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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,496 in Manama versus $1,794 in Al Hidd.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,408 in Manama versus $2,230 in Al Hidd.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,319 in Manama versus $2,667 in Al Hidd.

Living in Manama costs roughly 17% less than in Al Hidd, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Manama 12% above, Al Hidd 34% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.48 BHD 2.44

$6.78 BHD 2.56

-4.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 BHD 20.16

$39.30 BHD 14.82

36.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.27 BHD 2.74

Cappuccino

$5.34 BHD 2.01

$2.60 BHD 0.98

105.38%

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

$0.87 BHD 0.33

$0.83 BHD 0.31

4.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 BHD 0.14

$0.12 BHD 0.05

200.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.09 BHD 3.05

$8.20 BHD 3.09

-1.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.54 BHD 3.97

$10.46 BHD 3.94

0.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 BHD 0.64

$1.64 BHD 0.62

4.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 BHD 0.48

$1.28 BHD 0.48

-0.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.43 BHD 0.91

$2.30 BHD 0.87

5.65%

Eggs

$2.47 BHD 0.93

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.59 BHD 3.24

$8.80 BHD 3.32

-2.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 BHD 2.92

$7.81 BHD 2.95

-0.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.28 BHD 3.88

$10.25 BHD 3.86

0.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 BHD 0.89

$2.38 BHD 0.90

-0.84%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 BHD 0.79

$2.11 BHD 0.80

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 BHD 0.67

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 BHD 0.44

$1.21 BHD 0.46

-2.48%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 BHD 0.35

$0.94 BHD 0.35

-1.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 BHD 0.41

$1.08 BHD 0.41

0.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

$1.50 BHD 0.57

-2.67%

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

$6.52 BHD 2.46

0.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 BHD 7.12

$18.80 BHD 7.09

0.43%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.44 BHD 1.30

$3.32 BHD 1.25

3.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 BHD 1.24

$3.21 BHD 1.21

2.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 BHD 0.31

$1.60 BHD 0.60

-48.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.28 BHD 11.79

$52.4 BHD 19.77

-40.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 BHD 1.72

$4.56 BHD 1.72

0.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.96 BHD 1.49

$4.08 BHD 1.54

-2.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.86 BHD 10.13

$26.02 BHD 9.81

3.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 BHD 0.19

$0.40 BHD 0.15

30.00%

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

$36.8K BHD 13.9K

$19.9K BHD 7,504

85.00%

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

$20.7K BHD 7,796

$20.5K BHD 7,715

1.06%

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

$121 BHD 45.53

$123 BHD 46.31

-1.69%

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

$26.86 BHD 10.13

$26.80 BHD 10.10

0.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.52 BHD 14.52

$38.18 BHD 14.39

0.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.0 BHD 26.78

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.13 BHD 17.01

$53.9 BHD 20.32

-16.26%

Cinema Ticket

$10.78 BHD 4.06

$10.75 BHD 4.05

0.28%

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

$382 BHD 144

$393 BHD 148

-2.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,953 BHD 3,375

$8,888 BHD 3,351

0.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.73 BHD 17.62

$45.74 BHD 17.25

2.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.8 BHD 24.03

$61.7 BHD 23.27

3.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 BHD 31.98

$83.1 BHD 31.34

2.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 BHD 33.47

$88.8 BHD 33.49

-0.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 BHD 308

$664 BHD 250

23.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 BHD 211

$925 BHD 349

-39.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,791 BHD 675

$790 BHD 298

126.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,244 BHD 469

$807 BHD 304

54.17%

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

$1,946 BHD 734

21.25%

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 Al Hidd: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $818 in Manama and $664 in Al Hidd. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manama pays 21% 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 $39.00 in Al Hidd for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $265 vs $264 per month, with Al Hidd 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 Al Hidd: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manama is cheaper overall, especially in Getting Around. The 20% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Manama pays 21% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $818 in Manama versus $664 in Al Hidd. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Manama runs roughly 68% less than in Al Hidd. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $382 in Manama versus $393 in Al Hidd. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,496 in Manama versus $1,794 in Al Hidd, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Manama but tight or insufficient in Al Hidd. The gap between the two cities makes Manama 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 Hidd 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 Manama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Al Hidd. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.