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: $1,517 in Manama versus $818 in Zinj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,437 in Manama versus $1,308 in Zinj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,358 in Manama versus $1,798 in Zinj.

Living in Manama is roughly 85% more expensive than in Zinj, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Manama is 14% above, Zinj is 39% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.83 BHD 2.57

$6.73 BHD 2.54

1.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.7 BHD 20.23

$52.3 BHD 19.69

2.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.59 BHD 2.86

$7.47 BHD 2.82

1.61%

Cappuccino

$5.49 BHD 2.07

$5.29 BHD 1.99

3.78%

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

$0.86 BHD 0.32

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 BHD 0.14

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.88 BHD 2.97

$7.86 BHD 2.96

0.25%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.74 BHD 4.05

$10.46 BHD 3.94

2.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 BHD 0.64

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 BHD 0.51

$1.32 BHD 0.50

2.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.38 BHD 0.90

$2.41 BHD 0.91

-1.24%

Eggs

$2.48 BHD 0.94

$2.43 BHD 0.92

2.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.88 BHD 3.35

$8.86 BHD 3.34

0.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.78 BHD 2.93

$7.66 BHD 2.89

1.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.33 BHD 3.89

$10.32 BHD 3.89

0.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.33 BHD 0.88

$2.42 BHD 0.91

-3.72%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 BHD 0.79

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 BHD 0.64

$1.75 BHD 0.66

-3.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 BHD 0.46

$1.17 BHD 0.44

3.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 BHD 0.33

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 BHD 0.40

$1.08 BHD 0.41

-0.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 BHD 0.55

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 BHD 0.35

$0.91 BHD 0.34

2.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.53 BHD 2.46

$6.66 BHD 2.51

-1.95%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.26 BHD 6.88

$18.43 BHD 6.95

-0.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.36 BHD 1.27

$3.45 BHD 1.30

-2.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 BHD 1.25

$3.29 BHD 1.24

0.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 BHD 0.29

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.08 BHD 12.09

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.74 BHD 1.79

$4.75 BHD 1.79

-0.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.88 BHD 1.46

$4.00 BHD 1.51

-3.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.03 BHD 9.81

$26.28 BHD 9.90

-0.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 BHD 0.20

$0.55 BHD 0.21

-5.45%

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

$37.1K BHD 14.0K

$37.6K BHD 14.2K

-1.40%

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

$21.1K BHD 7,954

$20.9K BHD 7,871

1.05%

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

$124 BHD 46.60

$120 BHD 45.39

2.68%

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

$26.75 BHD 10.08

$26.95 BHD 10.16

-0.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$37.92 BHD 14.29

$38.80 BHD 14.62

-2.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$72.1 BHD 27.17

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.09 BHD 16.62

Cinema Ticket

$10.81 BHD 4.07

$10.71 BHD 4.04

0.93%

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

$384 BHD 145

$393 BHD 148

-2.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,117 BHD 3,436

$8,979 BHD 3,384

1.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.92 BHD 17.68

$45.58 BHD 17.18

2.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$62.2 BHD 23.45

$63.5 BHD 23.94

-2.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.4 BHD 31.43

$81.9 BHD 30.86

1.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.8 BHD 33.83

$88.7 BHD 33.45

1.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 BHD 310

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$568 BHD 214

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,774 BHD 669

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,229 BHD 463

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,642 BHD 996

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,959 BHD 738

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,309 BHD 870

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 25, 2026

Last update for Zinj: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $54.0 in Manama vs $52.0 in Zinj. Groceries flip the comparison at $265 vs $265, with Manama 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 Zinj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zinj wins on cost – living expenses run 85% 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 $2,275 in Manama and $1,227 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 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,517 per month in Manama versus $818 in Zinj – a 85% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $818 in Zinj versus $1,517 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 85% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.