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: $2,002 in Saar versus $809 in Budaiya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,765 in Saar versus $1,284 in Budaiya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,527 in Saar versus $1,759 in Budaiya.

Living in Saar is roughly 147% more expensive than in Budaiya, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Saar is 45% above, Budaiya is 41% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.80 BHD 4.07

$6.51 BHD 2.45

65.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.08 BHD 12.47

$52.0 BHD 19.60

-36.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.71 BHD 4.04

$6.56 BHD 2.47

63.26%

Cappuccino

$5.87 BHD 2.21

$4.86 BHD 1.83

20.78%

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

$1.66 BHD 0.63

$0.89 BHD 0.33

86.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.95 BHD 0.36

$0.26 BHD 0.10

265.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.15 BHD 2.32

$6.57 BHD 2.48

-6.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.08 BHD 3.42

$10.08 BHD 3.80

-9.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 BHD 0.63

$1.41 BHD 0.53

19.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 BHD 0.51

$1.10 BHD 0.42

21.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.59 BHD 0.98

$2.29 BHD 0.86

13.10%

Eggs

$2.70 BHD 1.02

$2.32 BHD 0.88

16.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.20 BHD 4.98

$8.91 BHD 3.36

48.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.48 BHD 2.44

$6.53 BHD 2.46

-0.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.61 BHD 5.88

$8.71 BHD 3.28

79.22%

Apples (1kg)

$3.87 BHD 1.46

$2.36 BHD 0.89

63.98%

Banana (1kg)

$2.43 BHD 0.92

$2.36 BHD 0.89

2.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.78 BHD 1.42

$1.90 BHD 0.72

98.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 BHD 0.76

$1.45 BHD 0.54

40.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 BHD 0.24

$1.05 BHD 0.40

-40.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.64 BHD 0.62

$1.42 BHD 0.54

15.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.49 BHD 0.56

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 BHD 0.31

$0.83 BHD 0.31

-1.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.38 BHD 2.03

Wine (Bottle)

$26.93 BHD 10.15

$18.38 BHD 6.93

46.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.63 BHD 1.37

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 BHD 0.98

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 BHD 0.30

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.25 BHD 1.98

$5.35 BHD 2.01

-1.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.49 BHD 1.31

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.10 BHD 6.07

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 BHD 0.23

$0.69 BHD 0.26

-11.59%

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

$37.5K BHD 14.1K

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

$20.3K BHD 7,659

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

$132 BHD 49.72

$153 BHD 57.7

-13.80%

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

$24.90 BHD 9.39

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.21 BHD 12.14

$35.69 BHD 13.45

-9.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$160 BHD 60.4

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$108 BHD 40.70

Cinema Ticket

$15.75 BHD 5.94

$10.55 BHD 3.98

49.29%

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

$558 BHD 210

$492 BHD 186

13.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,065 BHD 3,040

$11.0K BHD 4,161

-26.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.8 BHD 34.59

$50.1 BHD 18.87

83.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.30 BHD 15.19

$56.7 BHD 21.39

-28.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 BHD 40.25

$86.7 BHD 32.68

23.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 BHD 40.72

$88.4 BHD 33.32

22.19%

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

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 Budaiya: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $33.00 in Saar vs $52.0 in Budaiya. Groceries flip the comparison at $298 vs $252, 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 147% 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 $3,003 in Saar and $1,214 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 18% 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 $809 in Budaiya – a 147% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $809 in Budaiya versus $2,002 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 147% less than in Saar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.