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: $914 in Sanaa versus $1,761 in Al Hidd.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,460 in Sanaa versus $2,233 in Al Hidd.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,006 in Sanaa versus $2,705 in Al Hidd.

Living in Sanaa costs roughly 48% less than in Al Hidd, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sanaa is 32% below, Al Hidd is 32% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sanaa
Al Hidd
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.33 YER 1,499
$6.72 BHD 2.53
-5.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$22.96 YER 5,433
$39.33 BHD 14.82
-41.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.47 YER 2,479
$7.46 BHD 2.81
40.35%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.76 YER 417
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82 YER 431
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.69 YER 873
$2.73 BHD 1.03
35.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16 YER 274
$0.81 BHD 0.31
43.21%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47 YER 111
$0.13 BHD 0.05
261.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$8.08 BHD 3.05
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$10.41 BHD 3.92
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sanaa
Al Hidd
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.88 YER 446
$1.73 BHD 0.65
8.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.22 YER 289
$1.29 BHD 0.49
-5.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.48 YER 588
$2.32 BHD 0.87
6.90%
Eggs
$4.03 YER 953
$2.47 BHD 0.93
63.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.87 YER 2,337
$8.77 BHD 3.31
12.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.69 YER 1,582
$7.88 BHD 2.97
-15.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.58 YER 4,397
$10.07 BHD 3.79
84.51%
Apples (1kg)
$3.85 YER 912
$2.46 BHD 0.93
56.50%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 YER 329
$2.05 BHD 0.77
-32.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.39 YER 566
$1.74 BHD 0.66
37.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.64 YER 389
$1.21 BHD 0.46
35.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 YER 424
$0.88 BHD 0.33
103.41%
Onion (1kg)
$1.62 YER 384
$1.04 BHD 0.39
55.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.63 YER 149
$1.50 BHD 0.57
-58.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.73 YER 172
$0.94 BHD 0.35
-22.34%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$3.38 YER 800
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.67 YER 395
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 YER 775
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.05 YER 958
$6.51 BHD 2.45
-37.79%
Wine (Bottle)
-
$18.37 BHD 6.92
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$3.47 BHD 1.31
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.18 BHD 1.20
-
🚌 Getting Around
Sanaa
Al Hidd
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.42 YER 101
$1.55 BHD 0.59
-72.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$81.8 YER 19.4K
$52.9 BHD 19.95
54.50%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.15 YER 982
$4.67 BHD 1.76
-11.13%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$4.03 YER 953
$3.95 BHD 1.49
2.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.02 YER 1,661
$26.75 BHD 10.08
-73.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.74 YER 648
$0.37 BHD 0.14
640.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.7K YER 3.9M
$19.7K BHD 7,422
-15.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.9K YER 8.0M
$20.6K BHD 7,778
64.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sanaa
Al Hidd
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.5 YER 16.9K
$123 BHD 46.51
-42.07%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.56 YER 3,209
$27.16 BHD 10.24
-50.07%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$38.21 YER 9,042
$38.86 BHD 14.65
-1.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sanaa
Al Hidd
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$67.4 YER 16.0K
-
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.43 YER 3,889
$53.8 BHD 20.29
-69.47%
Cinema Ticket
$5.89 YER 1,394
$10.74 BHD 4.05
-45.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sanaa
Al Hidd
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$112 YER 26.6K
$384 BHD 145
-70.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$1,809 YER 428.2K
$8,780 BHD 3,309
-79.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sanaa
Al Hidd
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.44 YER 9,336
$45.44 BHD 17.13
-13.20%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$147 YER 34.8K
$62.3 BHD 23.47
135.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$40.85 YER 9,668
$82.6 BHD 31.15
-50.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$41.77 YER 9,885
$89.1 BHD 33.56
-53.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sanaa
Al Hidd
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$166 YER 39.4K
$663 BHD 250
-74.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$95.4 YER 22.6K
$936 BHD 353
-89.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$403 YER 95.4K
$808 BHD 305
-50.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$261 YER 61.7K
$783 BHD 295
-66.68%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,070 YER 963.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$808 YER 191.1K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sanaa
Al Hidd
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$190 YER 45.0K
$1,944 BHD 733
-90.21%
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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Al Hidd: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $166 in Sanaa and $663 in Al Hidd. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Hidd pays 922% 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 $241 vs $265 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 93% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Sanaa or Al Hidd?
On paper, salaries run 922% lower in Al Hidd. 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: $166 in Sanaa versus $663 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 54% 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 $112 in Sanaa versus $384 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 living in Sanaa or in Al Hidd?
At $914 in Sanaa versus $1,761 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 in 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 93% 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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