Cost of Living Comparison Between Saar and 'ali Cost of Living Comparison Between Saar and 'ali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,002 in Saar versus $835 in 'ali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,765 in Saar versus $1,311 in 'ali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,527 in Saar versus $1,786 in 'ali.

Living in Saar is roughly 140% more expensive than in 'ali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Saar is 45% above, 'ali is 39% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.80 BHD 4.07

$6.70 BHD 2.53

61.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.08 BHD 12.47

$53.8 BHD 20.28

-38.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.71 BHD 4.04

$7.53 BHD 2.84

42.23%

Cappuccino

$5.87 BHD 2.21

$4.84 BHD 1.83

21.28%

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

$1.66 BHD 0.63

$0.83 BHD 0.31

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 BHD 0.36

$0.30 BHD 0.11

216.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.15 BHD 2.32

$6.48 BHD 2.44

-5.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.08 BHD 3.42

$9.97 BHD 3.76

-8.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 BHD 0.63

$1.48 BHD 0.56

13.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 BHD 0.51

$1.07 BHD 0.40

25.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.59 BHD 0.98

$2.30 BHD 0.87

12.61%

Eggs

$2.70 BHD 1.02

$2.33 BHD 0.88

15.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.20 BHD 4.98

$8.71 BHD 3.28

51.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.48 BHD 2.44

$6.42 BHD 2.42

0.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.61 BHD 5.88

$8.79 BHD 3.31

77.59%

Apples (1kg)

$3.87 BHD 1.46

$2.41 BHD 0.91

60.58%

Banana (1kg)

$2.43 BHD 0.92

$2.23 BHD 0.84

8.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.78 BHD 1.42

$1.87 BHD 0.70

102.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 BHD 0.76

$1.38 BHD 0.52

47.10%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 BHD 0.24

$1.00 BHD 0.38

-37.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.64 BHD 0.62

$1.42 BHD 0.53

15.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 BHD 0.58

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 BHD 0.31

$0.84 BHD 0.32

-2.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.41 BHD 2.04

Wine (Bottle)

$26.93 BHD 10.15

$18.77 BHD 7.07

43.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.49 BHD 1.32

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 BHD 1.01

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 BHD 0.30

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.25 BHD 1.98

$5.17 BHD 1.95

1.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.47 BHD 1.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.67 BHD 5.91

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 BHD 0.23

$0.70 BHD 0.26

-12.86%

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

$36.5K BHD 13.8K

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

$20.9K BHD 7,894

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

$132 BHD 49.72

$151 BHD 57.1

-12.85%

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

$24.86 BHD 9.37

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.21 BHD 12.14

$35.36 BHD 13.33

-8.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$160 BHD 60.4

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$108 BHD 40.70

Cinema Ticket

$15.75 BHD 5.94

$10.71 BHD 4.04

47.06%

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

$558 BHD 210

$480 BHD 181

16.13%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,065 BHD 3,040

$10.8K BHD 4,063

-25.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.8 BHD 34.59

$50.3 BHD 18.94

82.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.30 BHD 15.19

$58.5 BHD 22.05

-31.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 BHD 40.25

$89.6 BHD 33.77

19.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 BHD 40.72

$91.2 BHD 34.37

18.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,334 BHD 503

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$926 BHD 349

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,109 BHD 795

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,216 BHD 458

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 BHD 839

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,391 BHD 901

$3,759 BHD 1,417

-36.41%

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 Saar: September 8, 2026

Last update for 'ali: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

'ali pays 57% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Saar vs $54.0 in 'ali. Groceries flip the comparison at $298 vs $251, with 'ali 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

Saar vs 'ali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

'ali is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Clothing & Footwear. The 140% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 57% lower in 'ali. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Saar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,002 per month in Saar versus $835 in 'ali – a 140% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $835 in 'ali versus $2,002 in Saar, a $1,500 budget is realistic in 'ali but tight or insufficient in Saar. The gap between the two cities makes 'ali 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, Saar and 'ali 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 'ali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 140% less than in Saar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.