Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Saar Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Saar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,479 in Manama versus $2,027 in Saar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,410 in Manama versus $2,835 in Saar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,340 in Manama versus $3,643 in Saar.

Living in Manama costs roughly 27% less than in Saar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Manama 11% above, Saar 52% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.57 BHD 2.48

$10.58 BHD 3.99

-37.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.0 BHD 19.60

$33.34 BHD 12.57

55.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 BHD 2.85

$10.40 BHD 3.92

-27.31%

Cappuccino

$5.46 BHD 2.06

$5.89 BHD 2.22

-7.30%

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

$0.79 BHD 0.30

$0.91 BHD 0.34

-13.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 BHD 0.14

$0.45 BHD 0.17

-17.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.01 BHD 3.02

$5.93 BHD 2.24

35.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.46 BHD 3.94

$9.23 BHD 3.48

13.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 BHD 0.62

$1.73 BHD 0.65

-4.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 BHD 0.50

$1.32 BHD 0.50

0.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 BHD 0.88

$2.58 BHD 0.97

-9.30%

Eggs

$2.40 BHD 0.90

$2.69 BHD 1.02

-10.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.62 BHD 3.25

$13.43 BHD 5.06

-35.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.50 BHD 2.83

$6.45 BHD 2.43

16.28%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.23 BHD 3.86

$16.04 BHD 6.05

-36.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 BHD 0.92

$3.93 BHD 1.48

-37.66%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 BHD 0.79

$2.36 BHD 0.89

-11.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 BHD 0.64

$3.74 BHD 1.41

-54.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 BHD 0.44

$1.93 BHD 0.73

-39.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 BHD 0.35

$0.63 BHD 0.24

46.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 BHD 0.41

$1.68 BHD 0.63

-35.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 BHD 0.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 BHD 0.34

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.48 BHD 2.44

Wine (Bottle)

$18.75 BHD 7.07

$26.25 BHD 9.90

-28.57%

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

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.29 BHD 12.17

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.66 BHD 1.76

$5.20 BHD 1.96

-10.38%

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

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

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

$122 BHD 46.06

$132 BHD 49.67

-7.27%

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

$26.99 BHD 10.17

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.99 BHD 14.70

$31.23 BHD 11.77

24.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.4 BHD 26.90

$189 BHD 71.3

-62.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.42 BHD 16.74

$108 BHD 40.61

-58.77%

Cinema Ticket

$10.53 BHD 3.97

$21.00 BHD 7.92

-49.86%

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

$394 BHD 148

$551 BHD 208

-28.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,780 BHD 3,309

$7,879 BHD 2,970

11.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.27 BHD 17.44

$92.9 BHD 35.01

-50.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.5 BHD 23.19

$39.73 BHD 14.98

54.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.8 BHD 31.21

$104 BHD 39.26

-20.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.4 BHD 33.71

$105 BHD 39.66

-15.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$803 BHD 303

$1,341 BHD 505

-40.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$548 BHD 207

$917 BHD 346

-40.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,794 BHD 676

$2,110 BHD 795

-14.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,208 BHD 455

$1,192 BHD 449

1.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,668 BHD 1,006

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,960 BHD 739

$2,188 BHD 825

-10.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,276 BHD 858

$2,377 BHD 896

-4.25%

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 Saar: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $803 in Manama and $1,341 in Saar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saar pays 4% 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 $33.00 in Saar. Groceries flip the comparison at $262 vs $288, with Manama cheaper for home cooking.

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 Saar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manama wins on cost – living expenses run 37% lower than in Saar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Manama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 4% lower in Saar. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $803 in Manama versus $1,341 in Saar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Saar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,479 per month in Manama versus $2,027 in Saar – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,479 in Manama versus $2,027 in Saar, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Manama but tight or insufficient in Saar. The gap between the two cities makes Manama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Manama and Saar are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Manama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Saar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.