Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Budaiya Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Budaiya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,555 in Manama versus $809 in Budaiya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,484 in Manama versus $1,284 in Budaiya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,413 in Manama versus $1,759 in Budaiya.

Living in Manama is roughly 92% more expensive than in Budaiya, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Manama is 13% above, Budaiya is 41% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.78 BHD 2.56

$6.51 BHD 2.45

4.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 BHD 20.17

$52.0 BHD 19.60

2.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.59 BHD 2.86

$6.56 BHD 2.47

15.70%

Cappuccino

$4.88 BHD 1.84

$4.86 BHD 1.83

0.41%

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

$0.88 BHD 0.33

$0.89 BHD 0.33

-1.12%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 BHD 0.11

$0.26 BHD 0.10

15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.80 BHD 2.56

$6.57 BHD 2.48

3.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.22 BHD 3.85

$10.08 BHD 3.80

1.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

$1.41 BHD 0.53

3.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 BHD 0.41

$1.10 BHD 0.42

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 BHD 0.86

Eggs

$2.31 BHD 0.87

$2.32 BHD 0.88

-0.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.87 BHD 3.34

$8.91 BHD 3.36

-0.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.60 BHD 2.49

$6.53 BHD 2.46

1.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 BHD 3.22

$8.71 BHD 3.28

-1.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 BHD 0.90

$2.36 BHD 0.89

1.69%

Banana (1kg)

$2.27 BHD 0.86

$2.36 BHD 0.89

-3.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 BHD 0.73

$1.90 BHD 0.72

2.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

$1.45 BHD 0.54

0.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 BHD 0.38

$1.05 BHD 0.40

-2.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 BHD 0.54

$1.42 BHD 0.54

0.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 BHD 0.57

$1.49 BHD 0.56

1.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 BHD 0.29

$0.83 BHD 0.31

-6.02%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.27 BHD 1.99

$5.38 BHD 2.03

-2.04%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.59 BHD 7.01

$18.38 BHD 6.93

1.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.50 BHD 1.32

$3.63 BHD 1.37

-3.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 BHD 0.97

$2.61 BHD 0.98

-1.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 BHD 0.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.84 BHD 14.26

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 BHD 1.98

$5.35 BHD 2.01

-2.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.52 BHD 1.33

$3.49 BHD 1.31

0.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.09 BHD 6.06

$16.10 BHD 6.07

-0.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 BHD 0.24

$0.69 BHD 0.26

-7.25%

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

$36.4K BHD 13.7K

$37.5K BHD 14.1K

-2.91%

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

$20.8K BHD 7,829

$20.3K BHD 7,659

2.22%

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

$151 BHD 56.9

$153 BHD 57.7

-1.38%

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

$24.64 BHD 9.29

$24.90 BHD 9.39

-1.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.82 BHD 13.12

$35.69 BHD 13.45

-2.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.3 BHD 23.49

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.02 BHD 11.31

Cinema Ticket

$10.59 BHD 3.99

$10.55 BHD 3.98

0.38%

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

$488 BHD 184

$492 BHD 186

-0.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K BHD 4,059

$11.0K BHD 4,161

-2.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 BHD 19.21

$50.1 BHD 18.87

1.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.5 BHD 21.65

$56.7 BHD 21.39

1.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 BHD 32.99

$86.7 BHD 32.68

0.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.6 BHD 34.13

$88.4 BHD 33.32

2.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$997 BHD 376

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$649 BHD 245

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,076 BHD 783

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,387 BHD 523

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,576 BHD 971

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,960 BHD 739

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,337 BHD 881

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 7, 2026

Last update for Budaiya: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $54.0 in Manama vs $52.0 in Budaiya. Groceries flip the comparison at $251 vs $252, with Manama cheaper for home cooking.

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 Budaiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Budaiya wins on cost – living expenses run 92% lower than in Manama. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Budaiya the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,332 in Manama and $1,214 in Budaiya 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.

Shoppers in Manama pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,555 per month in Manama versus $809 in Budaiya – a 92% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $809 in Budaiya versus $1,555 in Manama, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Budaiya but tight or insufficient in Manama. The gap between the two cities makes Budaiya 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 Budaiya 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 Budaiya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 92% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.