Cost of Living Comparison Between Saar and Budaiya Cost of Living Comparison Between Saar and Budaiya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,995 in Saar versus $688 in Budaiya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,793 in Saar versus $1,120 in Budaiya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,590 in Saar versus $1,552 in Budaiya.

Living in Saar is roughly 190% more expensive than Budaiya, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.47 BHD 3.95

$5.45 BHD 2.05

92.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.54 BHD 12.27

$52.0 BHD 19.62

-37.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.40 BHD 3.92

$7.47 BHD 2.82

39.22%

Cappuccino

$5.81 BHD 2.19

$5.11 BHD 1.93

13.70%

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

$0.96 BHD 0.36

$0.82 BHD 0.31

17.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 BHD 0.17

$0.28 BHD 0.11

57.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 BHD 2.30

$7.88 BHD 2.97

-22.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.04 BHD 3.41

$10.64 BHD 4.01

-15.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 BHD 0.63

$1.63 BHD 0.62

2.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 BHD 0.50

$1.28 BHD 0.48

2.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 BHD 0.99

$1.21 BHD 0.46

117.36%

Eggs

$2.60 BHD 0.98

$1.55 BHD 0.59

67.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.16 BHD 4.96

$2.73 BHD 1.03

382.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.60 BHD 2.49

$7.70 BHD 2.90

-14.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.79 BHD 5.95

$4.04 BHD 1.52

290.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.88 BHD 1.46

$2.38 BHD 0.90

63.03%

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 BHD 0.89

$2.09 BHD 0.79

13.40%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.60 BHD 1.36

$1.68 BHD 0.63

114.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.93 BHD 0.73

$1.05 BHD 0.40

83.81%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 BHD 0.26

$0.81 BHD 0.31

-14.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 BHD 0.63

$1.08 BHD 0.41

55.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.31 BHD 0.50

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 BHD 0.20

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.75 BHD 2.17

Wine (Bottle)

$26.54 BHD 10.01

$13.19 BHD 4.97

101.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 BHD 0.65

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 BHD 0.67

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 BHD 1.99

$2.69 BHD 1.01

96.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.61 BHD 0.98

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.02 BHD 9.81

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 BHD 0.13

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

$37.8K BHD 14.2K

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

$20.9K BHD 7,884

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

$135 BHD 50.8

$91.7 BHD 34.57

46.80%

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

$27.22 BHD 10.26

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.34 BHD 12.19

$26.96 BHD 10.16

19.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$189 BHD 71.2

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$108 BHD 40.75

Cinema Ticket

$20.97 BHD 7.90

$7.91 BHD 2.98

165.11%

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

$553 BHD 209

$395 BHD 149

40.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,994 BHD 3,014

$8,960 BHD 3,378

-10.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.6 BHD 34.52

$45.98 BHD 17.34

99.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.16 BHD 14.76

$62.5 BHD 23.56

-37.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 BHD 40.37

$83.2 BHD 31.35

28.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 BHD 39.82

$88.1 BHD 33.22

19.90%

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

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 Budaiya: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $33.00 in Saar vs $52.0 in Budaiya. Groceries flip the comparison at $287 vs $190, with Budaiya 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 Budaiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Budaiya wins on cost – living expenses run 190% lower than in Saar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Budaiya the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,992 in Saar and $1,033 in Budaiya 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.

Supermarket bills run roughly 51% 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 $688 in Budaiya – a 190% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $688 in Budaiya versus $1,995 in Saar, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Budaiya but tight or insufficient in Saar. The gap between the two cities makes Budaiya 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 Budaiya 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 Budaiya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 190% less than in Saar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.