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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,178 per month in Madinat Hamad vs $1,993 in Saar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,884 per month in Madinat Hamad vs $2,797 in Saar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,591 per month in Madinat Hamad vs $3,601 in Saar, rent included.

Madinat Hamad is about 41% cheaper than Saar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Madinat Hamad sits 12% below the global median, while Saar is 48% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.68 BHD 1.01

$10.42 BHD 3.93

-74.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 BHD 20.17

$33.79 BHD 12.74

58.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.32 BHD 2.76

$10.42 BHD 3.93

-29.75%

Cappuccino

$2.59 BHD 0.98

$5.69 BHD 2.14

-54.48%

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

$0.80 BHD 0.30

$0.97 BHD 0.36

-17.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 BHD 0.14

$0.45 BHD 0.17

-17.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.02 BHD 3.02

$6.01 BHD 2.27

33.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.79 BHD 4.07

$9.11 BHD 3.43

18.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 BHD 0.58

$1.73 BHD 0.65

-10.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 BHD 0.39

$1.31 BHD 0.49

-21.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.33 BHD 0.88

$2.63 BHD 0.99

-11.41%

Eggs

$2.08 BHD 0.78

$2.69 BHD 1.01

-22.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.80 BHD 3.32

$13.40 BHD 5.05

-34.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.80 BHD 2.94

$6.71 BHD 2.53

16.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.06 BHD 3.79

$15.75 BHD 5.94

-36.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.08 BHD 0.79

$4.02 BHD 1.51

-48.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 BHD 0.61

$2.32 BHD 0.87

-29.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.76 BHD 0.66

$3.61 BHD 1.36

-51.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 BHD 0.44

$1.97 BHD 0.74

-40.61%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 BHD 0.33

$0.69 BHD 0.26

26.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 BHD 0.41

$1.62 BHD 0.61

-33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 BHD 0.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 BHD 0.21

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.61 BHD 2.49

Wine (Bottle)

$18.81 BHD 7.09

$26.57 BHD 10.01

-29.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.46 BHD 1.31

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 BHD 1.21

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 BHD 0.25

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.84 BHD 13.13

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.53 BHD 1.71

$5.27 BHD 1.99

-14.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.31 BHD 1.25

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.21 BHD 9.88

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 BHD 0.13

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

$37.6K BHD 14.2K

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

$21.1K BHD 7,965

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

$122 BHD 45.92

$132 BHD 49.90

-7.98%

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

$23.47 BHD 8.84

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.52 BHD 6.98

$32.14 BHD 12.11

-42.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$118 BHD 44.51

$189 BHD 71.4

-37.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.6 BHD 19.84

$106 BHD 39.92

-50.31%

Cinema Ticket

$5.27 BHD 1.99

$21.27 BHD 8.02

-75.22%

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

$383 BHD 144

$554 BHD 209

-30.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,986 BHD 3,387

$8,057 BHD 3,037

11.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.38 BHD 17.11

$93.3 BHD 35.15

-51.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.6 BHD 23.21

$39.00 BHD 14.70

57.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 BHD 30.80

$104 BHD 39.22

-21.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.3 BHD 33.66

$108 BHD 40.75

-17.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 BHD 147

$1,333 BHD 502

-70.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$312 BHD 118

$924 BHD 348

-66.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$797 BHD 301

$2,106 BHD 794

-62.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$666 BHD 251

$1,195 BHD 451

-44.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,212 BHD 834

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$661 BHD 249

$2,379 BHD 897

-72.23%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Saar: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $391 in Madinat Hamad versus $1,333 in Saar. 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 260% higher in Saar, 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 $34.00 in Saar. Groceries tell a different story – $251 in Madinat Hamad vs $289 in Saar – 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 Saar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,178 in Madinat Hamad, $1,993 in Saar – roughly 69% apart. Saar costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,767 per month in Madinat Hamad and $2,990 in Saar. 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Madinat Hamad and $34.00 in Saar. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Saar, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Madinat Hamad, where all-in costs run around $1,178, than in Saar at $1,993. In Madinat Hamad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Madinat Hamad has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,178 in Madinat Hamad to $1,993 in Saar. 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, Saar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.