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: $1,479 in Manama versus $691 in Budaiya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,410 in Manama versus $1,126 in Budaiya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,340 in Manama versus $1,560 in Budaiya.

Living in Manama is roughly 114% more expensive than in Budaiya, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Manama is 11% above, Budaiya is 48% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.57 BHD 2.48

$5.19 BHD 1.96

26.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.0 BHD 19.60

$52.6 BHD 19.81

-1.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 BHD 2.85

$7.16 BHD 2.70

5.59%

Cappuccino

$5.46 BHD 2.06

$4.93 BHD 1.86

10.75%

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

$0.79 BHD 0.30

$0.82 BHD 0.31

-3.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 BHD 0.14

$0.28 BHD 0.11

32.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.01 BHD 3.02

$7.75 BHD 2.92

3.35%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.46 BHD 3.94

$10.49 BHD 3.96

-0.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 BHD 0.62

$1.72 BHD 0.65

-4.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 BHD 0.50

$1.28 BHD 0.48

3.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 BHD 0.88

$1.16 BHD 0.44

101.72%

Eggs

$2.40 BHD 0.90

$1.63 BHD 0.62

47.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.62 BHD 3.25

$2.68 BHD 1.01

221.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.50 BHD 2.83

$7.82 BHD 2.95

-4.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.23 BHD 3.86

$3.89 BHD 1.47

162.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 BHD 0.92

$2.42 BHD 0.91

1.24%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 BHD 0.79

$2.02 BHD 0.76

3.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 BHD 0.64

$1.74 BHD 0.65

-2.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 BHD 0.44

$1.03 BHD 0.39

13.59%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 BHD 0.35

$0.79 BHD 0.30

16.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 BHD 0.41

$1.04 BHD 0.39

3.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 BHD 0.54

$1.36 BHD 0.51

5.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 BHD 0.34

$0.55 BHD 0.21

65.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.48 BHD 2.44

$5.87 BHD 2.21

10.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.75 BHD 7.07

$13.16 BHD 4.96

42.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.35 BHD 1.26

$1.77 BHD 0.67

89.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 BHD 1.18

$1.68 BHD 0.63

86.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 BHD 0.29

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.29 BHD 12.17

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.66 BHD 1.76

$2.67 BHD 1.01

74.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.00 BHD 1.51

$2.58 BHD 0.97

55.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.04 BHD 9.81

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 BHD 0.20

$0.35 BHD 0.13

51.43%

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

$37.7K BHD 14.2K

$37.6K BHD 14.2K

0.14%

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

$20.7K BHD 7,813

$20.5K BHD 7,737

0.98%

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

$122 BHD 46.06

$90.1 BHD 33.97

35.61%

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

$26.99 BHD 10.17

$26.59 BHD 10.02

1.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.99 BHD 14.70

$26.99 BHD 10.17

44.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.4 BHD 26.90

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.42 BHD 16.74

Cinema Ticket

$10.53 BHD 3.97

$8.06 BHD 3.04

30.65%

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

$394 BHD 148

$392 BHD 148

0.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,780 BHD 3,309

$9,034 BHD 3,405

-2.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.27 BHD 17.44

$45.17 BHD 17.03

2.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.5 BHD 23.19

$61.7 BHD 23.26

-0.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.8 BHD 31.21

$84.1 BHD 31.68

-1.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.4 BHD 33.71

$90.0 BHD 33.90

-0.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$803 BHD 303

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$548 BHD 207

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,794 BHD 676

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,208 BHD 455

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,668 BHD 1,006

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,960 BHD 739

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,276 BHD 858

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Budaiya: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $52.0 in Manama vs $53.0 in Budaiya. Groceries flip the comparison at $262 vs $191, with Budaiya 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 114% 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 $2,218 in Manama and $1,037 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 37% higher in Manama. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,479 per month in Manama versus $691 in Budaiya – a 114% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $691 in Budaiya versus $1,479 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 114% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.