Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Juffair Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Juffair

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,491 in Manama versus $1,545 in Juffair.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,432 in Manama versus $2,265 in Juffair.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,373 in Manama versus $2,986 in Juffair.

Living in Manama costs roughly 3% less than in Juffair, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Manama 11% above, Juffair 15% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manama
Juffair
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.71 BHD 2.52
$6.67 BHD 2.51
0.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.5 BHD 19.72
$31.43 BHD 11.82
66.88%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.64 BHD 2.87
$7.30 BHD 2.75
4.66%
Cappuccino
$5.19 BHD 1.95
$5.27 BHD 1.98
-1.52%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.80 BHD 0.30
$0.72 BHD 0.27
11.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 BHD 0.14
$0.28 BHD 0.11
28.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$8.04 BHD 3.02
$5.24 BHD 1.97
53.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$10.43 BHD 3.92
$9.07 BHD 3.41
14.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manama
Juffair
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.70 BHD 0.64
$1.66 BHD 0.62
2.41%
White Bread (500g)
$1.34 BHD 0.50
$1.29 BHD 0.49
3.88%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.43 BHD 0.91
$1.69 BHD 0.64
43.79%
Eggs
$2.48 BHD 0.93
$2.48 BHD 0.93
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.87 BHD 3.33
$6.54 BHD 2.46
35.63%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.73 BHD 2.91
$6.39 BHD 2.40
20.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.10 BHD 3.80
$9.13 BHD 3.43
10.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.43 BHD 0.91
$2.43 BHD 0.91
-
Banana (1kg)
$2.02 BHD 0.76
$2.04 BHD 0.77
-0.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.70 BHD 0.64
$1.68 BHD 0.63
1.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.18 BHD 0.44
$1.16 BHD 0.43
1.72%
Potato (1kg)
$0.87 BHD 0.33
$0.95 BHD 0.36
-8.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.08 BHD 0.40
$1.08 BHD 0.41
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.52 BHD 0.57
$1.46 BHD 0.55
4.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.86 BHD 0.32
$0.76 BHD 0.29
13.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.59 BHD 2.48
$6.59 BHD 2.48
-
Wine (Bottle)
$18.59 BHD 6.99
$18.71 BHD 7.04
-0.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.38 BHD 1.27
$3.39 BHD 1.27
-0.29%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19 BHD 1.20
$3.29 BHD 1.24
-3.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Manama
Juffair
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 BHD 0.31
$0.75 BHD 0.28
10.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$31.62 BHD 11.89
$35.14 BHD 13.21
-10.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.53 BHD 1.70
$3.25 BHD 1.22
39.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.01 BHD 1.51
$3.97 BHD 1.49
1.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$26.24 BHD 9.87
$26.06 BHD 9.80
0.69%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.52 BHD 0.20
$0.20 BHD 0.08
160.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.1K BHD 13.9K
$28.4K BHD 10.7K
30.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K BHD 7,809
$18.0K BHD 6,769
15.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manama
Juffair
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 BHD 46.47
$122 BHD 46.03
0.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.44 BHD 10.32
$27.33 BHD 10.28
0.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.91 BHD 14.63
$31.30 BHD 11.77
24.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manama
Juffair
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$70.6 BHD 26.54
$52.5 BHD 19.73
34.49%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$43.91 BHD 16.51
$40.33 BHD 15.16
8.88%
Cinema Ticket
$10.72 BHD 4.03
$9.48 BHD 3.56
13.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manama
Juffair
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$394 BHD 148
$241 BHD 90.7
63.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,871 BHD 3,336
$8,963 BHD 3,370
-1.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manama
Juffair
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.39 BHD 17.44
$43.00 BHD 16.17
7.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$63.4 BHD 23.82
$31.93 BHD 12.01
98.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.2 BHD 31.26
$67.2 BHD 25.27
23.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.5 BHD 33.63
$67.1 BHD 25.22
33.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manama
Juffair
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$822 BHD 309
$966 BHD 363
-14.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$554 BHD 208
$729 BHD 274
-23.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,764 BHD 663
$1,782 BHD 670
-0.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,223 BHD 460
$1,176 BHD 442
4.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,580 BHD 970
$2,089 BHD 785
23.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,957 BHD 736
$1,562 BHD 587
25.28%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manama
Juffair
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,391 BHD 899
$2,789 BHD 1,049
-14.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.56
7
22.29%

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

Last update for Manama: April 26, 2026

Last update for Juffair: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $822 in Manama and $966 in Juffair. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Juffair pays 17% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $52.0 in Manama vs $31.00 in Juffair for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $264 vs $243 per month, with Juffair cheaper across the board.

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 Juffair: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Manama or Juffair?
Manama wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Juffair. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Manama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Manama or Juffair?
On paper, Juffair earns 17% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Manama vs Juffair?
Rent for a central apartment: $822 in Manama versus $966 in Juffair. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Manama compared to Juffair?
All in, you'll spend $1,491 per month in Manama versus $1,545 in Juffair – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Manama vs Juffair?
A monthly transit pass in Manama runs roughly 11% less than in Juffair. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Manama or Juffair?
At $1,491 in Manama versus $1,545 in Juffair, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Manama but tight or insufficient in Juffair. The gap between the two cities makes Manama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Manama or Juffair?
Both work as nomad bases, but Manama delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,491 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Manama hard to pass up.
How safe is Manama compared to Juffair?
Safety-wise, Manama and Juffair are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Manama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Juffair. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Manama vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities