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 $1,595 per month in Manama vs $744 in Isa Town, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,515 per month in Manama vs $1,758 in Isa Town, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,435 per month in Manama vs $2,771 in Isa Town, rent included.

Manama costs about 114% more than Isa Town, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Manama sits 16% above the global median, while Isa Town is 46% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.80 BHD 2.56

$8.00 BHD 3.02

-15.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.6 BHD 20.22

$26.39 BHD 9.95

103.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.61 BHD 2.87

$6.82 BHD 2.57

11.58%

Cappuccino

$4.88 BHD 1.84

$4.56 BHD 1.72

7.02%

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

$0.88 BHD 0.33

$0.83 BHD 0.31

6.02%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 BHD 0.11

$0.26 BHD 0.10

15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.53 BHD 2.46

$6.55 BHD 2.47

-0.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.04 BHD 3.78

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

$1.37 BHD 0.52

6.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 BHD 0.40

$1.32 BHD 0.50

-20.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 BHD 0.86

$5.21 BHD 1.96

-56.05%

Eggs

$2.34 BHD 0.88

$3.13 BHD 1.18

-25.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.83 BHD 3.33

$10.82 BHD 4.08

-18.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 BHD 2.46

$7.77 BHD 2.93

-15.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.79 BHD 3.31

$21.18 BHD 7.98

-58.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 BHD 0.90

$2.73 BHD 1.03

-12.09%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 BHD 0.85

$2.72 BHD 1.03

-17.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 BHD 0.73

$2.67 BHD 1.01

-27.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 BHD 0.54

$2.57 BHD 0.97

-44.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 BHD 0.39

$2.67 BHD 1.00

-61.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 BHD 0.53

$1.55 BHD 0.58

-9.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 BHD 0.58

$0.52 BHD 0.20

196.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 BHD 0.29

$1.08 BHD 0.41

-28.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.25 BHD 1.98

Wine (Bottle)

$18.49 BHD 6.97

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.52 BHD 1.33

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 BHD 0.98

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 BHD 0.24

$1.07 BHD 0.40

-39.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.34 BHD 14.08

$13.18 BHD 4.97

183.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.41 BHD 2.04

$5.37 BHD 2.03

0.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.50 BHD 1.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.94 BHD 6.01

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 BHD 0.26

$0.82 BHD 0.31

-14.63%

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

$36.9K BHD 13.9K

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

$20.4K BHD 7,676

$13.1K BHD 4,931

55.68%

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

$154 BHD 58.0

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

$24.04 BHD 9.06

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.64 BHD 13.44

$39.61 BHD 14.93

-10.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.9 BHD 23.33

$104 BHD 39.20

-40.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.03 BHD 11.32

Cinema Ticket

$10.56 BHD 3.98

$10.55 BHD 3.98

0.09%

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

$493 BHD 186

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.9K BHD 4,093

$7,916 BHD 2,985

37.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 BHD 19.20

$40.28 BHD 15.18

26.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.6 BHD 21.34

$13.00 BHD 4.90

335.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 BHD 32.49

$79.4 BHD 29.94

8.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 BHD 33.51

$107 BHD 40.36

-16.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$990 BHD 373

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 BHD 240

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,078 BHD 783

$1,331 BHD 502

56.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,389 BHD 524

$1,067 BHD 402

30.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,636 BHD 994

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,954 BHD 736

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,346 BHD 885

$1,059 BHD 399

121.62%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

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

Last update for Manama: August 30, 2026

Last update for Isa Town: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 122% 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 $54.0 in Manama versus $26.00 in Isa Town. Groceries tell a different story – $251 in Manama vs $275 in Isa Town – so Manama 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 Isa Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Manama is pricier by about 114%, 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 $2,392 per month in Manama and $1,117 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 $1,595 in Manama and $744 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 $54.0 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 $744, than in Manama at $1,595. 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.