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: $1,572 in Manama versus $127 in Al Budayyi.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,471 in Manama versus $137 in Al Budayyi.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,370 in Manama versus $148 in Al Budayyi.

Living in Manama is roughly 1137% more expensive than in Al Budayyi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Manama is 15% above, Al Budayyi is 91% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.50 BHD 2.45

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 BHD 19.84

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.26 BHD 2.74

Cappuccino

$4.94 BHD 1.86

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

$0.88 BHD 0.33

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 BHD 0.11

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.58 BHD 2.48

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.05 BHD 3.79

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 BHD 0.56

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 BHD 0.42

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.33 BHD 0.88

Eggs

$2.22 BHD 0.84

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.49 BHD 3.20

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.55 BHD 2.47

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.48 BHD 3.20

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 BHD 0.91

Banana (1kg)

$2.31 BHD 0.87

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 BHD 0.71

Tomato (1kg)

$1.41 BHD 0.53

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 BHD 0.38

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 BHD 0.53

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.56 BHD 0.59

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.85 BHD 0.32

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.39 BHD 2.03

Wine (Bottle)

$18.72 BHD 7.06

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.58 BHD 1.35

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 BHD 0.97

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.67 BHD 0.25

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.42 BHD 14.11

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.26 BHD 1.98

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.39 BHD 1.28

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.99 BHD 6.03

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.68 BHD 0.26

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

$37.5K BHD 14.1K

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

$20.2K BHD 7,604

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

$152 BHD 57.4

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

$24.06 BHD 9.07

$19.49 BHD 7.35

23.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.74 BHD 13.10

$108 BHD 40.62

-67.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.7 BHD 23.64

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.19 BHD 11.38

Cinema Ticket

$10.74 BHD 4.05

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

$495 BHD 186

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K BHD 4,209

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.1 BHD 19.25

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.7 BHD 21.74

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.2 BHD 33.24

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.2 BHD 34.02

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$981 BHD 370

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$645 BHD 243

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,090 BHD 788

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,408 BHD 531

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,656 BHD 1,001

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,944 BHD 733

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,321 BHD 875

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: August 17, 2026

Last update for Al Budayyi: August 18, 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 1137% 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 $2,358 in Manama and $191 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 $127 in Al Budayyi versus $1,572 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 1137% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.