Cost of Living Comparison Between Saar and Madinat Hamad Cost of Living Comparison Between Saar and Madinat Hamad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $2,007 per month in Saar vs $1,221 in Madinat Hamad, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,781 per month in Saar vs $1,901 in Madinat Hamad, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,556 per month in Saar vs $2,582 in Madinat Hamad, rent included.

Saar costs about 64% more than Madinat Hamad, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Saar sits 47% above the global median, while Madinat Hamad is 11% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.74 BHD 4.05

$2.60 BHD 0.98

313.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.94 BHD 12.42

$52.2 BHD 19.68

-36.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.43 BHD 3.93

$7.41 BHD 2.79

40.76%

Cappuccino

$6.00 BHD 2.26

$2.68 BHD 1.01

123.88%

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

$1.71 BHD 0.64

$0.90 BHD 0.34

90.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 BHD 0.38

$0.32 BHD 0.12

215.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 BHD 2.24

$6.45 BHD 2.43

-8.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.30 BHD 3.51

$9.72 BHD 3.66

-4.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 BHD 0.66

$1.48 BHD 0.56

18.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 BHD 0.50

$1.03 BHD 0.39

28.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.62 BHD 0.99

$2.30 BHD 0.87

13.91%

Eggs

$2.67 BHD 1.01

$2.01 BHD 0.76

32.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.43 BHD 5.06

$8.63 BHD 3.25

55.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.65 BHD 2.51

$6.34 BHD 2.39

4.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.09 BHD 6.06

$8.38 BHD 3.16

92.00%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 BHD 1.49

$2.17 BHD 0.82

82.95%

Banana (1kg)

$2.44 BHD 0.92

$1.56 BHD 0.59

56.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.67 BHD 1.38

$1.96 BHD 0.74

87.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 BHD 0.74

$1.30 BHD 0.49

50.00%

Potato (1kg)

$0.64 BHD 0.24

$1.05 BHD 0.40

-39.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 BHD 0.62

$1.04 BHD 0.39

58.65%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 BHD 0.58

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 BHD 0.31

$0.54 BHD 0.20

53.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.24 BHD 1.97

Wine (Bottle)

$26.79 BHD 10.10

$18.42 BHD 6.94

45.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.59 BHD 1.35

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 BHD 1.01

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 BHD 0.31

$0.64 BHD 0.24

29.69%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.31 BHD 12.93

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.25 BHD 1.98

$5.19 BHD 1.96

1.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.63 BHD 0.99

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.13 BHD 6.08

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 BHD 0.22

$0.39 BHD 0.15

51.28%

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

$36.6K BHD 13.8K

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

$20.2K BHD 7,619

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

$134 BHD 50.5

$155 BHD 58.3

-13.37%

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

$23.49 BHD 8.85

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.94 BHD 12.04

$18.20 BHD 6.86

75.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$161 BHD 60.7

$121 BHD 45.56

33.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$105 BHD 39.52

$52.5 BHD 19.78

99.81%

Cinema Ticket

$15.77 BHD 5.94

$5.45 BHD 2.05

189.36%

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

$559 BHD 211

$483 BHD 182

15.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,057 BHD 3,037

$11.0K BHD 4,145

-26.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.1 BHD 34.69

$51.1 BHD 19.27

80.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.85 BHD 15.02

$57.2 BHD 21.55

-30.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 BHD 40.04

$87.0 BHD 32.79

22.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 BHD 39.84

$89.3 BHD 33.64

18.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,312 BHD 494

$402 BHD 152

226.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$929 BHD 350

$320 BHD 121

189.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,122 BHD 800

$803 BHD 303

164.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,197 BHD 451

$670 BHD 252

78.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,211 BHD 833

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,413 BHD 910

$676 BHD 255

256.91%

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 14, 2026

Last update for Madinat Hamad: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,312 in Saar versus $402 in Madinat Hamad. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 257% 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 $52.0 in Madinat Hamad. Groceries tell a different story – $301 in Saar vs $238 in Madinat Hamad – so Madinat Hamad wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Madinat Hamad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $2,007 in Saar, $1,221 in Madinat Hamad – roughly 64% apart. Saar costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,010 per month in Saar and $1,831 in Madinat Hamad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Madinat Hamad, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Saar and $52.0 in Madinat Hamad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Madinat Hamad, where all-in costs run around $1,221, than in Saar at $2,007. In Madinat Hamad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Madinat Hamad has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,221 in Madinat Hamad to $2,007 in Saar. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Madinat Hamad. 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.