Cost of Living Comparison Between Saar and Isa Town Cost of Living Comparison Between Saar and Isa Town

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,002 per month in Saar vs $760 in Isa Town, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,765 per month in Saar vs $1,762 in Isa Town, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,527 per month in Saar vs $2,764 in Isa Town, rent included.

Saar costs about 163% more than Isa Town, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Saar sits 45% above the global median, while Isa Town is 45% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.80 BHD 4.07

$8.00 BHD 3.01

35.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.08 BHD 12.47

$26.60 BHD 10.02

24.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.71 BHD 4.04

$6.46 BHD 2.44

65.79%

Cappuccino

$5.87 BHD 2.21

$4.58 BHD 1.73

28.17%

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

$1.66 BHD 0.63

$0.83 BHD 0.31

100.00%

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

$6.74 BHD 2.54

-8.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.08 BHD 3.42

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 BHD 0.63

$1.30 BHD 0.49

29.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 BHD 0.51

$1.29 BHD 0.49

3.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.59 BHD 0.98

$5.36 BHD 2.02

-51.68%

Eggs

$2.70 BHD 1.02

$3.26 BHD 1.23

-17.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.20 BHD 4.98

$10.58 BHD 3.99

24.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.48 BHD 2.44

$8.15 BHD 3.07

-20.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.61 BHD 5.88

$20.86 BHD 7.86

-25.17%

Apples (1kg)

$3.87 BHD 1.46

$2.58 BHD 0.97

50.00%

Banana (1kg)

$2.43 BHD 0.92

$2.69 BHD 1.01

-9.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.78 BHD 1.42

$2.61 BHD 0.98

44.83%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.03 BHD 0.76

$2.72 BHD 1.03

-25.37%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 BHD 0.24

$2.71 BHD 1.02

-76.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.64 BHD 0.62

$1.57 BHD 0.59

4.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 BHD 0.20

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.82 BHD 0.31

$1.04 BHD 0.39

-21.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$26.93 BHD 10.15

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 BHD 0.30

$1.07 BHD 0.40

-26.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.49 BHD 5.08

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.25 BHD 1.98

$5.34 BHD 2.01

-1.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 BHD 0.23

$0.78 BHD 0.30

-21.79%

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

$13.4K BHD 5,035

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

$132 BHD 49.72

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.21 BHD 12.14

$40.10 BHD 15.11

-19.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$160 BHD 60.4

$105 BHD 39.61

52.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$108 BHD 40.70

Cinema Ticket

$15.75 BHD 5.94

$10.70 BHD 4.03

47.20%

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

$558 BHD 210

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,065 BHD 3,040

$7,988 BHD 3,011

0.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.8 BHD 34.59

$39.06 BHD 14.72

134.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.30 BHD 15.19

$13.47 BHD 5.08

199.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 BHD 40.25

$78.8 BHD 29.68

35.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 BHD 40.72

$106 BHD 40.00

1.79%

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

$1,308 BHD 493

61.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,216 BHD 458

$1,049 BHD 395

16.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,227 BHD 839

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,391 BHD 901

$1,052 BHD 397

127.18%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Saar: September 8, 2026

Last update for Isa Town: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 127% higher in Saar, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Saar versus $27.00 in Isa Town. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $298 vs $274 – making Isa Town the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Isa Town: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Saar is pricier by about 163%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,003 per month in Saar and $1,140 in Isa Town. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Saar, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Saar and $27.00 in Isa Town. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Isa Town, where all-in costs run around $760, than in Saar at $2,002. In Isa Town it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Isa Town – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Isa Town. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.