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 $1,173 per month in Madinat Hamad vs $2,025 in Saar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,899 per month in Madinat Hamad vs $2,836 in Saar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,625 per month in Madinat Hamad vs $3,647 in Saar, rent included.

Madinat Hamad is about 42% cheaper than Saar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Madinat Hamad sits 12% below the global median, while Saar is 51% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.71 BHD 1.02

$10.43 BHD 3.92

-74.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.8 BHD 19.87

$32.96 BHD 12.39

60.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.33 BHD 2.75

$10.51 BHD 3.95

-30.26%

Cappuccino

$2.62 BHD 0.98

$5.75 BHD 2.16

-54.43%

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

$0.81 BHD 0.30

$0.89 BHD 0.33

-8.99%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 BHD 0.14

$0.45 BHD 0.17

-17.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.82 BHD 2.94

$6.12 BHD 2.30

27.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.70 BHD 4.02

$9.53 BHD 3.58

12.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.55 BHD 0.58

$1.68 BHD 0.63

-7.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 BHD 0.40

$1.31 BHD 0.49

-17.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.39 BHD 0.90

$2.62 BHD 0.99

-8.78%

Eggs

$1.98 BHD 0.74

$2.58 BHD 0.97

-23.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.46 BHD 3.18

$13.38 BHD 5.03

-36.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.53 BHD 2.83

$6.70 BHD 2.52

12.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.29 BHD 3.87

$15.60 BHD 5.87

-34.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 BHD 0.81

$3.94 BHD 1.48

-45.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 BHD 0.61

$2.42 BHD 0.91

-33.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 BHD 0.66

$3.65 BHD 1.37

-52.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 BHD 0.45

$1.97 BHD 0.74

-38.58%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 BHD 0.35

$0.65 BHD 0.24

43.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.03 BHD 0.39

$1.67 BHD 0.63

-38.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 BHD 0.57

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 BHD 0.21

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.77 BHD 2.54

Wine (Bottle)

$18.42 BHD 6.93

$26.36 BHD 9.91

-30.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.32 BHD 1.25

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 BHD 1.25

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 BHD 0.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.92 BHD 13.13

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.55 BHD 1.71

$5.43 BHD 2.04

-16.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.39 BHD 1.28

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.32 BHD 9.89

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 BHD 0.13

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

$37.3K BHD 14.0K

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

$20.7K BHD 7,782

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

$120 BHD 44.97

$132 BHD 49.50

-9.16%

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

$23.99 BHD 9.02

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.72 BHD 7.04

$32.20 BHD 12.11

-41.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$118 BHD 44.45

$183 BHD 68.9

-35.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$52.0 BHD 19.54

$105 BHD 39.33

-50.30%

Cinema Ticket

$5.37 BHD 2.02

$21.15 BHD 7.95

-74.61%

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

$387 BHD 145

$559 BHD 210

-30.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,985 BHD 3,378

$8,083 BHD 3,039

11.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.29 BHD 17.41

$91.8 BHD 34.52

-49.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.6 BHD 23.54

$40.18 BHD 15.11

55.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 BHD 30.79

$104 BHD 39.23

-21.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.4 BHD 33.25

$104 BHD 39.12

-15.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$402 BHD 151

$1,318 BHD 496

-69.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$320 BHD 120

$944 BHD 355

-66.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$809 BHD 304

$2,105 BHD 791

-61.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$652 BHD 245

$1,170 BHD 440

-44.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,183 BHD 821

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$661 BHD 249

$2,416 BHD 909

-72.63%

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 Saar: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $402 in Madinat Hamad versus $1,318 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 265% 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 $53.0 in Madinat Hamad versus $33.00 in Saar. Groceries tell a different story – $249 in Madinat Hamad vs $288 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: $1,173 in Madinat Hamad, $2,025 in Saar – roughly 73% apart. Saar 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 $3,037 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 $53.0 in Madinat Hamad and $33.00 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 $1,173, than in Saar at $2,025. 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 $1,173 in Madinat Hamad to $2,025 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.