Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Al Budayyi Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Al Budayyi

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,491 in Manama versus $61.8 in Al Budayyi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,432 in Manama versus $71.0 in Al Budayyi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,373 in Manama versus $80.6 in Al Budayyi.

Living in Manama is roughly 2312% more expensive than Al Budayyi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Manama is 11% above, Al Budayyi is 95% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.71 BHD 2.52

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.5 BHD 19.72

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.64 BHD 2.87

Cappuccino

$5.19 BHD 1.95

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

$0.80 BHD 0.30

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 BHD 0.14

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.04 BHD 3.02

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.43 BHD 3.92

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 BHD 0.64

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 BHD 0.50

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.43 BHD 0.91

Eggs

$2.48 BHD 0.93

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.87 BHD 3.33

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.73 BHD 2.91

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.10 BHD 3.80

Apples (1kg)

$2.43 BHD 0.91

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 BHD 0.76

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 BHD 0.64

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 BHD 0.44

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 BHD 0.33

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 BHD 0.40

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 BHD 0.57

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BHD 0.32

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.59 BHD 2.48

Wine (Bottle)

$18.59 BHD 6.99

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.38 BHD 1.27

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 BHD 1.20

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 BHD 0.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.62 BHD 11.89

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.53 BHD 1.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.01 BHD 1.51

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.24 BHD 9.87

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 BHD 0.20

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

$37.1K BHD 13.9K

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

$20.8K BHD 7,809

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

$124 BHD 46.47

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

$27.44 BHD 10.32

$19.84 BHD 7.46

38.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.91 BHD 14.63

$41.53 BHD 15.62

-6.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.6 BHD 26.54

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$43.91 BHD 16.51

Cinema Ticket

$10.72 BHD 4.03

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

$394 BHD 148

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,871 BHD 3,336

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.39 BHD 17.44

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.4 BHD 23.82

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.2 BHD 31.26

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.5 BHD 33.63

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 BHD 309

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 BHD 208

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,764 BHD 663

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 BHD 460

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,580 BHD 970

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,957 BHD 736

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,391 BHD 899

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Al Budayyi: April 26, 2026

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 Al Budayyi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Budayyi wins on cost – living expenses run 2312% lower than in Manama. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Al Budayyi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,237 in Manama and $92.7 in Al Budayyi to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

At $61.8 in Al Budayyi versus $1,491 in Manama, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Al Budayyi but tight or insufficient in Manama. The gap between the two cities makes Al Budayyi 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 Al Budayyi 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 Al Budayyi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2312% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.