Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Chiang Mai Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Chiang Mai

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,496 per month in Manama vs $866 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,408 per month in Manama vs $1,351 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,319 per month in Manama vs $1,835 in Chiang Mai, rent included.

Manama costs about 73% more than Chiang Mai, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Manama sits 12% above the global median, while Chiang Mai is 35% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.48 BHD 2.44

$1.94 ฿63.5

234.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 BHD 20.16

$18.64 ฿609

186.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.27 BHD 2.74

$7.82 ฿255

-7.03%

Cappuccino

$5.34 BHD 2.01

$1.95 ฿63.8

173.85%

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

$0.87 BHD 0.33

$0.85 ฿27.77

2.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 BHD 0.14

$0.35 ฿11.58

2.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.09 BHD 3.05

$2.13 ฿69.6

279.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.54 BHD 3.97

$3.73 ฿122

182.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 BHD 0.64

$1.71 ฿56.0

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 BHD 0.48

$1.63 ฿53.2

-22.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.43 BHD 0.91

$1.14 ฿37.15

113.16%

Eggs

$2.47 BHD 0.93

$1.93 ฿63.1

27.98%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.59 BHD 3.24

$16.21 ฿530

-47.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 BHD 2.92

$3.12 ฿102

148.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.28 BHD 3.88

$10.90 ฿356

-5.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 BHD 0.89

$2.75 ฿90.0

-14.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 BHD 0.79

$1.21 ฿39.52

74.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 BHD 0.67

$1.62 ฿53.0

9.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 BHD 0.44

$1.59 ฿51.8

-25.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 BHD 0.35

$1.40 ฿45.70

-33.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 BHD 0.41

$1.17 ฿38.17

-6.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

$0.66 ฿21.60

121.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BHD 0.32

$0.53 ฿17.22

62.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 BHD 2.48

$4.69 ฿153

40.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 BHD 7.12

$18.66 ฿609

1.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.44 BHD 1.30

$1.80 ฿58.8

91.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 BHD 1.24

$3.23 ฿106

1.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 BHD 0.31

$0.90 ฿29.26

-7.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.28 BHD 11.79

$19.21 ฿628

62.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 BHD 1.72

$1.41 ฿45.91

224.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.96 BHD 1.49

$1.29 ฿42.12

206.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.86 BHD 10.13

$7.84 ฿256

242.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 BHD 0.19

$1.27 ฿41.58

-59.06%

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

$36.8K BHD 13.9K

$21.3K ฿694.9K

73.06%

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

$20.7K BHD 7,796

$22.2K ฿725.4K

-6.90%

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

$121 BHD 45.53

$69.1 ฿2,256

74.85%

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

$26.86 BHD 10.13

$14.08 ฿460

90.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.52 BHD 14.52

$18.00 ฿588

114.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.0 BHD 26.78

$41.06 ฿1,341

73.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.13 BHD 17.01

$6.96 ฿227

548.42%

Cinema Ticket

$10.78 BHD 4.06

$5.92 ฿193

82.09%

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

$382 BHD 144

$299 ฿9,766

27.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,953 BHD 3,375

$15.0K ฿488.3K

-40.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.73 BHD 17.62

$54.7 ฿1,787

-14.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.8 BHD 24.03

$26.77 ฿874

138.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 BHD 31.98

$85.0 ฿2,776

-0.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 BHD 33.47

$70.6 ฿2,306

25.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 BHD 308

$428 ฿14.0K

91.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 BHD 211

$237 ฿7,752

135.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,791 BHD 675

$801 ฿26.2K

123.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,244 BHD 469

$515 ฿16.8K

141.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,629 BHD 991

$1,975 ฿64.5K

33.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,941 BHD 732

$1,475 ฿48.2K

31.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,360 BHD 890

$617 ฿20.2K

282.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.56

71.20%

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

Last update for Manama: May 31, 2026

Last update for Chiang Mai: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $818 in Manama versus $428 in Chiang Mai. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 282% higher in Manama, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Manama versus $19.00 in Chiang Mai. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $265 vs $246 – making Chiang Mai the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Chiang Mai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manama costs about 73% more than Chiang Mai, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,243 per month in Manama and $1,300 in Chiang Mai. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Chiang Mai, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $382 per month in Manama and $299 in Chiang Mai. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Manama, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Chiang Mai, where all-in costs run around $866, than in Manama at $1,496. In Chiang Mai it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Chiang Mai costs $866 versus $1,496 in Manama. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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 Chiang Mai. 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.