$46.92 BHD 17.68

-3.18%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.1 BHD 23.80

$62.2 BHD 23.45

1.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.4 BHD 31.80

$83.4 BHD 31.43

1.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.2 BHD 33.99

$89.8 BHD 33.83

0.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 BHD 147

$822 BHD 310

-52.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$312 BHD 118

$568 BHD 214

-45.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$796 BHD 300

$1,774 BHD 669

-55.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$670 BHD 253

$1,229 BHD 463

-45.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,642 BHD 996

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,959 BHD 738

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$655 BHD 247

$2,309 BHD 870

-71.62%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Manama: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $391 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 252% 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 $54.0 in Madinat Hamad versus $54.0 in Manama. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $251 vs $265 – making Madinat Hamad 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,206 in Madinat Hamad, $1,517 in Manama – roughly 26% apart. Manama costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,809 per month in Madinat Hamad and $2,275 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 9% less in Madinat Hamad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $382 per month in Madinat Hamad and $384 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 $1,206, than in Manama at $1,517. 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 $1,206 in Madinat Hamad to $1,517 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.