Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Bratislava

For one person, living is cheaper in Manama: $1,552 a month against $1,882 in Bratislava, rent and utilities included – about $4,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Manama
🇧🇭 Bahrain
$1,552
/mo nomad
Bratislava
🇸🇰 Slovakia
$1,882
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Manama and in Bratislava

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Manama and in Bratislava actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,552 in Manama versus $1,882 in Bratislava.

  • Manama $1,552
  • Bratislava $1,882

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,482 in Manama versus $2,803 in Bratislava.

  • Manama $2,482
  • Bratislava $2,803

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,412 in Manama versus $3,723 in Bratislava.

  • Manama $3,412
  • Bratislava $3,723

Living in Manama costs roughly 18% less than in Bratislava, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Manama 15% above, Bratislava 39% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manama
Bratislava
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.36 BHD 2.02
$10.96 €9.75
-51.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.4 BHD 20.15
$67.0 €59.6
-20.29%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.39 BHD 2.79
$10.58 €9.41
-30.15%
Cappuccino
$4.91 BHD 1.85
$3.53 €3.14
39.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 BHD 0.34
$2.28 €2.03
-60.53%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 BHD 0.11
$1.75 €1.56
-82.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.44 BHD 2.43
$3.39 €3.01
89.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.13 BHD 3.82
$3.40 €3.03
197.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manama
Bratislava
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.39 BHD 0.53
$1.16 €1.03
19.83%
White Bread (500g)
$1.09 BHD 0.41
$1.97 €1.75
-44.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.26 BHD 0.85
$1.85 €1.64
22.16%
Eggs
$2.32 BHD 0.87
$4.36 €3.88
-46.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.46 BHD 3.19
$15.65 €13.92
-45.94%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.55 BHD 2.47
$8.65 €7.69
-24.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.52 BHD 3.21
$14.51 €12.91
-41.28%
Apples (1kg)
$2.38 BHD 0.90
$2.19 €1.95
8.68%
Banana (1kg)
$2.23 BHD 0.84
$1.93 €1.72
15.54%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.90 BHD 0.72
$2.74 €2.44
-30.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.39 BHD 0.52
$4.49 €3.99
-69.04%
Potato (1kg)
$1.01 BHD 0.38
$1.63 €1.45
-38.04%
Onion (1kg)
$1.41 BHD 0.53
$1.49 €1.32
-5.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.53 BHD 0.58
$1.79 €1.59
-14.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.79 BHD 0.30
$0.90 €0.80
-12.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.44 BHD 2.05
$6.63 €5.90
-17.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.64 BHD 7.03
$6.70 €5.96
178.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.55 BHD 1.34
$1.09 €0.97
225.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63 BHD 0.99
$1.96 €1.74
34.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Manama
Bratislava
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.64 BHD 0.24
$1.36 €1.21
-52.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$37.77 BHD 14.25
$45.72 €40.66
-17.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$5.36 BHD 2.02
$7.06 €6.28
-24.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.51 BHD 1.33
$1.71 €1.52
105.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$15.94 BHD 6.02
$33.49 €29.79
-52.40%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.70 BHD 0.26
$1.96 €1.75
-64.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.6K BHD 13.8K
$26.5K €23.6K
38.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.6K BHD 7,776
$25.5K €22.7K
-19.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manama
Bratislava
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$154 BHD 58.1
$266 €236
-42.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$24.90 BHD 9.40
$22.17 €19.72
12.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$34.92 BHD 13.18
$18.69 €16.62
86.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manama
Bratislava
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$62.0 BHD 23.41
$56.8 €50.5
9.25%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.30 BHD 11.44
$22.38 €19.91
35.39%
Cinema Ticket
$10.66 BHD 4.02
$12.24 €10.88
-12.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manama
Bratislava
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$480 BHD 181
$843 €750
-43.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.8K BHD 4,089
$18.5K €16.5K
-41.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manama
Bratislava
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.6 BHD 19.10
$99.4 €88.4
-49.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.6 BHD 22.11
$41.05 €36.52
42.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$88.3 BHD 33.31
$101 €89.4
-12.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.9 BHD 33.55
$108 €96.3
-17.90%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manama
Bratislava
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,011 BHD 382
$1,050 €934
-3.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$633 BHD 239
$774 €689
-18.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,022 BHD 763
$1,765 €1,570
14.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,402 BHD 529
$1,293 €1,150
8.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,620 BHD 989
$6,246 €5,556
-58.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,970 BHD 744
$4,004 €3,562
-50.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manama
Bratislava
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,308 BHD 871
$1,708 €1,520
35.07%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.21
3.48
78.45%

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

Last update for Manama: October 11, 2026

Last update for Bratislava: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Manama
$633
Bratislava
$774 22.2% $141
Groceries & Markets
Manama
$248
Bratislava
$294 18.6% $46
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manama
$214
Bratislava
$307 43.3% $93
Eating Out
Manama
$181
Bratislava
$202 11.3% $21
Clothing & Footwear
Manama
$129
Bratislava
$157 22% $28
Sport & Entertainment
Manama
$83
Bratislava
$81 2.5% $2.1
Getting Around
Manama
$63
Bratislava
$67 5.5% $3.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,011 in Manama and $1,050 in Bratislava. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manama pays 35% 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 $67.0 in Bratislava for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $248 vs $294 per month, with Manama cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇭 Manama
🇸🇰 Bratislava
🕒 Local time
22:59 10:59 PM
21:59 9:59 PM
1 h behind Manama
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
157,474 Capital
432,801 Capital
💱 Currency
Bahraini Dinar BHD .د.ب
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD to BHD – Bahraini Dinar Converter

Bahraini Dinar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.377 BHD (1 BHD = 2.65 USD). 1 EUR = 0.424 BHD (1 BHD = 2.36 EUR).

Euro exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Manama Bratislava 3,790 km ≈ 5 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Manama
  • Bratislava

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Bratislava: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Manama or Bratislava?
Manama wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Bratislava. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Manama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Manama or in Bratislava?
Average pay runs 35% higher in Manama, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Manama compared to Bratislava?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,011 in Manama versus $1,050 in Bratislava. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Manama and in Bratislava?
Dining out is cheaper in Manama – a meal for two runs $53.0 versus $67.0 in Bratislava. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Manama compared to Bratislava?
All in, you'll spend $1,552 per month in Manama versus $1,882 in Bratislava – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Manama or in Bratislava?
At $1,552 in Manama versus $1,882 in Bratislava, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Manama but tight or insufficient in Bratislava. The gap between the two cities makes Manama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Manama or Bratislava?
Both work as nomad bases, but Manama delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,552 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Manama hard to pass up.
How safe is Manama compared to Bratislava?
Safety-wise, Manama and Bratislava are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Manama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Bratislava. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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