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 $1,479 per month in Manama vs $711 in Isa Town, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,410 per month in Manama vs $1,732 in Isa Town, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,340 per month in Manama vs $2,752 in Isa Town, rent included.

Manama costs about 108% more than Isa Town, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Manama sits 11% above the global median, while Isa Town is 47% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.57 BHD 2.48

$7.87 BHD 2.97

-16.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.0 BHD 19.60

$26.77 BHD 10.09

94.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 BHD 2.85

$6.69 BHD 2.52

13.00%

Cappuccino

$5.46 BHD 2.06

$4.76 BHD 1.79

14.71%

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

$0.79 BHD 0.30

$0.84 BHD 0.32

-5.95%

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

$6.81 BHD 2.57

17.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.46 BHD 3.94

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 BHD 0.62

$1.95 BHD 0.74

-15.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 BHD 0.50

$1.57 BHD 0.59

-15.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 BHD 0.88

$3.65 BHD 1.37

-35.89%

Eggs

$2.40 BHD 0.90

$2.53 BHD 0.96

-5.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.62 BHD 3.25

$13.25 BHD 4.99

-34.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.50 BHD 2.83

$6.49 BHD 2.44

15.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.23 BHD 3.86

$16.17 BHD 6.10

-36.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 BHD 0.92

$2.23 BHD 0.84

9.87%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 BHD 0.79

$2.19 BHD 0.82

-4.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 BHD 0.64

$2.28 BHD 0.86

-25.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 BHD 0.44

$1.94 BHD 0.73

-39.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 BHD 0.35

$2.01 BHD 0.76

-54.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 BHD 0.41

$1.50 BHD 0.57

-28.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 BHD 0.54

$0.91 BHD 0.34

58.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 BHD 0.34

$0.82 BHD 0.31

10.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.48 BHD 2.44

Wine (Bottle)

$18.75 BHD 7.07

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.35 BHD 1.26

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 BHD 1.18

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 BHD 0.29

$1.09 BHD 0.41

-28.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.29 BHD 12.17

$13.30 BHD 5.01

142.78%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.66 BHD 1.76

$5.31 BHD 2.00

-12.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.00 BHD 1.51

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.04 BHD 9.81

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 BHD 0.20

$0.84 BHD 0.32

-36.90%

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

$37.7K BHD 14.2K

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

$20.7K BHD 7,813

$13.4K BHD 5,045

54.86%

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

$122 BHD 46.06

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

$26.99 BHD 10.17

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.99 BHD 14.70

$40.16 BHD 15.14

-2.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.4 BHD 26.90

$106 BHD 39.81

-32.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.42 BHD 16.74

Cinema Ticket

$10.53 BHD 3.97

$10.66 BHD 4.02

-1.22%

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

$394 BHD 148

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,780 BHD 3,309

$7,846 BHD 2,957

11.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.27 BHD 17.44

$39.41 BHD 14.85

17.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.5 BHD 23.19

$13.01 BHD 4.90

372.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.8 BHD 31.21

$81.1 BHD 30.57

2.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.4 BHD 33.71

$107 BHD 40.42

-16.62%

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

$1,323 BHD 499

35.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,208 BHD 455

$1,071 BHD 404

12.78%

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

$1,079 BHD 407

110.96%

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 Isa Town: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 111% 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 $52.0 in Manama versus $27.00 in Isa Town. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $262 vs $246 – 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 Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,218 per month in Manama and $1,067 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 $1,479 in Manama and $711 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 $52.0 in Manama and $27.00 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 $711, than in Manama at $1,479. 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.