Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Isa Town Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Isa Town

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,496 per month in Manama vs $721 in Isa Town, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,408 per month in Manama vs $1,715 in Isa Town, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,319 per month in Manama vs $2,710 in Isa Town, rent included.

Manama costs about 108% more than Isa Town, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Manama sits 12% above the global median, while Isa Town is 46% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.48 BHD 2.44

$7.91 BHD 2.98

-18.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 BHD 20.16

$26.15 BHD 9.86

104.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.27 BHD 2.74

$6.69 BHD 2.52

8.67%

Cappuccino

$5.34 BHD 2.01

$4.56 BHD 1.72

17.11%

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

$0.87 BHD 0.33

$0.89 BHD 0.34

-2.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 BHD 0.14

$0.26 BHD 0.10

38.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.09 BHD 3.05

$6.48 BHD 2.44

24.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.54 BHD 3.97

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 BHD 0.64

$1.94 BHD 0.73

-11.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 BHD 0.48

$1.62 BHD 0.61

-21.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.43 BHD 0.91

$3.61 BHD 1.36

-32.69%

Eggs

$2.47 BHD 0.93

$2.66 BHD 1.00

-7.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.59 BHD 3.24

$13.29 BHD 5.01

-35.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 BHD 2.92

$6.70 BHD 2.53

15.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.28 BHD 3.88

$16.16 BHD 6.09

-36.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 BHD 0.89

$2.27 BHD 0.86

3.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 BHD 0.79

$2.29 BHD 0.87

-7.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 BHD 0.67

$2.19 BHD 0.83

-19.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 BHD 0.44

$2.01 BHD 0.76

-41.29%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 BHD 0.35

$2.04 BHD 0.77

-54.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 BHD 0.41

$1.44 BHD 0.54

-24.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

$0.89 BHD 0.34

64.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BHD 0.32

$0.77 BHD 0.29

11.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 BHD 2.48

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

$1.04 BHD 0.39

-20.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.28 BHD 11.79

$13.23 BHD 4.99

136.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 BHD 1.72

$5.23 BHD 1.97

-12.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.96 BHD 1.49

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.86 BHD 10.13

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 BHD 0.19

$0.77 BHD 0.29

-32.47%

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

$36.8K BHD 13.9K

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

$20.7K BHD 7,796

$13.2K BHD 4,994

56.12%

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

$121 BHD 45.53

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

$26.86 BHD 10.13

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.52 BHD 14.52

$39.81 BHD 15.01

-3.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.0 BHD 26.78

$108 BHD 40.76

-34.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.13 BHD 17.01

Cinema Ticket

$10.78 BHD 4.06

$10.56 BHD 3.98

2.08%

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

$382 BHD 144

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,953 BHD 3,375

$7,942 BHD 2,994

12.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.73 BHD 17.62

$40.48 BHD 15.26

15.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.8 BHD 24.03

$13.46 BHD 5.07

373.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 BHD 31.98

$80.5 BHD 30.34

5.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 BHD 33.47

$105 BHD 39.76

-15.82%

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

$1,334 BHD 503

34.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,244 BHD 469

$1,046 BHD 394

19.00%

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

$1,058 BHD 399

122.97%

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 Isa Town: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 123% 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 $26.00 in Isa Town. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $265 vs $248 – making Isa Town 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 Isa Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Manama is pricier by about 108%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. 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 $1,081 in Isa Town. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,496 in Manama and $721 in Isa Town. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Manama and $26.00 in Isa Town. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Isa Town, where all-in costs run around $721, than in Manama at $1,496. In Isa Town it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Isa Town – 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 Isa Town. 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.