Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanaa and Al Hidd Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanaa and Al Hidd

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $900 in Sanaa versus $1,794 in Al Hidd.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,466 in Sanaa versus $2,230 in Al Hidd.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,032 in Sanaa versus $2,667 in Al Hidd.

Living in Sanaa costs roughly 50% less than in Al Hidd, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sanaa is 33% below, Al Hidd is 34% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sanaa
Al Hidd
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.11 YER 1,455
$6.78 BHD 2.56
-9.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.83 YER 5,440
$39.30 BHD 14.82
-41.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.15 YER 2,418
$7.27 BHD 2.74
39.61%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.81 YER 432
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 YER 430
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.72 YER 888
$2.60 BHD 0.98
43.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14 YER 273
$0.83 BHD 0.31
37.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46 YER 110
$0.12 BHD 0.05
283.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$8.20 BHD 3.09
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$10.46 BHD 3.94
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sanaa
Al Hidd
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.91 YER 455
$1.64 BHD 0.62
16.46%
White Bread (500g)
$1.20 YER 287
$1.28 BHD 0.48
-6.25%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.47 YER 589
$2.30 BHD 0.87
7.39%
Eggs
$4.03 YER 959
$2.47 BHD 0.93
63.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.86 YER 2,350
$8.80 BHD 3.32
12.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.82 YER 1,625
$7.81 BHD 2.95
-12.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.15 YER 4,563
$10.25 BHD 3.86
86.83%
Apples (1kg)
$3.92 YER 933
$2.38 BHD 0.90
64.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.44 YER 344
$2.11 BHD 0.80
-31.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.41 YER 574
$1.77 BHD 0.67
36.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.64 YER 391
$1.21 BHD 0.46
35.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.70 YER 405
$0.94 BHD 0.35
80.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.57 YER 374
$1.08 BHD 0.41
45.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.64 YER 151
$1.50 BHD 0.57
-57.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.74 YER 176
$0.88 BHD 0.33
-15.91%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$3.28 YER 782
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 YER 394
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 YER 772
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 YER 932
$6.52 BHD 2.46
-40.03%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$18.80 BHD 7.09
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$3.32 BHD 1.25
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.21 BHD 1.21
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sanaa
Al Hidd
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 YER 101
$1.60 BHD 0.60
-73.75%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$82.1 YER 19.6K
$52.4 BHD 19.77
56.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.21 YER 1,004
$4.56 BHD 1.72
-7.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.99 YER 952
$4.08 BHD 1.54
-2.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.32 YER 1,745
$26.02 BHD 9.81
-71.87%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.68 YER 640
$0.40 BHD 0.15
570.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.4K YER 3.9M
$19.9K BHD 7,504
-17.43%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.5K YER 8.0M
$20.5K BHD 7,715
63.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sanaa
Al Hidd
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$72.3 YER 17.2K
$123 BHD 46.31
-41.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.70 YER 3,266
$26.80 BHD 10.10
-48.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.45 YER 9,163
$38.18 BHD 14.39
0.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sanaa
Al Hidd
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$66.6 YER 15.9K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.68 YER 3,975
$53.9 BHD 20.32
-69.05%
Cinema Ticket
$5.90 YER 1,405
$10.75 BHD 4.05
-45.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sanaa
Al Hidd
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$116 YER 27.5K
$393 BHD 148
-70.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,808 YER 430.7K
$8,888 BHD 3,351
-79.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sanaa
Al Hidd
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.29 YER 9,363
$45.74 BHD 17.25
-14.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$148 YER 35.2K
$61.7 BHD 23.27
139.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$41.65 YER 9,924
$83.1 BHD 31.34
-49.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.36 YER 10.1K
$88.8 BHD 33.49
-52.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sanaa
Al Hidd
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$167 YER 39.8K
$664 BHD 250
-74.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$95.3 YER 22.7K
$925 BHD 349
-89.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$410 YER 97.8K
$790 BHD 298
-48.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$265 YER 63.2K
$807 BHD 304
-67.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,123 YER 982.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$819 YER 195.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sanaa
Al Hidd
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$191 YER 45.5K
$1,946 BHD 734
-90.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.25
8.56
31.43%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sanaa: May 30, 2026

Last update for Al Hidd: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $167 in Sanaa and $664 in Al Hidd. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Hidd pays 919% 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: $23.00 in Sanaa vs $39.00 in Al Hidd for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $264 per month, with Sanaa cheaper across the board.

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
Sanaa vs Al Hidd: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al Hidd cheaper than Sanaa?
Sanaa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 99% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Sanaa or Al Hidd?
On paper, Al Hidd earns 919% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Sanaa and Al Hidd?
Rent for a central apartment: $167 in Sanaa versus $664 in Al Hidd. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Sanaa runs roughly 56% less than in Al Hidd. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $116 in Sanaa versus $393 in Al Hidd. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for Sanaa or Al Hidd?
At $900 in Sanaa versus $1,794 in Al Hidd, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sanaa but tight or insufficient in Al Hidd. The gap between the two cities makes Sanaa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is it better to live in Sanaa or Al Hidd?
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.
Which city is safer, Sanaa or Al Hidd?
Safety-wise, Sanaa and Al Hidd are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Sanaa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 99% less than in Al Hidd. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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