Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and 'ali Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and 'ali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,479 in Manama versus $807 in 'ali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,410 in Manama versus $1,328 in 'ali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,340 in Manama versus $1,849 in 'ali.

Living in Manama is roughly 83% more expensive than in 'ali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Manama is 11% above, 'ali is 40% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.57 BHD 2.48

$6.79 BHD 2.56

-3.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.0 BHD 19.60

$52.9 BHD 19.94

-1.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 BHD 2.85

$5.19 BHD 1.96

45.66%

Cappuccino

$5.46 BHD 2.06

$5.16 BHD 1.95

5.81%

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

$0.79 BHD 0.30

$0.77 BHD 0.29

2.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 BHD 0.14

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.01 BHD 3.02

$7.80 BHD 2.94

2.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.46 BHD 3.94

$10.58 BHD 3.99

-1.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 BHD 0.62

$1.70 BHD 0.64

-2.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 BHD 0.50

$1.32 BHD 0.50

0.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 BHD 0.88

$2.37 BHD 0.89

-1.27%

Eggs

$2.40 BHD 0.90

$2.51 BHD 0.94

-4.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.62 BHD 3.25

$8.90 BHD 3.35

-3.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.50 BHD 2.83

$7.52 BHD 2.83

-0.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.23 BHD 3.86

$10.02 BHD 3.78

2.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 BHD 0.92

$2.37 BHD 0.89

3.38%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 BHD 0.79

$2.04 BHD 0.77

2.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 BHD 0.64

$1.67 BHD 0.63

1.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 BHD 0.44

$1.21 BHD 0.46

-3.31%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 BHD 0.35

$0.93 BHD 0.35

-1.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 BHD 0.41

$1.07 BHD 0.40

0.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 BHD 0.54

$1.45 BHD 0.55

-0.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 BHD 0.34

$0.88 BHD 0.33

3.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.48 BHD 2.44

$6.58 BHD 2.48

-1.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.75 BHD 7.07

$18.82 BHD 7.09

-0.37%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.35 BHD 1.26

$3.47 BHD 1.31

-3.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 BHD 1.18

$3.21 BHD 1.21

-2.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 BHD 0.29

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.29 BHD 12.17

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.66 BHD 1.76

$4.61 BHD 1.74

1.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.00 BHD 1.51

$3.88 BHD 1.46

3.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.04 BHD 9.81

$27.03 BHD 10.19

-3.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 BHD 0.20

$0.52 BHD 0.19

1.92%

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

$37.7K BHD 14.2K

$37.2K BHD 14.0K

1.38%

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

$20.7K BHD 7,813

$20.6K BHD 7,753

0.78%

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

$122 BHD 46.06

$121 BHD 45.54

1.14%

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

$26.99 BHD 10.17

$26.75 BHD 10.08

0.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.99 BHD 14.70

$38.21 BHD 14.40

2.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.4 BHD 26.90

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.42 BHD 16.74

Cinema Ticket

$10.53 BHD 3.97

$10.49 BHD 3.95

0.38%

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

$394 BHD 148

$385 BHD 145

2.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,780 BHD 3,309

$8,940 BHD 3,370

-1.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.27 BHD 17.44

$45.23 BHD 17.05

2.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.5 BHD 23.19

$63.1 BHD 23.78

-2.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.8 BHD 31.21

$84.5 BHD 31.86

-2.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.4 BHD 33.71

$89.9 BHD 33.88

-0.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$803 BHD 303

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$548 BHD 207

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,794 BHD 676

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,208 BHD 455

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,668 BHD 1,006

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,960 BHD 739

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,276 BHD 858

$3,720 BHD 1,402

-38.82%

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 Manama: July 14, 2026

Last update for 'ali: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

'ali pays 63% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $52.0 in Manama vs $53.0 in 'ali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $262 vs $264 per month, with Manama cheaper across the board.

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

Manama vs 'ali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

'ali is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 83% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 63% lower in 'ali. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Shoppers in Manama pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,479 per month in Manama versus $807 in 'ali – a 83% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $807 in 'ali versus $1,479 in Manama, a $1,500 budget is realistic in 'ali but tight or insufficient in Manama. The gap between the two cities makes 'ali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Manama and 'ali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find 'ali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 83% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.