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: $1,496 in Manama versus $1,995 in Saar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,408 in Manama versus $2,793 in Saar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,319 in Manama versus $3,590 in Saar.

Living in Manama costs roughly 25% less than in Saar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Manama 12% above, Saar 49% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.48 BHD 2.44

$10.47 BHD 3.95

-38.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 BHD 20.16

$32.54 BHD 12.27

64.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.27 BHD 2.74

$10.40 BHD 3.92

-30.10%

Cappuccino

$5.34 BHD 2.01

$5.81 BHD 2.19

-8.09%

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

$0.87 BHD 0.33

$0.96 BHD 0.36

-9.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 BHD 0.14

$0.44 BHD 0.17

-18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.09 BHD 3.05

$6.09 BHD 2.30

32.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.54 BHD 3.97

$9.04 BHD 3.41

16.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 BHD 0.64

$1.67 BHD 0.63

2.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 BHD 0.48

$1.31 BHD 0.50

-3.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.43 BHD 0.91

$2.63 BHD 0.99

-7.60%

Eggs

$2.47 BHD 0.93

$2.60 BHD 0.98

-5.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.59 BHD 3.24

$13.16 BHD 4.96

-34.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 BHD 2.92

$6.60 BHD 2.49

17.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.28 BHD 3.88

$15.79 BHD 5.95

-34.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 BHD 0.89

$3.88 BHD 1.46

-39.18%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 BHD 0.79

$2.37 BHD 0.89

-10.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 BHD 0.67

$3.60 BHD 1.36

-50.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 BHD 0.44

$1.93 BHD 0.73

-38.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 BHD 0.35

$0.69 BHD 0.26

34.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 BHD 0.41

$1.68 BHD 0.63

-35.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BHD 0.32

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 BHD 2.48

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 BHD 7.12

$26.54 BHD 10.01

-28.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.44 BHD 1.30

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 BHD 1.24

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 BHD 0.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.28 BHD 11.79

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 BHD 1.72

$5.28 BHD 1.99

-13.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.96 BHD 1.49

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.86 BHD 10.13

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 BHD 0.19

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

$36.8K BHD 13.9K

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

$20.7K BHD 7,796

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

$121 BHD 45.53

$135 BHD 50.8

-10.27%

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

$26.86 BHD 10.13

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.52 BHD 14.52

$32.34 BHD 12.19

19.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.0 BHD 26.78

$189 BHD 71.2

-62.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.13 BHD 17.01

$108 BHD 40.75

-58.24%

Cinema Ticket

$10.78 BHD 4.06

$20.97 BHD 7.90

-48.59%

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

$382 BHD 144

$553 BHD 209

-30.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,953 BHD 3,375

$7,994 BHD 3,014

11.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.73 BHD 17.62

$91.6 BHD 34.52

-48.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.8 BHD 24.03

$39.16 BHD 14.76

62.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 BHD 31.98

$107 BHD 40.37

-20.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 BHD 33.47

$106 BHD 39.82

-15.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 BHD 308

$1,309 BHD 494

-37.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 BHD 211

$944 BHD 356

-40.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,791 BHD 675

$2,131 BHD 804

-15.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,244 BHD 469

$1,171 BHD 441

6.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,629 BHD 991

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,941 BHD 732

$2,216 BHD 835

-12.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,360 BHD 890

$2,428 BHD 915

-2.78%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Saar: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $818 in Manama and $1,309 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: $53.0 in Manama vs $33.00 in Saar. Groceries flip the comparison at $265 vs $287, 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 33% 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, Saar earns 3% less. 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: $818 in Manama versus $1,309 in Saar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Saar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,496 per month in Manama versus $1,995 in Saar – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,496 in Manama versus $1,995 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 33% less than in Saar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.