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: $2,027 in Saar versus $691 in Budaiya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,835 in Saar versus $1,126 in Budaiya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,643 in Saar versus $1,560 in Budaiya.

Living in Saar is roughly 193% more expensive than in Budaiya, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Saar is 52% above, Budaiya is 48% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.58 BHD 3.99

$5.19 BHD 1.96

103.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.34 BHD 12.57

$52.6 BHD 19.81

-36.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.40 BHD 3.92

$7.16 BHD 2.70

45.25%

Cappuccino

$5.89 BHD 2.22

$4.93 BHD 1.86

19.47%

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

$0.91 BHD 0.34

$0.82 BHD 0.31

10.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 BHD 0.17

$0.28 BHD 0.11

60.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 BHD 2.24

$7.75 BHD 2.92

-23.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.23 BHD 3.48

$10.49 BHD 3.96

-12.01%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 BHD 0.65

$1.72 BHD 0.65

0.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 BHD 0.50

$1.28 BHD 0.48

3.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.58 BHD 0.97

$1.16 BHD 0.44

122.41%

Eggs

$2.69 BHD 1.02

$1.63 BHD 0.62

65.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.43 BHD 5.06

$2.68 BHD 1.01

401.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 BHD 2.43

$7.82 BHD 2.95

-17.52%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.04 BHD 6.05

$3.89 BHD 1.47

312.34%

Apples (1kg)

$3.93 BHD 1.48

$2.42 BHD 0.91

62.40%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 BHD 0.89

$2.02 BHD 0.76

16.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.74 BHD 1.41

$1.74 BHD 0.65

114.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.93 BHD 0.73

$1.03 BHD 0.39

87.38%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 BHD 0.24

$0.79 BHD 0.30

-20.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 BHD 0.63

$1.04 BHD 0.39

61.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 BHD 0.51

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 BHD 0.21

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.87 BHD 2.21

Wine (Bottle)

$26.25 BHD 9.90

$13.16 BHD 4.96

99.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 BHD 0.67

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.68 BHD 0.63

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.20 BHD 1.96

$2.67 BHD 1.01

94.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.58 BHD 0.97

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.04 BHD 9.81

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 BHD 0.13

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

$37.6K BHD 14.2K

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

$20.5K BHD 7,737

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

$132 BHD 49.67

$90.1 BHD 33.97

46.24%

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

$26.59 BHD 10.02

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.23 BHD 11.77

$26.99 BHD 10.17

15.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$189 BHD 71.3

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$108 BHD 40.61

Cinema Ticket

$21.00 BHD 7.92

$8.06 BHD 3.04

160.55%

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

$551 BHD 208

$392 BHD 148

40.53%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,879 BHD 2,970

$9,034 BHD 3,405

-12.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.9 BHD 35.01

$45.17 BHD 17.03

105.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.73 BHD 14.98

$61.7 BHD 23.26

-35.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 BHD 39.26

$84.1 BHD 31.68

23.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 BHD 39.66

$90.0 BHD 33.90

16.97%

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

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 Budaiya: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $33.00 in Saar vs $53.0 in Budaiya. Groceries flip the comparison at $288 vs $191, 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 193% 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 $3,041 in Saar and $1,037 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 $2,027 per month in Saar versus $691 in Budaiya – a 193% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $691 in Budaiya versus $2,027 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 193% less than in Saar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.