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: $1,496 in Manama versus $688 in Budaiya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,408 in Manama versus $1,120 in Budaiya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,319 in Manama versus $1,552 in Budaiya.

Living in Manama is roughly 117% more expensive than Budaiya, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Manama is 12% above, Budaiya is 49% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.48 BHD 2.44

$5.45 BHD 2.05

18.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 BHD 20.16

$52.0 BHD 19.62

2.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.27 BHD 2.74

$7.47 BHD 2.82

-2.68%

Cappuccino

$5.34 BHD 2.01

$5.11 BHD 1.93

4.50%

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

$0.87 BHD 0.33

$0.82 BHD 0.31

6.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 BHD 0.14

$0.28 BHD 0.11

28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.09 BHD 3.05

$7.88 BHD 2.97

2.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.54 BHD 3.97

$10.64 BHD 4.01

-0.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 BHD 0.64

$1.63 BHD 0.62

4.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 BHD 0.48

$1.28 BHD 0.48

-0.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.43 BHD 0.91

$1.21 BHD 0.46

100.83%

Eggs

$2.47 BHD 0.93

$1.55 BHD 0.59

59.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.59 BHD 3.24

$2.73 BHD 1.03

214.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 BHD 2.92

$7.70 BHD 2.90

0.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.28 BHD 3.88

$4.04 BHD 1.52

154.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 BHD 0.89

$2.38 BHD 0.90

-0.84%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 BHD 0.79

$2.09 BHD 0.79

0.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 BHD 0.67

$1.68 BHD 0.63

5.36%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 BHD 0.44

$1.05 BHD 0.40

12.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 BHD 0.35

$0.81 BHD 0.31

14.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 BHD 0.41

$1.08 BHD 0.41

0.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

$1.31 BHD 0.50

11.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BHD 0.32

$0.54 BHD 0.20

59.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 BHD 2.48

$5.75 BHD 2.17

14.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 BHD 7.12

$13.19 BHD 4.97

43.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.44 BHD 1.30

$1.74 BHD 0.65

97.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 BHD 1.24

$1.77 BHD 0.67

85.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 BHD 0.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.28 BHD 11.79

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 BHD 1.72

$2.69 BHD 1.01

70.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.96 BHD 1.49

$2.61 BHD 0.98

51.72%

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

$0.36 BHD 0.13

44.44%

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

$36.8K BHD 13.9K

$37.8K BHD 14.2K

-2.54%

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

$20.7K BHD 7,796

$20.9K BHD 7,884

-1.11%

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

$121 BHD 45.53

$91.7 BHD 34.57

31.72%

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

$26.86 BHD 10.13

$27.22 BHD 10.26

-1.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.52 BHD 14.52

$26.96 BHD 10.16

42.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.0 BHD 26.78

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.13 BHD 17.01

Cinema Ticket

$10.78 BHD 4.06

$7.91 BHD 2.98

36.28%

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

$382 BHD 144

$395 BHD 149

-3.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,953 BHD 3,375

$8,960 BHD 3,378

-0.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.73 BHD 17.62

$45.98 BHD 17.34

1.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.8 BHD 24.03

$62.5 BHD 23.56

2.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 BHD 31.98

$83.2 BHD 31.35

2.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 BHD 33.47

$88.1 BHD 33.22

0.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 BHD 308

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 BHD 211

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,791 BHD 675

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,244 BHD 469

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

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 Budaiya: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $53.0 in Manama vs $52.0 in Budaiya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $265 vs $190 per month, with Budaiya 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 Budaiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Budaiya wins on cost – living expenses run 117% 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 $2,243 in Manama and $1,033 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Manama. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,496 per month in Manama versus $688 in Budaiya – a 117% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $688 in Budaiya versus $1,496 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 117% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.