Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Doha Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Doha

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,496 per month in Manama vs $2,003 in Doha, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,408 per month in Manama vs $3,069 in Doha, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,319 per month in Manama vs $4,134 in Doha, rent included.

Manama is about 25% cheaper than Doha, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manama and Doha sit above the global median – Manama by 12%, Doha by 49%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.48 BHD 2.44

$6.77 QAR 24.64

-4.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 BHD 20.16

$54.0 QAR 196

-0.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.27 BHD 2.74

$6.78 QAR 24.69

7.23%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$11.76 QAR 42.80

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$11.10 QAR 40.40

Cappuccino

$5.34 BHD 2.01

$4.98 QAR 18.14

7.23%

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

$0.87 BHD 0.33

$0.84 QAR 3.07

3.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 BHD 0.14

$0.31 QAR 1.13

16.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.09 BHD 3.05

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.54 BHD 3.97

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 BHD 0.64

$2.04 QAR 7.44

-16.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 BHD 0.48

$1.63 QAR 5.92

-22.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.43 BHD 0.91

$2.15 QAR 7.82

13.02%

Eggs

$2.47 BHD 0.93

$2.62 QAR 9.55

-5.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.59 BHD 3.24

$11.34 QAR 41.26

-24.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 BHD 2.92

$7.55 QAR 27.48

2.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.28 BHD 3.88

$10.43 QAR 37.97

-1.44%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 BHD 0.89

$1.98 QAR 7.21

19.19%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 BHD 0.79

$1.57 QAR 5.73

34.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 BHD 0.67

$1.59 QAR 5.77

11.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 BHD 0.44

$1.45 QAR 5.26

-18.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 BHD 0.35

$0.98 QAR 3.57

-5.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 BHD 0.41

$1.07 QAR 3.88

1.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

$1.38 QAR 5.03

5.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BHD 0.32

$0.46 QAR 1.66

86.96%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$8.27 QAR 30.10

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 QAR 6.71

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 QAR 10.92

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 BHD 2.48

$6.47 QAR 23.53

1.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 BHD 7.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.44 BHD 1.30

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 BHD 1.24

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 BHD 0.31

$0.53 QAR 1.91

56.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.28 BHD 11.79

$32.91 QAR 120

-4.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 BHD 1.72

$2.23 QAR 8.11

105.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.96 BHD 1.49

$2.22 QAR 8.07

78.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.86 BHD 10.13

$13.60 QAR 49.50

97.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 BHD 0.19

$0.59 QAR 2.16

-11.86%

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

$36.8K BHD 13.9K

$22.2K QAR 80.7K

66.04%

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

$20.7K BHD 7,796

$20.3K QAR 73.9K

1.86%

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

$121 BHD 45.53

$93.5 QAR 340

29.19%

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

$26.86 BHD 10.13

$37.48 QAR 136

-28.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.52 BHD 14.52

$86.1 QAR 313

-55.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.0 BHD 26.78

$120 QAR 436

-40.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.13 BHD 17.01

$32.38 QAR 118

39.38%

Cinema Ticket

$10.78 BHD 4.06

$12.20 QAR 44.41

-11.64%

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

$382 BHD 144

$794 QAR 2,891

-51.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,953 BHD 3,375

$11.7K QAR 42.7K

-23.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.73 BHD 17.62

$62.3 QAR 227

-25.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.8 BHD 24.03

$54.6 QAR 199

16.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 BHD 31.98

$99.4 QAR 362

-14.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 BHD 33.47

$90.2 QAR 328

-1.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 BHD 308

$1,609 QAR 5,857

-49.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 BHD 211

$1,094 QAR 3,983

-48.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,791 BHD 675

$2,926 QAR 10.7K

-38.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,244 BHD 469

$2,079 QAR 7,567

-40.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,629 BHD 991

$4,471 QAR 16.3K

-41.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,941 BHD 732

$2,709 QAR 9,860

-28.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,360 BHD 890

$3,111 QAR 11.3K

-24.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.56

6.08

40.79%

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

Last update for Manama: May 31, 2026

Last update for Doha: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $818 in Manama versus $1,609 in Doha. 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 32% higher in Doha, 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 $54.0 in Doha. Groceries tell a different story – $265 in Manama vs $208 in Doha – so Doha wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Doha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Doha is pricier by about 34%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,243 per month in Manama and $3,004 in Doha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 5% less in Manama. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $382 per month in Manama and $794 in Doha. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Manama, where all-in costs run around $1,496, than in Doha at $2,003. In Manama it covers expenses comfortably, while in Doha it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Manama – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Manama. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Doha makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.