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: $1,595 in Manama versus $1,967 in Saar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,515 in Manama versus $2,729 in Saar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,435 in Manama versus $3,491 in Saar.

Living in Manama costs roughly 19% less than in Saar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Manama 16% above, Saar 43% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.80 BHD 2.56

$10.49 BHD 3.96

-35.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.6 BHD 20.22

$33.69 BHD 12.70

59.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.61 BHD 2.87

$10.79 BHD 4.07

-29.47%

Cappuccino

$4.88 BHD 1.84

$5.77 BHD 2.18

-15.42%

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

$0.88 BHD 0.33

$1.65 BHD 0.62

-46.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 BHD 0.11

$1.00 BHD 0.38

-70.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.53 BHD 2.46

$5.92 BHD 2.23

10.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.04 BHD 3.78

$9.32 BHD 3.51

7.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

$1.76 BHD 0.66

-17.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 BHD 0.40

$1.37 BHD 0.52

-23.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 BHD 0.86

$2.73 BHD 1.03

-16.12%

Eggs

$2.34 BHD 0.88

$2.63 BHD 0.99

-11.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.83 BHD 3.33

$13.17 BHD 4.97

-32.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 BHD 2.46

$6.58 BHD 2.48

-0.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.79 BHD 3.31

$15.66 BHD 5.90

-43.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 BHD 0.90

$3.89 BHD 1.47

-38.30%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 BHD 0.85

$2.37 BHD 0.89

-5.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 BHD 0.73

$3.76 BHD 1.42

-48.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 BHD 0.54

$2.04 BHD 0.77

-29.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 BHD 0.39

$0.69 BHD 0.26

50.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 BHD 0.53

$1.69 BHD 0.64

-17.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 BHD 0.58

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 BHD 0.29

$0.83 BHD 0.31

-7.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.25 BHD 1.98

Wine (Bottle)

$18.49 BHD 6.97

$26.38 BHD 9.94

-29.91%

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

$0.78 BHD 0.29

-16.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.34 BHD 14.08

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.41 BHD 2.04

$5.44 BHD 2.05

-0.55%

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

$0.57 BHD 0.21

22.81%

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

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

$154 BHD 58.0

$131 BHD 49.36

17.51%

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

$24.04 BHD 9.06

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.64 BHD 13.44

$31.63 BHD 11.93

12.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.9 BHD 23.33

$160 BHD 60.5

-61.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.03 BHD 11.32

$104 BHD 39.26

-71.17%

Cinema Ticket

$10.56 BHD 3.98

$15.94 BHD 6.01

-33.75%

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

$493 BHD 186

$542 BHD 204

-8.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.9K BHD 4,093

$7,819 BHD 2,948

38.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 BHD 19.20

$92.6 BHD 34.89

-44.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.6 BHD 21.34

$40.03 BHD 15.09

41.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 BHD 32.49

$105 BHD 39.43

-17.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 BHD 33.51

$104 BHD 39.24

-14.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$990 BHD 373

$1,318 BHD 497

-24.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 BHD 240

$938 BHD 353

-32.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,078 BHD 783

$2,087 BHD 787

-0.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,389 BHD 524

$1,189 BHD 448

16.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,636 BHD 994

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,954 BHD 736

$2,175 BHD 820

-10.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,346 BHD 885

$2,425 BHD 914

-3.25%

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 Saar: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $990 in Manama and $1,318 in Saar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saar pays 3% 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: $54.0 in Manama vs $34.00 in Saar. Groceries flip the comparison at $251 vs $299, 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 23% 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 3% 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: $990 in Manama versus $1,318 in Saar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Saar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,595 per month in Manama versus $1,967 in Saar – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,595 in Manama versus $1,967 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 23% less than in Saar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.