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: $1,479 in Manama versus $1,272 in Sanad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,410 in Manama versus $1,988 in Sanad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,340 in Manama versus $2,704 in Sanad.

Living in Manama is roughly 16% more expensive than in Sanad, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Manama is 11% above, Sanad is 5% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.57 BHD 2.48

$6.70 BHD 2.52

-1.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.0 BHD 19.60

$53.7 BHD 20.23

-3.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 BHD 2.85

$7.57 BHD 2.85

-0.13%

Cappuccino

$5.46 BHD 2.06

$5.33 BHD 2.01

2.44%

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

$0.79 BHD 0.30

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 BHD 0.14

$0.39 BHD 0.15

-5.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.01 BHD 3.02

$7.76 BHD 2.92

3.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.46 BHD 3.94

$10.64 BHD 4.01

-1.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 BHD 0.62

$1.16 BHD 0.44

42.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 BHD 0.50

$1.32 BHD 0.50

0.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 BHD 0.88

$2.32 BHD 0.88

0.86%

Eggs

$2.40 BHD 0.90

$2.48 BHD 0.93

-3.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.62 BHD 3.25

$8.66 BHD 3.26

-0.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.50 BHD 2.83

$7.75 BHD 2.92

-3.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.23 BHD 3.86

$10.05 BHD 3.79

1.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 BHD 0.92

$2.21 BHD 0.83

10.86%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 BHD 0.79

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 BHD 0.64

$1.69 BHD 0.64

0.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 BHD 0.44

$1.16 BHD 0.44

0.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 BHD 0.35

$0.95 BHD 0.36

-3.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 BHD 0.41

$1.04 BHD 0.39

3.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 BHD 0.54

$1.51 BHD 0.57

-4.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 BHD 0.34

$0.44 BHD 0.17

106.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.48 BHD 2.44

$6.57 BHD 2.48

-1.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.75 BHD 7.07

$18.69 BHD 7.04

0.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.35 BHD 1.26

$3.44 BHD 1.30

-2.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 BHD 1.18

$3.22 BHD 1.21

-2.48%

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

$4.54 BHD 1.71

2.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.00 BHD 1.51

$4.03 BHD 1.52

-0.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.04 BHD 9.81

$26.94 BHD 10.15

-3.34%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 BHD 0.20

$0.56 BHD 0.21

-5.36%

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

$37.7K BHD 14.2K

$37.6K BHD 14.2K

0.27%

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

$20.7K BHD 7,813

$20.8K BHD 7,823

-0.12%

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

$122 BHD 46.06

$121 BHD 45.79

0.60%

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

$26.99 BHD 10.17

$15.87 BHD 5.98

70.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.99 BHD 14.70

$38.02 BHD 14.33

2.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.4 BHD 26.90

$78.4 BHD 29.53

-8.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.42 BHD 16.74

Cinema Ticket

$10.53 BHD 3.97

$10.56 BHD 3.98

-0.28%

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

$394 BHD 148

$388 BHD 146

1.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,780 BHD 3,309

$9,016 BHD 3,398

-2.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.27 BHD 17.44

$46.30 BHD 17.45

-0.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.5 BHD 23.19

$63.6 BHD 23.97

-3.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.8 BHD 31.21

$83.7 BHD 31.53

-1.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.4 BHD 33.71

$66.6 BHD 25.12

34.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$803 BHD 303

$651 BHD 245

23.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$548 BHD 207

$396 BHD 149

38.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,794 BHD 676

$1,453 BHD 548

23.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,208 BHD 455

$782 BHD 295

54.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,668 BHD 1,006

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,960 BHD 739

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,276 BHD 858

$1,182 BHD 445

92.61%

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 Sanad: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $803 in Manama and $651 in Sanad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manama pays 93% 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 $54.0 in Sanad. Groceries flip the comparison at $262 vs $252, 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 16% 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 93% 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: $803 in Manama versus $651 in Sanad. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Manama. 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 $1,272 in Sanad – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,272 in Sanad versus $1,479 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 16% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.