Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Sitrah Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Sitrah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,496 in Manama versus $817 in Sitrah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,408 in Manama versus $1,306 in Sitrah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,319 in Manama versus $1,795 in Sitrah.

Living in Manama is roughly 83% more expensive than Sitrah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Manama is 12% above, Sitrah is 39% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.48 BHD 2.44

$6.51 BHD 2.46

-0.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 BHD 20.16

$53.8 BHD 20.28

-0.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.27 BHD 2.74

$7.56 BHD 2.85

-3.84%

Cappuccino

$5.34 BHD 2.01

$5.37 BHD 2.03

-0.56%

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

$0.87 BHD 0.33

$0.85 BHD 0.32

2.35%

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

$7.96 BHD 3.00

1.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.54 BHD 3.97

$10.51 BHD 3.96

0.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 BHD 0.64

$1.73 BHD 0.65

-1.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 BHD 0.48

$1.35 BHD 0.51

-5.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.43 BHD 0.91

$2.39 BHD 0.90

1.67%

Eggs

$2.47 BHD 0.93

$2.40 BHD 0.91

2.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.59 BHD 3.24

$8.83 BHD 3.33

-2.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 BHD 2.92

$7.61 BHD 2.87

1.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.28 BHD 3.88

$10.01 BHD 3.78

2.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 BHD 0.89

$2.37 BHD 0.89

-0.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 BHD 0.79

$2.10 BHD 0.79

0.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 BHD 0.67

$1.74 BHD 0.66

1.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 BHD 0.44

$1.21 BHD 0.46

-2.48%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 BHD 0.35

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 BHD 0.41

$1.03 BHD 0.39

5.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BHD 0.32

$0.91 BHD 0.34

-5.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 BHD 2.48

$6.69 BHD 2.52

-1.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 BHD 7.12

$18.26 BHD 6.88

3.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.44 BHD 1.30

$3.35 BHD 1.26

2.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 BHD 1.24

$3.21 BHD 1.21

2.49%

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

$4.53 BHD 1.71

1.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.96 BHD 1.49

$3.86 BHD 1.46

2.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.86 BHD 10.13

$26.89 BHD 10.14

-0.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 BHD 0.19

$0.55 BHD 0.21

-5.45%

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

$36.8K BHD 13.9K

$36.6K BHD 13.8K

0.58%

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

$20.7K BHD 7,796

$21.1K BHD 7,954

-1.98%

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

$121 BHD 45.53

$122 BHD 46.01

-1.04%

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

$26.86 BHD 10.13

$27.25 BHD 10.27

-1.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.52 BHD 14.52

$38.04 BHD 14.34

1.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.0 BHD 26.78

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.13 BHD 17.01

Cinema Ticket

$10.78 BHD 4.06

$10.49 BHD 3.95

2.76%

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

$382 BHD 144

$393 BHD 148

-2.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,953 BHD 3,375

$9,047 BHD 3,411

-1.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.73 BHD 17.62

$46.30 BHD 17.46

0.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.8 BHD 24.03

$63.8 BHD 24.05

-0.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 BHD 31.98

$82.9 BHD 31.25

2.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 BHD 33.47

$87.9 BHD 33.12

1.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 BHD 308

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 BHD 211

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,791 BHD 675

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,244 BHD 469

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

$1,683 BHD 634

40.25%

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 Sitrah: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Manama pays 40% 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 $54.0 in Sitrah. Groceries flip the comparison at $265 vs $263, with Sitrah 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 Sitrah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sitrah wins on cost – living expenses run 83% lower than in Manama. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sitrah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Manama pays 40% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Supermarket bills run roughly 1% 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 $817 in Sitrah – a 83% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $817 in Sitrah versus $1,496 in Manama, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sitrah but tight or insufficient in Manama. The gap between the two cities makes Sitrah 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 Sitrah 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 Sitrah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 83% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.