Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Madinat Hamad Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Madinat Hamad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,606 per month in Manama vs $1,221 in Madinat Hamad, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,517 per month in Manama vs $1,901 in Madinat Hamad, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,428 per month in Manama vs $2,582 in Madinat Hamad, rent included.

Manama costs about 32% more than Madinat Hamad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Manama sits 17% above the global median, while Madinat Hamad is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.67 BHD 2.52

$2.60 BHD 0.98

156.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.1 BHD 19.64

$52.2 BHD 19.68

-0.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.30 BHD 2.75

$7.41 BHD 2.79

-1.48%

Cappuccino

$4.82 BHD 1.82

$2.68 BHD 1.01

79.85%

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

$0.84 BHD 0.32

$0.90 BHD 0.34

-6.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 BHD 0.12

$0.32 BHD 0.12

3.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.65 BHD 2.51

$6.45 BHD 2.43

3.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.84 BHD 3.71

$9.72 BHD 3.66

1.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 BHD 0.54

$1.48 BHD 0.56

-3.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 BHD 0.40

$1.03 BHD 0.39

2.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 BHD 0.87

Eggs

$2.22 BHD 0.84

$2.01 BHD 0.76

10.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.78 BHD 3.31

$8.63 BHD 3.25

1.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.33 BHD 2.39

$6.34 BHD 2.39

-0.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.45 BHD 3.19

$8.38 BHD 3.16

0.84%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 BHD 0.90

$2.17 BHD 0.82

10.14%

Banana (1kg)

$2.35 BHD 0.89

$1.56 BHD 0.59

50.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 BHD 0.71

$1.96 BHD 0.74

-4.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 BHD 0.54

$1.30 BHD 0.49

10.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 BHD 0.40

$1.05 BHD 0.40

0.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 BHD 0.54

$1.04 BHD 0.39

37.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 BHD 0.59

$1.54 BHD 0.58

0.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 BHD 0.29

$0.54 BHD 0.20

44.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.18 BHD 1.95

$5.24 BHD 1.97

-1.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.37 BHD 6.92

$18.42 BHD 6.94

-0.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.47 BHD 1.31

$3.59 BHD 1.35

-3.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 BHD 0.99

$2.68 BHD 1.01

-2.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 BHD 0.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.78 BHD 14.24

$34.31 BHD 12.93

10.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.38 BHD 2.03

$5.19 BHD 1.96

3.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.51 BHD 1.32

$2.63 BHD 0.99

33.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.79 BHD 5.95

$16.13 BHD 6.08

-2.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 BHD 0.24

$0.39 BHD 0.15

64.10%

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

$37.3K BHD 14.0K

$36.6K BHD 13.8K

1.92%

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

$20.4K BHD 7,674

$20.2K BHD 7,619

0.73%

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

$154 BHD 57.9

$155 BHD 58.3

-0.61%

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

$24.27 BHD 9.15

$23.49 BHD 8.85

3.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.61 BHD 13.04

$18.20 BHD 6.86

90.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 BHD 23.30

$121 BHD 45.56

-48.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.54 BHD 11.51

$52.5 BHD 19.78

-41.81%

Cinema Ticket

$10.77 BHD 4.06

$5.45 BHD 2.05

97.61%

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

$495 BHD 187

$483 BHD 182

2.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.9K BHD 4,096

$11.0K BHD 4,145

-1.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.5 BHD 19.05

$51.1 BHD 19.27

-1.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.7 BHD 21.74

$57.2 BHD 21.55

0.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 BHD 32.85

$87.0 BHD 32.79

0.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.0 BHD 34.29

$89.3 BHD 33.64

1.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,002 BHD 378

$402 BHD 152

149.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$643 BHD 242

$320 BHD 121

100.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,079 BHD 783

$803 BHD 303

158.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,381 BHD 521

$670 BHD 252

106.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,652 BHD 1,000

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,959 BHD 738

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,273 BHD 857

$676 BHD 255

236.17%

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: September 12, 2026

Last update for Madinat Hamad: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,002 in Manama versus $402 in Madinat Hamad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 236% 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 $52.0 in Madinat Hamad. Groceries tell a different story – $248 in Manama vs $238 in Madinat Hamad – so Madinat Hamad 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 Madinat Hamad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,606 in Manama, $1,221 in Madinat Hamad – roughly 32% apart. Manama costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,410 per month in Manama and $1,831 in Madinat Hamad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Madinat Hamad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 10% less in Madinat Hamad. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $495 per month in Manama and $483 in Madinat Hamad. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Madinat Hamad, where all-in costs run around $1,221, than in Manama at $1,606. In Madinat Hamad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manama it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Manama has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,221 in Madinat Hamad to $1,606 in Manama. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Madinat Hamad. 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.