Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Amwaj Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Amwaj

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,595 per month in Manama vs $613 in Amwaj, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,515 per month in Manama vs $2,394 in Amwaj, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,435 per month in Manama vs $4,175 in Amwaj, rent included.

Manama costs about 160% more than Amwaj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Manama sits 16% above the global median, while Amwaj is 55% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.80 BHD 2.56

$10.63 BHD 4.01

-36.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.6 BHD 20.22

$31.28 BHD 11.79

71.48%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.61 BHD 2.87

$9.82 BHD 3.70

-22.51%

Cappuccino

$4.88 BHD 1.84

$3.94 BHD 1.49

23.86%

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

$0.88 BHD 0.33

$2.16 BHD 0.82

-59.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 BHD 0.11

$0.68 BHD 0.26

-55.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.53 BHD 2.46

$7.85 BHD 2.96

-16.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.04 BHD 3.78

$10.74 BHD 4.05

-6.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 BHD 0.40

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 BHD 0.86

Eggs

$2.34 BHD 0.88

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.83 BHD 3.33

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 BHD 2.46

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.79 BHD 3.31

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 BHD 0.90

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 BHD 0.85

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 BHD 0.73

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 BHD 0.54

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 BHD 0.39

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 BHD 0.53

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 BHD 0.58

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 BHD 0.29

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.25 BHD 1.98

$5.38 BHD 2.03

-2.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.49 BHD 6.97

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.52 BHD 1.33

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 BHD 0.98

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 BHD 0.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.34 BHD 14.08

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.41 BHD 2.04

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.50 BHD 1.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.94 BHD 6.01

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 BHD 0.26

$0.74 BHD 0.28

-5.41%

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

$36.9K BHD 13.9K

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

$20.4K BHD 7,676

$37.8K BHD 14.2K

-46.12%

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

$154 BHD 58.0

$132 BHD 49.82

16.43%

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

$24.04 BHD 9.06

$23.82 BHD 8.98

0.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.64 BHD 13.44

$67.1 BHD 25.31

-46.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.9 BHD 23.33

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.03 BHD 11.32

Cinema Ticket

$10.56 BHD 3.98

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

$493 BHD 186

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.9K BHD 4,093

$13.3K BHD 5,024

-18.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 BHD 19.20

$65.0 BHD 24.50

-21.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.6 BHD 21.34

$65.9 BHD 24.85

-14.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 BHD 32.49

$93.6 BHD 35.27

-7.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 BHD 33.51

$119 BHD 44.94

-25.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$990 BHD 373

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 BHD 240

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,078 BHD 783

$2,393 BHD 902

-13.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,389 BHD 524

$2,992 BHD 1,128

-53.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,636 BHD 994

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,954 BHD 736

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,346 BHD 885

$3,932 BHD 1,482

-40.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

-11.29%

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

Last update for Manama: August 30, 2026

Last update for Amwaj: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 68% higher in Amwaj, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Manama versus $31.00 in Amwaj. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

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 Amwaj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manama costs about 160% more than Amwaj, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,392 per month in Manama and $920 in Amwaj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,595 in Manama and $613 in Amwaj. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Manama and $31.00 in Amwaj. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Amwaj, where all-in costs run around $613, than in Manama at $1,595. In Amwaj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Amwaj – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Amwaj. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Manama makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.