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: $1,967 in Saar versus $1,595 in Manama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,729 in Saar versus $2,515 in Manama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,491 in Saar versus $3,435 in Manama.

Living in Saar is roughly 23% more expensive than in Manama, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saar 43% above, Manama 16% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.49 BHD 3.96

$6.80 BHD 2.56

54.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.69 BHD 12.70

$53.6 BHD 20.22

-37.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.79 BHD 4.07

$7.61 BHD 2.87

41.79%

Cappuccino

$5.77 BHD 2.18

$4.88 BHD 1.84

18.24%

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

$1.65 BHD 0.62

$0.88 BHD 0.33

87.50%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.00 BHD 0.38

$0.30 BHD 0.11

233.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 BHD 2.23

$6.53 BHD 2.46

-9.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.32 BHD 3.51

$10.04 BHD 3.78

-7.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 BHD 0.66

$1.46 BHD 0.55

20.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.37 BHD 0.52

$1.05 BHD 0.40

30.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.73 BHD 1.03

$2.29 BHD 0.86

19.21%

Eggs

$2.63 BHD 0.99

$2.34 BHD 0.88

12.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.17 BHD 4.97

$8.83 BHD 3.33

49.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.58 BHD 2.48

$6.53 BHD 2.46

0.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.66 BHD 5.90

$8.79 BHD 3.31

78.16%

Apples (1kg)

$3.89 BHD 1.47

$2.40 BHD 0.90

62.08%

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 BHD 0.89

$2.24 BHD 0.85

5.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.76 BHD 1.42

$1.93 BHD 0.73

94.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.04 BHD 0.77

$1.43 BHD 0.54

42.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 BHD 0.26

$1.04 BHD 0.39

-33.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.69 BHD 0.64

$1.40 BHD 0.53

20.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 BHD 0.58

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 BHD 0.31

$0.77 BHD 0.29

7.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.25 BHD 1.98

Wine (Bottle)

$26.38 BHD 9.94

$18.49 BHD 6.97

42.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.52 BHD 1.33

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 BHD 0.98

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 BHD 0.29

$0.65 BHD 0.24

20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.34 BHD 14.08

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.44 BHD 2.05

$5.41 BHD 2.04

0.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.50 BHD 1.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.94 BHD 6.01

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 BHD 0.21

$0.70 BHD 0.26

-18.57%

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

$36.9K BHD 13.9K

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

$20.4K BHD 7,676

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

$131 BHD 49.36

$154 BHD 58.0

-14.90%

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

$24.04 BHD 9.06

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 BHD 11.93

$35.64 BHD 13.44

-11.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$160 BHD 60.5

$61.9 BHD 23.33

159.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$104 BHD 39.26

$30.03 BHD 11.32

246.82%

Cinema Ticket

$15.94 BHD 6.01

$10.56 BHD 3.98

50.95%

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

$542 BHD 204

$493 BHD 186

9.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,819 BHD 2,948

$10.9K BHD 4,093

-27.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.6 BHD 34.89

$50.9 BHD 19.20

81.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.03 BHD 15.09

$56.6 BHD 21.34

-29.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 BHD 39.43

$86.2 BHD 32.49

21.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 BHD 39.24

$88.9 BHD 33.51

17.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,318 BHD 497

$990 BHD 373

33.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$938 BHD 353

$636 BHD 240

47.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,087 BHD 787

$2,078 BHD 783

0.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,189 BHD 448

$1,389 BHD 524

-14.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,636 BHD 994

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,175 BHD 820

$1,954 BHD 736

11.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,425 BHD 914

$2,346 BHD 885

3.36%

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: August 30, 2026

Last update for Manama: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,318 in Saar and $990 in Manama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saar pays 3% 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: $34.00 in Saar vs $54.0 in Manama. Groceries flip the comparison at $299 vs $251, 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 23% 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 3% 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: $1,318 in Saar versus $990 in Manama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Saar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,967 per month in Saar versus $1,595 in Manama – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,595 in Manama versus $1,967 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 23% less than in Saar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.