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 $1,975 per month in Saar vs $1,206 in Madinat Hamad, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,783 per month in Saar vs $1,905 in Madinat Hamad, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,590 per month in Saar vs $2,603 in Madinat Hamad, rent included.

Saar costs about 64% more than Madinat Hamad, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Saar sits 48% above the global median, while Madinat Hamad is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.54 BHD 3.97

$2.57 BHD 0.97

310.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.48 BHD 12.62

$53.5 BHD 20.18

-37.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.59 BHD 3.99

$7.50 BHD 2.83

41.20%

Cappuccino

$5.71 BHD 2.15

$2.68 BHD 1.01

113.06%

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

$0.89 BHD 0.33

$0.85 BHD 0.32

4.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 BHD 0.15

$0.39 BHD 0.15

5.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.87 BHD 2.21

$7.90 BHD 2.98

-25.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.22 BHD 3.48

$10.57 BHD 3.98

-12.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 BHD 0.64

$1.62 BHD 0.61

4.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 BHD 0.49

$1.04 BHD 0.39

24.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 BHD 0.99

$2.41 BHD 0.91

9.13%

Eggs

$2.71 BHD 1.02

$2.04 BHD 0.77

32.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.22 BHD 4.98

$8.59 BHD 3.24

53.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.66 BHD 2.51

$7.85 BHD 2.96

-15.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.89 BHD 5.99

$10.36 BHD 3.90

53.38%

Apples (1kg)

$3.90 BHD 1.47

$2.14 BHD 0.81

82.24%

Banana (1kg)

$2.40 BHD 0.91

$1.55 BHD 0.58

54.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.75 BHD 1.42

$1.73 BHD 0.65

116.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.93 BHD 0.73

$1.21 BHD 0.46

59.50%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 BHD 0.24

$0.93 BHD 0.35

-32.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.64 BHD 0.62

$1.04 BHD 0.39

57.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 BHD 0.57

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.52 BHD 0.20

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.50 BHD 2.45

Wine (Bottle)

$26.29 BHD 9.91

$18.49 BHD 6.97

42.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.46 BHD 1.30

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 BHD 1.23

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.68 BHD 0.26

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$34.98 BHD 13.18

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.14 BHD 1.94

$4.74 BHD 1.78

8.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.34 BHD 1.26

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.68 BHD 10.06

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 BHD 0.13

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

$37.1K BHD 14.0K

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

$21.1K BHD 7,969

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

$131 BHD 49.30

$123 BHD 46.52

5.99%

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

$23.61 BHD 8.90

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.78 BHD 11.98

$18.26 BHD 6.88

74.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$185 BHD 69.6

$118 BHD 44.42

56.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$105 BHD 39.76

$53.3 BHD 20.10

97.84%

Cinema Ticket

$20.95 BHD 7.90

$5.33 BHD 2.01

293.06%

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

$549 BHD 207

$382 BHD 144

43.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,103 BHD 3,054

$8,807 BHD 3,319

-7.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.3 BHD 34.79

$45.43 BHD 17.12

103.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.29 BHD 14.81

$63.1 BHD 23.80

-37.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 BHD 40.55

$84.4 BHD 31.80

27.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 BHD 39.58

$90.2 BHD 33.99

16.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,317 BHD 497

$391 BHD 147

236.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$935 BHD 352

$312 BHD 118

199.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,094 BHD 789

$796 BHD 300

163.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,213 BHD 457

$670 BHD 253

80.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,195 BHD 827

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,390 BHD 901

$655 BHD 247

264.73%

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 25, 2026

Last update for Madinat Hamad: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,317 in Saar versus $391 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 265% 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 $54.0 in Madinat Hamad. Groceries tell a different story – $288 in Saar vs $251 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: $1,975 in Saar, $1,206 in Madinat Hamad – roughly 64% apart. Saar costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,963 per month in Saar and $1,809 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 $54.0 in Madinat Hamad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% 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 $1,206, than in Saar at $1,975. 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 $1,206 in Madinat Hamad to $1,975 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.