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: $1,479 in Manama versus $840 in Sitrah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,410 in Manama versus $1,327 in Sitrah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,340 in Manama versus $1,814 in Sitrah.

Living in Manama is roughly 76% more expensive than in Sitrah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Manama is 11% above, Sitrah is 37% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.57 BHD 2.48

$6.66 BHD 2.51

-1.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.0 BHD 19.60

$53.2 BHD 20.04

-2.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 BHD 2.85

$7.21 BHD 2.72

4.85%

Cappuccino

$5.46 BHD 2.06

$5.38 BHD 2.03

1.49%

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

$0.79 BHD 0.30

$0.86 BHD 0.33

-8.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 BHD 0.14

$0.36 BHD 0.14

2.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.01 BHD 3.02

$7.95 BHD 3.00

0.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.46 BHD 3.94

$10.45 BHD 3.94

0.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 BHD 0.62

$1.64 BHD 0.62

0.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 BHD 0.50

$1.34 BHD 0.50

-0.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 BHD 0.88

$2.42 BHD 0.91

-3.31%

Eggs

$2.40 BHD 0.90

$2.43 BHD 0.92

-1.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.62 BHD 3.25

$8.51 BHD 3.21

1.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.50 BHD 2.83

$7.49 BHD 2.82

0.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.23 BHD 3.86

$10.04 BHD 3.78

1.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 BHD 0.92

$2.47 BHD 0.93

-0.81%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 BHD 0.79

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 BHD 0.64

$1.68 BHD 0.63

1.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 BHD 0.44

$1.15 BHD 0.44

1.74%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 BHD 0.35

$0.88 BHD 0.33

4.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 BHD 0.41

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 BHD 0.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 BHD 0.34

$0.92 BHD 0.35

-1.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.48 BHD 2.44

$6.61 BHD 2.49

-1.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.75 BHD 7.07

$18.69 BHD 7.04

0.32%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.35 BHD 1.26

$3.37 BHD 1.27

-0.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 BHD 1.18

$3.21 BHD 1.21

-2.18%

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

$4.56 BHD 1.72

2.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.00 BHD 1.51

$4.01 BHD 1.51

-0.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.04 BHD 9.81

$26.83 BHD 10.11

-2.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 BHD 0.20

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

$37.7K BHD 14.2K

$37.3K BHD 14.1K

1.04%

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

$20.7K BHD 7,813

$21.0K BHD 7,913

-1.26%

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

$122 BHD 46.06

$123 BHD 46.27

-0.45%

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

$26.99 BHD 10.17

$26.55 BHD 10.00

1.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.99 BHD 14.70

$37.89 BHD 14.28

2.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.4 BHD 26.90

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.42 BHD 16.74

Cinema Ticket

$10.53 BHD 3.97

$10.41 BHD 3.92

1.15%

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

$394 BHD 148

$383 BHD 144

2.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,780 BHD 3,309

$8,874 BHD 3,344

-1.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.27 BHD 17.44

$45.97 BHD 17.32

0.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.5 BHD 23.19

$63.7 BHD 23.99

-3.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.8 BHD 31.21

$82.6 BHD 31.14

0.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.4 BHD 33.71

$88.2 BHD 33.26

1.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$803 BHD 303

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$548 BHD 207

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,794 BHD 676

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,208 BHD 455

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

$1,703 BHD 642

33.60%

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 Sitrah: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Manama pays 34% 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 $53.0 in Sitrah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $262 vs $262 per month, with Manama 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 Sitrah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sitrah wins on cost – living expenses run 76% 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.

Average pay runs 34% higher in Manama, 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 0% higher in Manama. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,479 per month in Manama versus $840 in Sitrah – a 76% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $840 in Sitrah versus $1,479 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 76% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.