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: $1,995 in Saar versus $813 in 'ali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,793 in Saar versus $1,317 in 'ali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,590 in Saar versus $1,821 in 'ali.

Living in Saar is roughly 145% more expensive than 'ali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Saar is 49% above, 'ali is 39% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.47 BHD 3.95

$6.56 BHD 2.47

59.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.54 BHD 12.27

$53.7 BHD 20.25

-39.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.40 BHD 3.92

$5.28 BHD 1.99

96.97%

Cappuccino

$5.81 BHD 2.19

$5.42 BHD 2.04

7.20%

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

$0.96 BHD 0.36

$0.78 BHD 0.30

23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 BHD 0.17

$0.37 BHD 0.14

18.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 BHD 2.30

$7.86 BHD 2.96

-22.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.04 BHD 3.41

$10.77 BHD 4.06

-16.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 BHD 0.63

$1.72 BHD 0.65

-2.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 BHD 0.50

$1.29 BHD 0.49

1.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 BHD 0.99

$2.30 BHD 0.87

14.35%

Eggs

$2.60 BHD 0.98

$2.51 BHD 0.95

3.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.16 BHD 4.96

$8.55 BHD 3.23

53.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.60 BHD 2.49

$7.86 BHD 2.96

-16.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.79 BHD 5.95

$10.06 BHD 3.79

56.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.88 BHD 1.46

$2.37 BHD 0.89

63.71%

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 BHD 0.89

$2.03 BHD 0.76

16.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.60 BHD 1.36

$1.69 BHD 0.64

113.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.93 BHD 0.73

$1.16 BHD 0.44

66.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 BHD 0.26

$0.89 BHD 0.34

-22.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 BHD 0.63

$1.08 BHD 0.41

55.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 BHD 0.57

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 BHD 0.33

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.74 BHD 2.54

Wine (Bottle)

$26.54 BHD 10.01

$18.47 BHD 6.96

43.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.34 BHD 1.26

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 BHD 1.25

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 BHD 1.99

$4.73 BHD 1.78

11.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.89 BHD 1.47

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.85 BHD 10.12

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 BHD 0.21

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

$37.7K BHD 14.2K

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

$20.6K BHD 7,759

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

$135 BHD 50.8

$121 BHD 45.67

11.10%

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

$27.33 BHD 10.30

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.34 BHD 12.19

$38.29 BHD 14.43

-15.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$189 BHD 71.2

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$108 BHD 40.75

Cinema Ticket

$20.97 BHD 7.90

$10.64 BHD 4.01

97.09%

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

$553 BHD 209

$395 BHD 149

40.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,994 BHD 3,014

$9,058 BHD 3,415

-11.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.6 BHD 34.52

$45.39 BHD 17.11

101.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.16 BHD 14.76

$63.1 BHD 23.78

-37.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 BHD 40.37

$83.6 BHD 31.53

28.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 BHD 39.82

$86.8 BHD 32.73

21.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,309 BHD 494

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$944 BHD 356

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,131 BHD 804

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,171 BHD 441

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,216 BHD 835

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,428 BHD 915

$3,723 BHD 1,404

-34.79%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for 'ali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

'ali pays 53% 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 $287 vs $263, 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 145% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, 'ali earns 53% less. 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 $1,995 per month in Saar versus $813 in 'ali – a 145% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $813 in 'ali versus $1,995 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 145% less than in Saar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.