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: $1,496 in Manama versus $1,260 in Sanad.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,408 in Manama versus $1,995 in Sanad.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,319 in Manama versus $2,730 in Sanad.

Living in Manama is roughly 19% more expensive than Sanad, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Manama is 12% above, Sanad is 6% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.48 BHD 2.44

$6.67 BHD 2.52

-2.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 BHD 20.16

$52.7 BHD 19.88

1.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.27 BHD 2.74

$7.56 BHD 2.85

-3.84%

Cappuccino

$5.34 BHD 2.01

$5.21 BHD 1.97

2.50%

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

$0.87 BHD 0.33

$0.79 BHD 0.30

10.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 BHD 0.14

$0.39 BHD 0.15

-7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.09 BHD 3.05

$8.18 BHD 3.08

-1.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.54 BHD 3.97

$10.59 BHD 3.99

-0.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 BHD 0.64

$1.21 BHD 0.45

41.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 BHD 0.48

$1.35 BHD 0.51

-5.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.43 BHD 0.91

$2.38 BHD 0.90

2.10%

Eggs

$2.47 BHD 0.93

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.59 BHD 3.24

$8.92 BHD 3.36

-3.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 BHD 2.92

$7.80 BHD 2.94

-0.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.28 BHD 3.88

$10.23 BHD 3.86

0.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 BHD 0.89

$2.29 BHD 0.86

3.06%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 BHD 0.79

$2.04 BHD 0.77

3.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 BHD 0.67

$1.75 BHD 0.66

1.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 BHD 0.44

$1.17 BHD 0.44

0.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 BHD 0.35

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 BHD 0.41

$1.08 BHD 0.41

0.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

$1.45 BHD 0.55

0.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BHD 0.32

$0.48 BHD 0.18

79.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 BHD 2.48

$6.73 BHD 2.54

-2.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 BHD 7.12

$18.90 BHD 7.13

-0.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.44 BHD 1.30

$3.39 BHD 1.28

1.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 BHD 1.24

$3.20 BHD 1.20

2.81%

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

$4.59 BHD 1.73

-0.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.96 BHD 1.49

$4.03 BHD 1.52

-1.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.86 BHD 10.13

$26.54 BHD 10.01

1.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 BHD 0.19

$0.57 BHD 0.21

-8.77%

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

$36.8K BHD 13.9K

$37.4K BHD 14.1K

-1.49%

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

$20.7K BHD 7,796

$21.1K BHD 7,951

-1.94%

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

$121 BHD 45.53

$122 BHD 46.06

-1.15%

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

$26.86 BHD 10.13

$16.22 BHD 6.12

65.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.52 BHD 14.52

$38.12 BHD 14.37

1.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.0 BHD 26.78

$79.7 BHD 30.04

-10.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.13 BHD 17.01

Cinema Ticket

$10.78 BHD 4.06

$10.73 BHD 4.04

0.47%

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

$382 BHD 144

$394 BHD 148

-2.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,953 BHD 3,375

$8,982 BHD 3,386

-0.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.73 BHD 17.62

$46.01 BHD 17.35

1.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.8 BHD 24.03

$64.0 BHD 24.12

-0.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 BHD 31.98

$81.9 BHD 30.89

3.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 BHD 33.47

$66.6 BHD 25.11

33.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 BHD 308

$656 BHD 247

24.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 BHD 211

$398 BHD 150

40.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,791 BHD 675

$1,432 BHD 540

25.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,244 BHD 469

$797 BHD 301

56.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,629 BHD 991

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,941 BHD 732

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,360 BHD 890

$1,171 BHD 442

101.46%

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 Sanad: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $818 in Manama and $656 in Sanad. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manama pays 101% 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 $53.0 in Sanad. Groceries flip the comparison at $265 vs $256, 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 19% 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.

Manama pays 101% more on average, 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: $818 in Manama versus $656 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 $1,496 per month in Manama versus $1,260 in Sanad – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,260 in Sanad versus $1,496 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 19% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.