Cost of Living Comparison Between Saar and Al Muharraq Cost of Living Comparison Between Saar and Al Muharraq

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,995 in Saar versus $1,213 in Al Muharraq.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,793 in Saar versus $1,756 in Al Muharraq.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,590 in Saar versus $2,299 in Al Muharraq.

Living in Saar is roughly 64% more expensive than Al Muharraq, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Saar is 49% above, Al Muharraq is 9% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.47 BHD 3.95

$4.00 BHD 1.51

161.75%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.54 BHD 12.27

$26.62 BHD 10.04

22.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.40 BHD 3.92

$5.19 BHD 1.96

100.39%

Cappuccino

$5.81 BHD 2.19

$3.90 BHD 1.47

48.97%

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

$0.96 BHD 0.36

$0.84 BHD 0.32

14.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 BHD 0.17

$0.39 BHD 0.15

12.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 BHD 2.30

$5.44 BHD 2.05

11.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.04 BHD 3.41

$8.05 BHD 3.04

12.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 BHD 0.63

$1.34 BHD 0.51

24.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 BHD 0.50

$0.55 BHD 0.21

138.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 BHD 0.99

$2.31 BHD 0.87

13.85%

Eggs

$2.60 BHD 0.98

$2.45 BHD 0.92

6.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.16 BHD 4.96

$4.45 BHD 1.68

195.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.60 BHD 2.49

$5.05 BHD 1.90

30.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.79 BHD 5.95

$8.17 BHD 3.08

93.27%

Apples (1kg)

$3.88 BHD 1.46

$1.22 BHD 0.46

218.03%

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 BHD 0.89

$1.67 BHD 0.63

41.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.60 BHD 1.36

$1.10 BHD 0.41

227.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.93 BHD 0.73

$1.16 BHD 0.44

66.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 BHD 0.26

$0.81 BHD 0.31

-14.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 BHD 0.63

$0.53 BHD 0.20

216.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 BHD 0.46

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 BHD 0.19

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.20 BHD 1.96

Wine (Bottle)

$26.54 BHD 10.01

$18.50 BHD 6.97

43.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.34 BHD 1.26

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 BHD 1.20

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 BHD 0.31

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 BHD 1.99

$4.57 BHD 1.72

15.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.59 BHD 0.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.19 BHD 1.96

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.43 BHD 0.16

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

$36.8K BHD 13.9K

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

$15.9K BHD 5,976

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

$135 BHD 50.8

$105 BHD 39.57

28.23%

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

$21.38 BHD 8.06

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.34 BHD 12.19

$38.44 BHD 14.49

-15.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$189 BHD 71.2

$52.1 BHD 19.63

262.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$108 BHD 40.75

Cinema Ticket

$20.97 BHD 7.90

$7.50 BHD 2.83

179.60%

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

$553 BHD 209

$388 BHD 146

42.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,994 BHD 3,014

$5,915 BHD 2,230

35.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.6 BHD 34.52

$27.00 BHD 10.18

239.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.16 BHD 14.76

$62.6 BHD 23.59

-37.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 BHD 40.37

$82.9 BHD 31.24

29.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 BHD 39.82

$88.9 BHD 33.51

18.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,309 BHD 494

$612 BHD 231

113.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$944 BHD 356

$502 BHD 189

88.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,131 BHD 804

$964 BHD 363

121.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,171 BHD 441

$801 BHD 302

46.15%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,998 BHD 753

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,216 BHD 835

$1,617 BHD 610

37.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,428 BHD 915

$1,574 BHD 593

54.28%

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 Al Muharraq: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,309 in Saar and $612 in Al Muharraq. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saar pays 54% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Saar vs $27.00 in Al Muharraq for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $287 vs $202 per month, with Al Muharraq 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

Saar vs Al Muharraq: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Saar and Al Muharraq differ by about 64% in total monthly costs ($1,995 vs $1,213 including rent). Al Muharraq is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Saar pays 54% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,309 in Saar versus $612 in Al Muharraq. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 42% 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 $1,213 in Al Muharraq – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,213 in Al Muharraq versus $1,995 in Saar, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al Muharraq but tight or insufficient in Saar. The gap between the two cities makes Al Muharraq 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 Al Muharraq 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 Al Muharraq gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Saar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.