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: $1,995 in Saar versus $1,496 in Manama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,793 in Saar versus $2,408 in Manama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,590 in Saar versus $3,319 in Manama.

Living in Saar is roughly 33% more expensive than Manama, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Saar 49% above, Manama 12% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.47 BHD 3.95

$6.48 BHD 2.44

61.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.54 BHD 12.27

$53.5 BHD 20.16

-39.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.40 BHD 3.92

$7.27 BHD 2.74

43.05%

Cappuccino

$5.81 BHD 2.19

$5.34 BHD 2.01

8.80%

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

$0.96 BHD 0.36

$0.87 BHD 0.33

10.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 BHD 0.17

$0.36 BHD 0.14

22.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 BHD 2.30

$8.09 BHD 3.05

-24.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.04 BHD 3.41

$10.54 BHD 3.97

-14.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 BHD 0.63

$1.71 BHD 0.64

-2.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 BHD 0.50

$1.27 BHD 0.48

3.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 BHD 0.99

$2.43 BHD 0.91

8.23%

Eggs

$2.60 BHD 0.98

$2.47 BHD 0.93

5.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.16 BHD 4.96

$8.59 BHD 3.24

53.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.60 BHD 2.49

$7.74 BHD 2.92

-14.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.79 BHD 5.95

$10.28 BHD 3.88

53.60%

Apples (1kg)

$3.88 BHD 1.46

$2.36 BHD 0.89

64.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 BHD 0.89

$2.11 BHD 0.79

12.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.60 BHD 1.36

$1.77 BHD 0.67

103.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.93 BHD 0.73

$1.18 BHD 0.44

63.56%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 BHD 0.26

$0.93 BHD 0.35

-25.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 BHD 0.63

$1.09 BHD 0.41

54.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BHD 0.32

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 BHD 2.48

Wine (Bottle)

$26.54 BHD 10.01

$18.88 BHD 7.12

40.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.44 BHD 1.30

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 BHD 1.24

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 BHD 0.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.28 BHD 11.79

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 BHD 1.99

$4.58 BHD 1.72

15.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.96 BHD 1.49

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.86 BHD 10.13

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 BHD 0.19

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

$36.8K BHD 13.9K

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

$20.7K BHD 7,796

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

$135 BHD 50.8

$121 BHD 45.53

11.45%

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

$26.86 BHD 10.13

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.34 BHD 12.19

$38.52 BHD 14.52

-16.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$189 BHD 71.2

$71.0 BHD 26.78

165.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$108 BHD 40.75

$45.13 BHD 17.01

139.49%

Cinema Ticket

$20.97 BHD 7.90

$10.78 BHD 4.06

94.53%

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

$553 BHD 209

$382 BHD 144

44.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,994 BHD 3,014

$8,953 BHD 3,375

-10.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.6 BHD 34.52

$46.73 BHD 17.62

95.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.16 BHD 14.76

$63.8 BHD 24.03

-38.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 BHD 40.37

$84.8 BHD 31.98

26.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 BHD 39.82

$88.8 BHD 33.47

18.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,309 BHD 494

$818 BHD 308

60.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$944 BHD 356

$559 BHD 211

68.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,131 BHD 804

$1,791 BHD 675

18.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,171 BHD 441

$1,244 BHD 469

-5.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,629 BHD 991

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,216 BHD 835

$1,941 BHD 732

14.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,428 BHD 915

$2,360 BHD 890

2.86%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Manama: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,309 in Saar and $818 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: $33.00 in Saar vs $53.0 in Manama. Groceries flip the comparison at $287 vs $265, 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 33% 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.

Saar pays 3% more on average, 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: $1,309 in Saar versus $818 in Manama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Saar. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,995 per month in Saar versus $1,496 in Manama – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,496 in Manama versus $1,995 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 33% less than in Saar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.