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: $1,595 in Manama versus $1,691 in Seef.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,515 in Manama versus $2,673 in Seef.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,435 in Manama versus $3,655 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 16% above, Seef 23% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.80 BHD 2.56

$8.09 BHD 3.05

-15.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.6 BHD 20.22

$52.8 BHD 19.90

1.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.61 BHD 2.87

$8.07 BHD 3.04

-5.70%

Cappuccino

$4.88 BHD 1.84

$5.26 BHD 1.98

-7.22%

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

$0.88 BHD 0.33

$1.54 BHD 0.58

-42.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 BHD 0.11

$0.78 BHD 0.29

-61.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.53 BHD 2.46

$10.45 BHD 3.94

-37.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.04 BHD 3.78

$18.85 BHD 7.11

-46.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

$2.32 BHD 0.87

-37.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 BHD 0.40

$1.36 BHD 0.51

-22.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 BHD 0.86

$3.16 BHD 1.19

-27.53%

Eggs

$2.34 BHD 0.88

$1.55 BHD 0.58

50.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.83 BHD 3.33

$10.41 BHD 3.92

-15.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 BHD 2.46

$5.99 BHD 2.26

9.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.79 BHD 3.31

$15.68 BHD 5.91

-43.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 BHD 0.90

$3.22 BHD 1.21

-25.47%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 BHD 0.85

$2.03 BHD 0.77

10.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 BHD 0.73

$2.48 BHD 0.93

-22.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 BHD 0.54

$1.90 BHD 0.72

-24.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 BHD 0.39

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 BHD 0.53

$1.08 BHD 0.41

29.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 BHD 0.58

$1.91 BHD 0.72

-19.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 BHD 0.29

$0.42 BHD 0.16

83.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.25 BHD 1.98

$3.86 BHD 1.46

36.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.49 BHD 6.97

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.52 BHD 1.33

$3.74 BHD 1.41

-5.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 BHD 0.98

$2.68 BHD 1.01

-2.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 BHD 0.24

$0.64 BHD 0.24

1.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.34 BHD 14.08

$65.9 BHD 24.84

-43.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.41 BHD 2.04

$3.45 BHD 1.30

56.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.50 BHD 1.32

$3.35 BHD 1.26

4.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.94 BHD 6.01

$6.32 BHD 2.38

152.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 BHD 0.26

$0.58 BHD 0.22

20.69%

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

$36.9K BHD 13.9K

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

$20.4K BHD 7,676

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

$154 BHD 58.0

$98.3 BHD 37.06

56.49%

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

$24.04 BHD 9.06

$26.48 BHD 9.98

-9.21%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.64 BHD 13.44

$46.85 BHD 17.66

-23.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.9 BHD 23.33

$73.0 BHD 27.52

-15.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.03 BHD 11.32

Cinema Ticket

$10.56 BHD 3.98

$10.78 BHD 4.06

-2.04%

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

$493 BHD 186

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.9K BHD 4,093

$7,849 BHD 2,959

38.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 BHD 19.20

$68.1 BHD 25.69

-25.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.6 BHD 21.34

$52.6 BHD 19.83

7.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 BHD 32.49

$91.3 BHD 34.41

-5.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 BHD 33.51

$80.7 BHD 30.43

10.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$990 BHD 373

$920 BHD 347

7.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 BHD 240

$668 BHD 252

-4.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,078 BHD 783

$2,114 BHD 797

-1.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,389 BHD 524

$1,406 BHD 530

-1.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,636 BHD 994

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,954 BHD 736

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,346 BHD 885

$3,367 BHD 1,269

-30.32%

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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Seef: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $990 in Manama and $920 in Seef. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seef pays 44% 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 $53.0 in Seef for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $250 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 44% 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: $990 in Manama versus $920 in Seef. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Seef pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,595 per month in Manama versus $1,691 in Seef – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,595 in Manama versus $1,691 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 $1,595 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.