Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Zinj Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Zinj

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,606 in Manama versus $823 in Zinj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,517 in Manama versus $1,320 in Zinj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,428 in Manama versus $1,817 in Zinj.

Living in Manama is roughly 95% more expensive than in Zinj, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Manama is 17% above, Zinj is 40% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.67 BHD 2.52

$6.72 BHD 2.53

-0.74%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.1 BHD 19.64

$53.7 BHD 20.24

-2.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.30 BHD 2.75

$7.25 BHD 2.73

0.69%

Cappuccino

$4.82 BHD 1.82

$4.92 BHD 1.85

-2.03%

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

$0.84 BHD 0.32

$0.83 BHD 0.31

1.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 BHD 0.12

$0.32 BHD 0.12

3.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.65 BHD 2.51

$6.51 BHD 2.46

2.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.84 BHD 3.71

$9.77 BHD 3.68

0.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 BHD 0.54

$1.46 BHD 0.55

-2.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 BHD 0.40

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 BHD 0.87

$2.26 BHD 0.85

1.77%

Eggs

$2.22 BHD 0.84

$2.25 BHD 0.85

-1.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.78 BHD 3.31

$8.88 BHD 3.35

-1.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.33 BHD 2.39

$6.69 BHD 2.52

-5.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.45 BHD 3.19

$8.74 BHD 3.30

-3.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 BHD 0.90

$2.36 BHD 0.89

1.27%

Banana (1kg)

$2.35 BHD 0.89

$2.36 BHD 0.89

-0.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 BHD 0.71

$1.87 BHD 0.70

0.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 BHD 0.54

$1.43 BHD 0.54

0.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 BHD 0.40

$1.05 BHD 0.39

0.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 BHD 0.54

$1.42 BHD 0.53

0.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.55 BHD 0.59

$1.51 BHD 0.57

2.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 BHD 0.29

$0.77 BHD 0.29

1.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.18 BHD 1.95

$5.26 BHD 1.98

-1.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.37 BHD 6.92

$18.38 BHD 6.93

-0.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.47 BHD 1.31

$3.52 BHD 1.33

-1.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 BHD 0.99

$2.70 BHD 1.02

-2.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.64 BHD 0.24

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.78 BHD 14.24

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.38 BHD 2.03

$5.34 BHD 2.01

0.75%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.51 BHD 1.32

$3.52 BHD 1.33

-0.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.79 BHD 5.95

$15.83 BHD 5.97

-0.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 BHD 0.24

$0.66 BHD 0.25

-3.03%

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

$37.3K BHD 14.0K

$37.1K BHD 14.0K

0.30%

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

$20.4K BHD 7,674

$20.9K BHD 7,882

-2.64%

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

$154 BHD 57.9

$156 BHD 58.9

-1.55%

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

$24.27 BHD 9.15

$24.90 BHD 9.38

-2.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.61 BHD 13.04

$34.94 BHD 13.17

-0.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.8 BHD 23.30

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.54 BHD 11.51

Cinema Ticket

$10.77 BHD 4.06

$10.76 BHD 4.06

0.09%

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

$495 BHD 187

$485 BHD 183

2.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.9K BHD 4,096

$10.8K BHD 4,057

0.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.5 BHD 19.05

$51.8 BHD 19.51

-2.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.7 BHD 21.74

$57.7 BHD 21.76

-0.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 BHD 32.85

$87.4 BHD 32.93

-0.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.0 BHD 34.29

$88.5 BHD 33.36

2.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,002 BHD 378

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$643 BHD 242

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,079 BHD 783

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,381 BHD 521

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,652 BHD 1,000

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,959 BHD 738

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,273 BHD 857

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: September 12, 2026

Last update for Zinj: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $52.0 in Manama vs $54.0 in Zinj for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $248 vs $251 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 Zinj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zinj wins on cost – living expenses run 95% lower than in Manama. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zinj the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,410 in Manama and $1,234 in Zinj to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Shoppers in Manama pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,606 per month in Manama versus $823 in Zinj – a 95% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $823 in Zinj versus $1,606 in Manama, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zinj but tight or insufficient in Manama. The gap between the two cities makes Zinj 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 Zinj 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 Zinj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 95% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.