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: $1,491 in Manama versus $843 in Zinj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,432 in Manama versus $1,338 in Zinj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,373 in Manama versus $1,833 in Zinj.

Living in Manama is roughly 77% more expensive than Zinj, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.71 BHD 2.52

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.5 BHD 19.72

$53.1 BHD 19.95

-1.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.64 BHD 2.87

$7.40 BHD 2.78

3.24%

Cappuccino

$5.19 BHD 1.95

$5.29 BHD 1.99

-1.89%

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

$0.80 BHD 0.30

$0.79 BHD 0.30

1.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 BHD 0.14

$0.40 BHD 0.15

-10.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.04 BHD 3.02

$8.07 BHD 3.03

-0.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.43 BHD 3.92

$10.67 BHD 4.01

-2.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 BHD 0.64

$1.72 BHD 0.65

-1.16%

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 BHD 0.50

$1.32 BHD 0.50

1.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.43 BHD 0.91

$2.34 BHD 0.88

3.85%

Eggs

$2.48 BHD 0.93

$2.40 BHD 0.90

3.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.87 BHD 3.33

$8.60 BHD 3.23

3.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.73 BHD 2.91

$7.76 BHD 2.92

-0.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.10 BHD 3.80

$10.34 BHD 3.89

-2.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.43 BHD 0.91

$2.46 BHD 0.92

-1.22%

Banana (1kg)

$2.02 BHD 0.76

$2.11 BHD 0.79

-4.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 BHD 0.64

$1.67 BHD 0.63

1.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 BHD 0.44

$1.16 BHD 0.44

1.72%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 BHD 0.33

$0.94 BHD 0.35

-7.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 BHD 0.40

$1.09 BHD 0.41

-0.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.52 BHD 0.57

$1.51 BHD 0.57

0.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BHD 0.32

$0.88 BHD 0.33

-2.27%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.59 BHD 2.48

$6.57 BHD 2.47

0.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.59 BHD 6.99

$18.57 BHD 6.98

0.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.38 BHD 1.27

$3.33 BHD 1.25

1.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 BHD 1.20

$3.32 BHD 1.25

-3.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 BHD 0.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.62 BHD 11.89

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.53 BHD 1.70

$4.60 BHD 1.73

-1.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.01 BHD 1.51

$3.86 BHD 1.45

3.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.24 BHD 9.87

$26.37 BHD 9.91

-0.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 BHD 0.20

$0.56 BHD 0.21

-7.14%

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

$37.1K BHD 13.9K

$36.5K BHD 13.7K

1.62%

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

$20.8K BHD 7,809

$20.9K BHD 7,844

-0.45%

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

$124 BHD 46.47

$122 BHD 45.80

1.48%

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

$27.44 BHD 10.32

$26.62 BHD 10.01

3.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.91 BHD 14.63

$38.78 BHD 14.58

0.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.6 BHD 26.54

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$43.91 BHD 16.51

Cinema Ticket

$10.72 BHD 4.03

$10.67 BHD 4.01

0.47%

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

$394 BHD 148

$388 BHD 146

1.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,871 BHD 3,336

$9,105 BHD 3,423

-2.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.39 BHD 17.44

$46.76 BHD 17.58

-0.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.4 BHD 23.82

$63.7 BHD 23.94

-0.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.2 BHD 31.26

$83.6 BHD 31.45

-0.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.5 BHD 33.63

$90.1 BHD 33.87

-0.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 BHD 309

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 BHD 208

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,764 BHD 663

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 BHD 460

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,580 BHD 970

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,957 BHD 736

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,391 BHD 899

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Zinj: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $52.0 in Manama vs $53.0 in Zinj for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $264 vs $264 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 77% 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 $2,237 in Manama and $1,265 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 $1,491 per month in Manama versus $843 in Zinj – a 77% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $843 in Zinj versus $1,491 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 77% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.