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: $1,496 in Manama versus $1,563 in Seef.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,408 in Manama versus $2,472 in Seef.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,319 in Manama versus $3,382 in Seef.

Living in Manama costs roughly 4% less than in Seef, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Manama 12% above, Seef 17% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.48 BHD 2.44

$10.67 BHD 4.02

-39.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 BHD 20.16

$39.23 BHD 14.79

36.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.27 BHD 2.74

$9.47 BHD 3.57

-23.23%

Cappuccino

$5.34 BHD 2.01

$5.41 BHD 2.04

-1.29%

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

$0.87 BHD 0.33

$1.50 BHD 0.57

-42.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 BHD 0.14

$0.77 BHD 0.29

-53.25%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.09 BHD 3.05

$10.66 BHD 4.02

-24.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.54 BHD 3.97

$18.69 BHD 7.04

-43.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 BHD 0.64

$1.58 BHD 0.60

8.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 BHD 0.48

$1.31 BHD 0.49

-3.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.43 BHD 0.91

$3.14 BHD 1.19

-22.61%

Eggs

$2.47 BHD 0.93

$1.56 BHD 0.59

58.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.59 BHD 3.24

$10.66 BHD 4.02

-19.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 BHD 2.92

$7.49 BHD 2.82

3.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.28 BHD 3.88

$15.94 BHD 6.01

-35.51%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 BHD 0.89

$3.27 BHD 1.23

-27.83%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 BHD 0.79

$2.26 BHD 0.85

-6.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 BHD 0.67

$2.59 BHD 0.98

-31.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 BHD 0.44

$1.89 BHD 0.71

-37.57%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 BHD 0.35

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 BHD 0.41

$1.30 BHD 0.49

-16.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

$1.91 BHD 0.72

-23.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BHD 0.32

$0.51 BHD 0.19

68.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 BHD 2.48

$2.62 BHD 0.99

151.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 BHD 7.12

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.44 BHD 1.30

$3.86 BHD 1.46

-10.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 BHD 1.24

$2.69 BHD 1.01

22.30%

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

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.96 BHD 1.49

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.86 BHD 10.13

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 BHD 0.19

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

$36.8K BHD 13.9K

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

$20.7K BHD 7,796

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

$121 BHD 45.53

$90.7 BHD 34.19

33.17%

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

$26.86 BHD 10.13

$24.21 BHD 9.13

10.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.52 BHD 14.52

$46.51 BHD 17.54

-17.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.0 BHD 26.78

$74.2 BHD 27.97

-4.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.13 BHD 17.01

Cinema Ticket

$10.78 BHD 4.06

$10.69 BHD 4.03

0.84%

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

$382 BHD 144

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,953 BHD 3,375

$8,027 BHD 3,026

11.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.73 BHD 17.62

$31.51 BHD 11.88

48.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.8 BHD 24.03

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 BHD 31.98

$118 BHD 44.49

-28.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 BHD 33.47

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 BHD 308

$983 BHD 371

-16.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 BHD 211

$734 BHD 277

-23.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,791 BHD 675

$2,330 BHD 878

-23.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,244 BHD 469

$1,454 BHD 548

-14.39%

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

$3,342 BHD 1,260

-29.38%

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 Seef: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $818 in Manama and $983 in Seef. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Seef pays 42% 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 $39.00 in Seef for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $265 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 5% 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, Seef earns 42% less. 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: $818 in Manama versus $983 in Seef. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,496 per month in Manama versus $1,563 in Seef – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Shoppers in Seef pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $1,496 in Manama versus $1,563 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 $1,496 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 5% less than in Seef. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.