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: $1,496 in Manama versus $813 in 'ali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,408 in Manama versus $1,317 in 'ali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,319 in Manama versus $1,821 in 'ali.

Living in Manama is roughly 84% more expensive than 'ali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Manama is 12% above, 'ali is 39% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.48 BHD 2.44

$6.56 BHD 2.47

-1.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 BHD 20.16

$53.7 BHD 20.25

-0.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.27 BHD 2.74

$5.28 BHD 1.99

37.69%

Cappuccino

$5.34 BHD 2.01

$5.42 BHD 2.04

-1.48%

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

$0.87 BHD 0.33

$0.78 BHD 0.30

11.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 BHD 0.14

$0.37 BHD 0.14

-2.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.09 BHD 3.05

$7.86 BHD 2.96

2.93%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.54 BHD 3.97

$10.77 BHD 4.06

-2.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 BHD 0.64

$1.72 BHD 0.65

-0.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 BHD 0.48

$1.29 BHD 0.49

-1.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.43 BHD 0.91

$2.30 BHD 0.87

5.65%

Eggs

$2.47 BHD 0.93

$2.51 BHD 0.95

-1.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.59 BHD 3.24

$8.55 BHD 3.23

0.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 BHD 2.92

$7.86 BHD 2.96

-1.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.28 BHD 3.88

$10.06 BHD 3.79

2.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 BHD 0.89

$2.37 BHD 0.89

-0.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 BHD 0.79

$2.03 BHD 0.76

3.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 BHD 0.67

$1.69 BHD 0.64

4.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 BHD 0.44

$1.16 BHD 0.44

1.72%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 BHD 0.35

$0.89 BHD 0.34

4.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 BHD 0.41

$1.08 BHD 0.41

0.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

$1.51 BHD 0.57

-3.31%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BHD 0.32

$0.88 BHD 0.33

-2.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 BHD 2.48

$6.74 BHD 2.54

-2.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 BHD 7.12

$18.47 BHD 6.96

2.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.44 BHD 1.30

$3.34 BHD 1.26

2.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 BHD 1.24

$3.32 BHD 1.25

-0.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 BHD 0.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.28 BHD 11.79

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 BHD 1.72

$4.73 BHD 1.78

-3.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.96 BHD 1.49

$3.89 BHD 1.47

1.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.86 BHD 10.13

$26.85 BHD 10.12

0.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 BHD 0.19

$0.57 BHD 0.21

-8.77%

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

$36.8K BHD 13.9K

$37.7K BHD 14.2K

-2.23%

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

$20.7K BHD 7,796

$20.6K BHD 7,759

0.48%

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

$121 BHD 45.53

$121 BHD 45.67

-0.31%

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

$26.86 BHD 10.13

$27.33 BHD 10.30

-1.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.52 BHD 14.52

$38.29 BHD 14.43

0.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.0 BHD 26.78

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.13 BHD 17.01

Cinema Ticket

$10.78 BHD 4.06

$10.64 BHD 4.01

1.32%

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

$382 BHD 144

$395 BHD 149

-3.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,953 BHD 3,375

$9,058 BHD 3,415

-1.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.73 BHD 17.62

$45.39 BHD 17.11

2.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.8 BHD 24.03

$63.1 BHD 23.78

1.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 BHD 31.98

$83.6 BHD 31.53

1.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 BHD 33.47

$86.8 BHD 32.73

2.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 BHD 308

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 BHD 211

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,791 BHD 675

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,244 BHD 469

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,629 BHD 991

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,941 BHD 732

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,360 BHD 890

$3,723 BHD 1,404

-36.61%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for 'ali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

'ali pays 58% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $53.0 in Manama vs $54.0 in 'ali. Groceries flip the comparison at $265 vs $263, with 'ali cheaper for home cooking.

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 Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 84% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, 'ali earns 58% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Manama. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,496 per month in Manama versus $813 in 'ali – a 84% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $813 in 'ali versus $1,496 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 84% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.