Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Seef Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Seef

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,479 in Manama versus $1,570 in Seef.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,410 in Manama versus $2,421 in Seef.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,340 in Manama versus $3,272 in Seef.

Living in Manama costs roughly 6% less than in Seef, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Manama 11% above, Seef 18% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.57 BHD 2.48

$10.82 BHD 4.08

-39.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.0 BHD 19.60

$39.72 BHD 14.97

30.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 BHD 2.85

$9.27 BHD 3.49

-18.45%

Cappuccino

$5.46 BHD 2.06

$5.40 BHD 2.04

1.11%

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

$0.79 BHD 0.30

$1.49 BHD 0.56

-46.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 BHD 0.14

$0.79 BHD 0.30

-53.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.01 BHD 3.02

$10.78 BHD 4.06

-25.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.46 BHD 3.94

$18.39 BHD 6.93

-43.12%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 BHD 0.62

$1.60 BHD 0.60

3.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 BHD 0.50

$1.35 BHD 0.51

-1.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 BHD 0.88

$3.17 BHD 1.19

-26.18%

Eggs

$2.40 BHD 0.90

$1.62 BHD 0.61

48.15%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.62 BHD 3.25

$10.52 BHD 3.96

-18.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.50 BHD 2.83

$7.61 BHD 2.87

-1.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.23 BHD 3.86

$15.80 BHD 5.95

-35.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 BHD 0.92

$3.20 BHD 1.21

-23.44%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 BHD 0.79

$2.30 BHD 0.87

-8.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 BHD 0.64

$2.51 BHD 0.94

-32.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 BHD 0.44

$1.91 BHD 0.72

-38.74%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 BHD 0.35

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 BHD 0.41

$1.31 BHD 0.49

-17.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 BHD 0.54

$1.82 BHD 0.69

-20.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 BHD 0.34

$0.55 BHD 0.21

65.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.48 BHD 2.44

$2.66 BHD 1.00

143.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.75 BHD 7.07

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.35 BHD 1.26

$3.89 BHD 1.47

-13.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 BHD 1.18

$2.71 BHD 1.02

15.87%

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

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.00 BHD 1.51

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.04 BHD 9.81

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 BHD 0.20

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

$37.7K BHD 14.2K

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

$20.7K BHD 7,813

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

$122 BHD 46.06

$90.5 BHD 34.12

35.01%

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

$26.99 BHD 10.17

$24.15 BHD 9.10

11.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.99 BHD 14.70

$45.69 BHD 17.22

-14.66%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.4 BHD 26.90

$73.0 BHD 27.53

-2.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.42 BHD 16.74

Cinema Ticket

$10.53 BHD 3.97

$10.66 BHD 4.02

-1.22%

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

$394 BHD 148

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,780 BHD 3,309

$7,916 BHD 2,984

10.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.27 BHD 17.44

$31.55 BHD 11.89

46.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.5 BHD 23.19

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.8 BHD 31.21

$117 BHD 44.12

-29.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.4 BHD 33.71

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$803 BHD 303

$970 BHD 366

-17.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$548 BHD 207

$739 BHD 279

-25.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,794 BHD 676

$2,340 BHD 882

-23.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,208 BHD 455

$1,455 BHD 548

-16.96%

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

$3,423 BHD 1,290

-33.52%

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 Seef: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $803 in Manama and $970 in Seef. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seef pays 50% 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 $40.00 in Seef for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $262 vs $256 per month, with Seef cheaper across the board.

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 Seef: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manama wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Seef. 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 50% lower in Seef. 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: $803 in Manama versus $970 in Seef. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,479 per month in Manama versus $1,570 in Seef – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Seef pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $1,479 in Manama versus $1,570 in Seef, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Manama but tight or insufficient in Seef. The gap between the two cities makes Manama the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Manama delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,479 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Manama hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Manama and Seef 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 6% less than in Seef. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.