Cost of Living Comparison Between Saar and Manama Cost of Living Comparison Between Saar and Manama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,027 in Saar versus $1,479 in Manama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,835 in Saar versus $2,410 in Manama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,643 in Saar versus $3,340 in Manama.

Living in Saar is roughly 37% more expensive than in Manama, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saar 52% above, Manama 11% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.58 BHD 3.99

$6.57 BHD 2.48

61.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.34 BHD 12.57

$52.0 BHD 19.60

-35.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.40 BHD 3.92

$7.56 BHD 2.85

37.57%

Cappuccino

$5.89 BHD 2.22

$5.46 BHD 2.06

7.88%

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

$0.91 BHD 0.34

$0.79 BHD 0.30

15.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 BHD 0.17

$0.37 BHD 0.14

21.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.93 BHD 2.24

$8.01 BHD 3.02

-25.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.23 BHD 3.48

$10.46 BHD 3.94

-11.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 BHD 0.65

$1.65 BHD 0.62

4.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 BHD 0.50

$1.33 BHD 0.50

-0.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.58 BHD 0.97

$2.34 BHD 0.88

10.26%

Eggs

$2.69 BHD 1.02

$2.40 BHD 0.90

12.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.43 BHD 5.06

$8.62 BHD 3.25

55.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 BHD 2.43

$7.50 BHD 2.83

-14.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.04 BHD 6.05

$10.23 BHD 3.86

56.79%

Apples (1kg)

$3.93 BHD 1.48

$2.45 BHD 0.92

60.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.36 BHD 0.89

$2.10 BHD 0.79

12.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.74 BHD 1.41

$1.70 BHD 0.64

120.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.93 BHD 0.73

$1.17 BHD 0.44

64.96%

Potato (1kg)

$0.63 BHD 0.24

$0.92 BHD 0.35

-31.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 BHD 0.63

$1.08 BHD 0.41

55.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 BHD 0.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 BHD 0.34

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.48 BHD 2.44

Wine (Bottle)

$26.25 BHD 9.90

$18.75 BHD 7.07

40.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.35 BHD 1.26

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 BHD 1.18

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 BHD 0.29

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.29 BHD 12.17

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.20 BHD 1.96

$4.66 BHD 1.76

11.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.00 BHD 1.51

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.04 BHD 9.81

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 BHD 0.20

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

$37.7K BHD 14.2K

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

$20.7K BHD 7,813

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

$132 BHD 49.67

$122 BHD 46.06

7.84%

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

$26.99 BHD 10.17

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.23 BHD 11.77

$38.99 BHD 14.70

-19.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$189 BHD 71.3

$71.4 BHD 26.90

165.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$108 BHD 40.61

$44.42 BHD 16.74

142.57%

Cinema Ticket

$21.00 BHD 7.92

$10.53 BHD 3.97

99.43%

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

$551 BHD 208

$394 BHD 148

39.96%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,879 BHD 2,970

$8,780 BHD 3,309

-10.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.9 BHD 35.01

$46.27 BHD 17.44

100.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.73 BHD 14.98

$61.5 BHD 23.19

-35.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$104 BHD 39.26

$82.8 BHD 31.21

25.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 BHD 39.66

$89.4 BHD 33.71

17.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,341 BHD 505

$803 BHD 303

66.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$917 BHD 346

$548 BHD 207

67.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,110 BHD 795

$1,794 BHD 676

17.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,192 BHD 449

$1,208 BHD 455

-1.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,668 BHD 1,006

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,188 BHD 825

$1,960 BHD 739

11.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,377 BHD 896

$2,276 BHD 858

4.44%

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 Manama: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,341 in Saar and $803 in Manama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saar pays 4% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $33.00 in Saar vs $52.0 in Manama. Groceries flip the comparison at $288 vs $262, with Manama 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 Manama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manama wins on cost – living expenses run 37% lower than in Saar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Manama the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 4% higher in Saar, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,341 in Saar versus $803 in Manama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 10% 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 $1,479 in Manama – a 37% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,479 in Manama versus $2,027 in Saar, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Manama but tight or insufficient in Saar. The gap between the two cities makes Manama 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 Manama 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 Manama gentler on the wallet – expenses run 37% less than in Saar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.