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: $1,606 in Manama versus $1,756 in Al Hidd.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,517 in Manama versus $2,145 in Al Hidd.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,428 in Manama versus $2,535 in Al Hidd.

Living in Manama costs roughly 9% less than in Al Hidd, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Manama 17% above, Al Hidd 28% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.67 BHD 2.52

$6.73 BHD 2.54

-0.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.1 BHD 19.64

$40.33 BHD 15.21

29.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.30 BHD 2.75

$7.57 BHD 2.86

-3.57%

Cappuccino

$4.82 BHD 1.82

$3.78 BHD 1.43

27.51%

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

$0.84 BHD 0.32

$0.82 BHD 0.31

2.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 BHD 0.12

$0.15 BHD 0.06

120.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.65 BHD 2.51

$6.81 BHD 2.57

-2.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.84 BHD 3.71

$10.18 BHD 3.84

-3.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 BHD 0.54

$1.41 BHD 0.53

1.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 BHD 0.40

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 BHD 0.87

$2.35 BHD 0.89

-2.13%

Eggs

$2.22 BHD 0.84

$2.29 BHD 0.86

-3.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.78 BHD 3.31

$8.82 BHD 3.33

-0.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.33 BHD 2.39

$5.33 BHD 2.01

18.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.45 BHD 3.19

$5.38 BHD 2.03

57.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 BHD 0.90

$2.29 BHD 0.86

4.37%

Banana (1kg)

$2.35 BHD 0.89

$2.24 BHD 0.84

4.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 BHD 0.71

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 BHD 0.54

$1.41 BHD 0.53

2.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 BHD 0.40

$1.01 BHD 0.38

4.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 BHD 0.54

$1.36 BHD 0.51

5.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 BHD 0.59

$1.51 BHD 0.57

2.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 BHD 0.29

$0.83 BHD 0.31

-6.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.18 BHD 1.95

$5.21 BHD 1.96

-0.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.37 BHD 6.92

$18.75 BHD 7.07

-2.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.47 BHD 1.31

$3.54 BHD 1.34

-1.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 BHD 0.99

$2.67 BHD 1.01

-1.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 BHD 0.24

$1.62 BHD 0.61

-60.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.78 BHD 14.24

$52.1 BHD 19.62

-27.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.38 BHD 2.03

$5.33 BHD 2.01

0.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.51 BHD 1.32

$3.47 BHD 1.31

1.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.79 BHD 5.95

$15.82 BHD 5.96

-0.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 BHD 0.24

$0.65 BHD 0.24

-1.54%

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

$37.3K BHD 14.0K

$19.7K BHD 7,436

88.90%

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

$20.4K BHD 7,676

$20.8K BHD 7,837

-2.05%

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

$154 BHD 58.0

$154 BHD 58.1

-0.28%

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

$24.27 BHD 9.15

$24.76 BHD 9.33

-1.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.61 BHD 13.05

$35.48 BHD 13.38

-2.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 BHD 23.31

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.54 BHD 11.51

$52.1 BHD 19.65

-41.40%

Cinema Ticket

$10.77 BHD 4.06

$10.67 BHD 4.02

0.94%

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

$495 BHD 187

$493 BHD 186

0.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.9K BHD 4,097

$10.9K BHD 4,119

-0.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.5 BHD 19.06

$51.7 BHD 19.50

-2.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.7 BHD 21.74

$57.4 BHD 21.64

0.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 BHD 32.86

$88.5 BHD 33.36

-1.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.0 BHD 34.30

$89.0 BHD 33.54

2.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,002 BHD 378

$675 BHD 255

48.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$643 BHD 242

$942 BHD 355

-31.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,079 BHD 784

$789 BHD 298

163.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,381 BHD 521

$651 BHD 245

112.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,652 BHD 1,000

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,959 BHD 739

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,273 BHD 857

$1,916 BHD 722

18.62%

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 12, 2026

Last update for Al Hidd: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,002 in Manama and $675 in Al Hidd. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manama pays 19% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $52.0 in Manama vs $40.00 in Al Hidd for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $248 vs $234 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 Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 19% higher in Manama, 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: $1,002 in Manama versus $675 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 38% less than in Al Hidd. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $495 in Manama versus $493 in Al Hidd. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,606 in Manama versus $1,756 in Al Hidd, a $2,000 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 9% less than in Al Hidd. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.