Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Sanad Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Sanad

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,555 in Manama versus $1,285 in Sanad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,484 in Manama versus $2,026 in Sanad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,413 in Manama versus $2,766 in Sanad.

Living in Manama is roughly 21% more expensive than in Sanad, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Manama is 13% above, Sanad is 7% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.78 BHD 2.56

$6.74 BHD 2.54

0.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 BHD 20.17

$53.8 BHD 20.26

-0.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.59 BHD 2.86

$7.49 BHD 2.82

1.34%

Cappuccino

$4.88 BHD 1.84

$4.95 BHD 1.87

-1.41%

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

$0.88 BHD 0.33

$0.90 BHD 0.34

-2.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 BHD 0.11

$0.32 BHD 0.12

-6.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.80 BHD 2.56

$6.81 BHD 2.57

-0.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.22 BHD 3.85

$9.65 BHD 3.64

5.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

$1.47 BHD 0.55

-0.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 BHD 0.41

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 BHD 0.86

$2.31 BHD 0.87

-0.87%

Eggs

$2.31 BHD 0.87

$2.22 BHD 0.84

4.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.87 BHD 3.34

$8.90 BHD 3.35

-0.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.60 BHD 2.49

$6.39 BHD 2.41

3.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.55 BHD 3.22

$8.86 BHD 3.34

-3.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 BHD 0.90

$2.29 BHD 0.86

4.80%

Banana (1kg)

$2.27 BHD 0.86

$2.26 BHD 0.85

0.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 BHD 0.73

$1.89 BHD 0.71

2.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

$1.44 BHD 0.54

1.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 BHD 0.38

$1.00 BHD 0.38

2.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 BHD 0.54

$1.41 BHD 0.53

1.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 BHD 0.57

$1.49 BHD 0.56

1.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 BHD 0.29

$0.79 BHD 0.30

-1.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.27 BHD 1.99

$5.19 BHD 1.96

1.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.59 BHD 7.01

$18.52 BHD 6.98

0.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.50 BHD 1.32

$3.59 BHD 1.35

-2.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.58 BHD 0.97

$2.73 BHD 1.03

-5.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 BHD 0.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.84 BHD 14.26

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.24 BHD 1.98

$5.19 BHD 1.95

0.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.52 BHD 1.33

$3.51 BHD 1.32

0.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.09 BHD 6.06

$15.62 BHD 5.89

3.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 BHD 0.24

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

$36.4K BHD 13.7K

$36.5K BHD 13.7K

-0.20%

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

$20.8K BHD 7,829

$20.8K BHD 7,825

0.06%

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

$151 BHD 56.9

$155 BHD 58.3

-2.39%

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

$24.64 BHD 9.29

$16.06 BHD 6.05

53.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.82 BHD 13.12

$35.11 BHD 13.23

-0.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$62.3 BHD 23.49

$81.0 BHD 30.51

-23.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.02 BHD 11.31

Cinema Ticket

$10.59 BHD 3.99

$10.76 BHD 4.05

-1.58%

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

$488 BHD 184

$483 BHD 182

0.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.8K BHD 4,059

$11.2K BHD 4,205

-3.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.0 BHD 19.21

$51.1 BHD 19.27

-0.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.5 BHD 21.65

$57.1 BHD 21.51

0.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 BHD 32.99

$86.6 BHD 32.65

1.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.6 BHD 34.13

$89.5 BHD 33.72

1.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$997 BHD 376

$666 BHD 251

49.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$649 BHD 245

$393 BHD 148

65.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,076 BHD 783

$1,323 BHD 499

56.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,387 BHD 523

$806 BHD 304

72.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,576 BHD 971

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,960 BHD 739

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,337 BHD 881

$1,171 BHD 441

99.58%

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 7, 2026

Last update for Sanad: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $997 in Manama and $666 in Sanad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manama pays 100% 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 $54.0 in Sanad. Groceries flip the comparison at $251 vs $250, with Sanad 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 Sanad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sanad wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Manama. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sanad the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 100% higher in Manama, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $997 in Manama versus $666 in Sanad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Manama. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,555 per month in Manama versus $1,285 in Sanad – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,285 in Sanad versus $1,555 in Manama, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sanad but tight or insufficient in Manama. The gap between the two cities makes Sanad 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 Sanad 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 Sanad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.