Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and LisbonCost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Lisbon
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,479 in Manama versus $2,291 in Lisbon.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,410 in Manama versus $3,322 in Lisbon.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,340 in Manama versus $4,354 in Lisbon.
🌍Living in Manama costs roughly 35% less than in Lisbon, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Manama11% above, Lisbon71% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manama
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.57BHD 2.48
$16.19€14.15
-59.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.0BHD 19.60
$63.3€55.3
-17.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.56BHD 2.85
$10.32€9.02
-26.74%
Cappuccino
$5.46BHD 2.06
$2.83€2.47
92.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.79BHD 0.30
$2.29€2.00
-65.50%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37BHD 0.14
$1.58€1.38
-76.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$8.01BHD 3.02
$3.40€2.97
135.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$10.46BHD 3.94
$4.03€3.52
159.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manama
Lisbon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65BHD 0.62
$1.09€0.95
51.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33BHD 0.50
$1.75€1.53
-24.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.34BHD 0.88
$1.76€1.54
32.95%
Eggs
$2.40BHD 0.90
$3.17€2.77
-24.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.62BHD 3.25
$13.19€11.53
-34.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.50BHD 2.83
$7.97€6.96
-5.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.23BHD 3.86
$15.53€13.57
-34.13%
Apples(1kg)
$2.45BHD 0.92
$2.37€2.07
3.38%
Banana(1kg)
$2.10BHD 0.79
$1.71€1.49
22.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70BHD 0.64
$2.01€1.75
-15.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.17BHD 0.44
$2.43€2.12
-51.85%
Potato(1kg)
$0.92BHD 0.35
$1.76€1.54
-47.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08BHD 0.41
$2.03€1.78
-46.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44BHD 0.54
$1.92€1.68
-25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91BHD 0.34
$0.85€0.74
7.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.48BHD 2.44
$6.58€5.75
-1.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.75BHD 7.07
$5.58€4.87
236.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.35BHD 1.26
$1.33€1.16
151.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14BHD 1.18
$2.97€2.60
5.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Manama
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.78BHD 0.29
$2.28€1.99
-65.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$32.29BHD 12.17
$45.79€40.01
-29.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.66BHD 1.76
$4.23€3.69
10.17%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$4.00BHD 1.51
$0.81€0.71
393.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$26.04BHD 9.81
$18.44€16.11
41.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.53BHD 0.20
$2.08€1.82
-74.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.7KBHD 14.2K
$34.7K€30.3K
8.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7KBHD 7,813
$39.2K€34.2K
-47.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manama
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122BHD 46.06
$148€129
-17.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.99BHD 10.17
$20.46€17.88
31.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.99BHD 14.70
$39.56€34.56
-1.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manama
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$71.4BHD 26.90
$47.99€41.93
48.72%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.42BHD 16.74
$18.60€16.25
138.82%
Cinema Ticket
$10.53BHD 3.97
$9.22€8.06
14.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manama
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$394BHD 148
$616€538
-36.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,780BHD 3,309
$16.4K€14.4K
-46.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manama
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.27BHD 17.44
$103€89.7
-54.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.5BHD 23.19
$41.74€36.47
47.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.8BHD 31.21
$94.8€82.8
-12.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.4BHD 33.71
$122€107
-26.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manama
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$803BHD 303
$1,633€1,426
-50.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$548BHD 207
$1,232€1,077
-55.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,794BHD 676
$3,098€2,707
-42.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,208BHD 455
$2,031€1,775
-40.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,668BHD 1,006
$7,831€6,842
-65.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,960BHD 739
$4,389€3,835
-55.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manama
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,276BHD 858
$1,607€1,404
41.59%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.56
3.81
124.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Manama: July 14, 2026
Last update for Lisbon: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $803 in Manama and $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Manama pays 42% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $52.0 in Manama vs $63.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $262 vs $267 per month, with Manama 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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Manama and in Lisbon?
Manama and Lisbon differ by about 55% in total monthly costs ($1,479 vs $2,291 including rent). Manama is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Manama or Lisbon?
Average pay runs 42% higher in Manama, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Manama and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $803 in Manama versus $1,633 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Manama and Lisbon?
Childcare runs $394 in Manama versus $616 in Lisbon. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $1,479 in Manama versus $2,291 in Lisbon, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Manama but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Manama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Manama and Lisbon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Manama or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Manama and Lisbon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Manama or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Manama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 55% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.