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: $1,555 in Manama versus $835 in 'ali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,484 in Manama versus $1,311 in 'ali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,413 in Manama versus $1,786 in 'ali.

Living in Manama is roughly 86% more expensive than in 'ali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Manama is 13% above, 'ali is 39% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.78 BHD 2.56

$6.70 BHD 2.53

1.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 BHD 20.17

$53.8 BHD 20.28

-0.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.59 BHD 2.86

$7.53 BHD 2.84

0.80%

Cappuccino

$4.88 BHD 1.84

$4.84 BHD 1.83

0.83%

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

$0.88 BHD 0.33

$0.83 BHD 0.31

6.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 BHD 0.11

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.80 BHD 2.56

$6.48 BHD 2.44

4.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.22 BHD 3.85

$9.97 BHD 3.76

2.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

$1.48 BHD 0.56

-1.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 BHD 0.41

$1.07 BHD 0.40

2.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 BHD 0.86

$2.30 BHD 0.87

-0.43%

Eggs

$2.31 BHD 0.87

$2.33 BHD 0.88

-0.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.87 BHD 3.34

$8.71 BHD 3.28

1.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.60 BHD 2.49

$6.42 BHD 2.42

2.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 BHD 3.22

$8.79 BHD 3.31

-2.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 BHD 0.90

$2.41 BHD 0.91

-0.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.27 BHD 0.86

$2.23 BHD 0.84

1.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 BHD 0.73

$1.87 BHD 0.70

3.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

$1.38 BHD 0.52

5.80%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 BHD 0.38

$1.00 BHD 0.38

2.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 BHD 0.54

$1.42 BHD 0.53

0.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 BHD 0.57

$1.54 BHD 0.58

-1.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 BHD 0.29

$0.84 BHD 0.32

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.27 BHD 1.99

$5.41 BHD 2.04

-2.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.59 BHD 7.01

$18.77 BHD 7.07

-0.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.50 BHD 1.32

$3.49 BHD 1.32

0.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 BHD 0.97

$2.67 BHD 1.01

-3.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 BHD 0.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.84 BHD 14.26

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 BHD 1.98

$5.17 BHD 1.95

1.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.52 BHD 1.33

$3.47 BHD 1.31

1.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.09 BHD 6.06

$15.67 BHD 5.91

2.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 BHD 0.24

$0.70 BHD 0.26

-8.57%

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

$36.4K BHD 13.7K

$36.5K BHD 13.8K

-0.32%

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

$20.8K BHD 7,829

$20.9K BHD 7,894

-0.81%

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

$151 BHD 56.9

$151 BHD 57.1

-0.29%

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

$24.64 BHD 9.29

$24.86 BHD 9.37

-0.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.82 BHD 13.12

$35.36 BHD 13.33

-1.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.3 BHD 23.49

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.02 BHD 11.31

Cinema Ticket

$10.59 BHD 3.99

$10.71 BHD 4.04

-1.12%

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

$488 BHD 184

$480 BHD 181

1.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K BHD 4,059

$10.8K BHD 4,063

-0.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 BHD 19.21

$50.3 BHD 18.94

1.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.5 BHD 21.65

$58.5 BHD 22.05

-1.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 BHD 32.99

$89.6 BHD 33.77

-2.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.6 BHD 34.13

$91.2 BHD 34.37

-0.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$997 BHD 376

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$649 BHD 245

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,076 BHD 783

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,387 BHD 523

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,576 BHD 971

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,960 BHD 739

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,337 BHD 881

$3,759 BHD 1,417

-37.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Manama: September 7, 2026

Last update for 'ali: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

'ali pays 61% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $54.0 in Manama vs $54.0 in 'ali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $251 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 Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 86% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 61% 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Manama. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,555 per month in Manama versus $835 in 'ali – a 86% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $835 in 'ali versus $1,555 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 86% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.