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: $2,027 in Saar versus $807 in 'ali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,835 in Saar versus $1,328 in 'ali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,643 in Saar versus $1,849 in 'ali.

Living in Saar is roughly 151% more expensive than in 'ali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Saar is 52% above, 'ali is 40% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.58 BHD 3.99

$6.79 BHD 2.56

55.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.34 BHD 12.57

$52.9 BHD 19.94

-36.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.40 BHD 3.92

$5.19 BHD 1.96

100.39%

Cappuccino

$5.89 BHD 2.22

$5.16 BHD 1.95

14.15%

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

$0.91 BHD 0.34

$0.77 BHD 0.29

18.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 BHD 0.17

$0.37 BHD 0.14

21.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 BHD 2.24

$7.80 BHD 2.94

-23.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.23 BHD 3.48

$10.58 BHD 3.99

-12.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 BHD 0.65

$1.70 BHD 0.64

1.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 BHD 0.50

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.58 BHD 0.97

$2.37 BHD 0.89

8.86%

Eggs

$2.69 BHD 1.02

$2.51 BHD 0.94

7.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.43 BHD 5.06

$8.90 BHD 3.35

50.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 BHD 2.43

$7.52 BHD 2.83

-14.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.04 BHD 6.05

$10.02 BHD 3.78

60.08%

Apples (1kg)

$3.93 BHD 1.48

$2.37 BHD 0.89

65.82%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 BHD 0.89

$2.04 BHD 0.77

15.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.74 BHD 1.41

$1.67 BHD 0.63

123.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.93 BHD 0.73

$1.21 BHD 0.46

59.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 BHD 0.24

$0.93 BHD 0.35

-32.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 BHD 0.63

$1.07 BHD 0.40

57.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 BHD 0.55

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 BHD 0.33

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 BHD 2.48

Wine (Bottle)

$26.25 BHD 9.90

$18.82 BHD 7.09

39.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.47 BHD 1.31

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.21 BHD 1.21

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.20 BHD 1.96

$4.61 BHD 1.74

12.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.88 BHD 1.46

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.03 BHD 10.19

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 BHD 0.19

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

$37.2K BHD 14.0K

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

$20.6K BHD 7,753

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

$132 BHD 49.67

$121 BHD 45.54

9.07%

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

$26.75 BHD 10.08

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.23 BHD 11.77

$38.21 BHD 14.40

-18.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$189 BHD 71.3

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$108 BHD 40.61

Cinema Ticket

$21.00 BHD 7.92

$10.49 BHD 3.95

100.19%

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

$551 BHD 208

$385 BHD 145

43.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,879 BHD 2,970

$8,940 BHD 3,370

-11.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.9 BHD 35.01

$45.23 BHD 17.05

105.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.73 BHD 14.98

$63.1 BHD 23.78

-37.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 BHD 39.26

$84.5 BHD 31.86

23.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 BHD 39.66

$89.9 BHD 33.88

17.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,341 BHD 505

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$917 BHD 346

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,110 BHD 795

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,192 BHD 449

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,188 BHD 825

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,377 BHD 896

$3,720 BHD 1,402

-36.10%

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 Saar: July 13, 2026

Last update for 'ali: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

'ali pays 56% 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 $53.0 in 'ali. Groceries flip the comparison at $288 vs $264, 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 151% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 56% 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 9% higher in Saar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $2,027 per month in Saar versus $807 in 'ali – a 151% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $807 in 'ali versus $2,027 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 151% less than in Saar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.