Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanad and Manama Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanad and Manama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,260 in Sanad versus $1,496 in Manama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,995 in Sanad versus $2,408 in Manama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,730 in Sanad versus $3,319 in Manama.

Living in Sanad costs roughly 16% less than in Manama, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sanad is 6% below, Manama is 12% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.67 BHD 2.52

$6.48 BHD 2.44

2.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.7 BHD 19.88

$53.5 BHD 20.16

-1.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 BHD 2.85

$7.27 BHD 2.74

3.99%

Cappuccino

$5.21 BHD 1.97

$5.34 BHD 2.01

-2.43%

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

$0.79 BHD 0.30

$0.87 BHD 0.33

-9.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 BHD 0.15

$0.36 BHD 0.14

8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.18 BHD 3.08

$8.09 BHD 3.05

1.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.59 BHD 3.99

$10.54 BHD 3.97

0.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 BHD 0.45

$1.71 BHD 0.64

-29.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.35 BHD 0.51

$1.27 BHD 0.48

6.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.38 BHD 0.90

$2.43 BHD 0.91

-2.06%

Eggs

$2.47 BHD 0.93

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.92 BHD 3.36

$8.59 BHD 3.24

3.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.80 BHD 2.94

$7.74 BHD 2.92

0.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.23 BHD 3.86

$10.28 BHD 3.88

-0.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 BHD 0.86

$2.36 BHD 0.89

-2.97%

Banana (1kg)

$2.04 BHD 0.77

$2.11 BHD 0.79

-3.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 BHD 0.66

$1.77 BHD 0.67

-1.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 BHD 0.44

$1.18 BHD 0.44

-0.85%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 BHD 0.35

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 BHD 0.41

$1.09 BHD 0.41

-0.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 BHD 0.55

$1.46 BHD 0.55

-0.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 BHD 0.18

$0.86 BHD 0.32

-44.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.73 BHD 2.54

$6.58 BHD 2.48

2.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.90 BHD 7.13

$18.88 BHD 7.12

0.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.39 BHD 1.28

$3.44 BHD 1.30

-1.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 BHD 1.20

$3.29 BHD 1.24

-2.74%

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)

$4.59 BHD 1.73

$4.58 BHD 1.72

0.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.03 BHD 1.52

$3.96 BHD 1.49

1.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.54 BHD 10.01

$26.86 BHD 10.13

-1.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 BHD 0.21

$0.52 BHD 0.19

9.62%

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

$37.4K BHD 14.1K

$36.8K BHD 13.9K

1.51%

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

$21.1K BHD 7,951

$20.7K BHD 7,796

1.98%

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

$122 BHD 46.06

$121 BHD 45.53

1.16%

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

$16.22 BHD 6.12

$26.86 BHD 10.13

-39.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.12 BHD 14.37

$38.52 BHD 14.52

-1.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.7 BHD 30.04

$71.0 BHD 26.78

12.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.13 BHD 17.01

Cinema Ticket

$10.73 BHD 4.04

$10.78 BHD 4.06

-0.46%

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

$394 BHD 148

$382 BHD 144

3.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,982 BHD 3,386

$8,953 BHD 3,375

0.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.01 BHD 17.35

$46.73 BHD 17.62

-1.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$64.0 BHD 24.12

$63.8 BHD 24.03

0.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.9 BHD 30.89

$84.8 BHD 31.98

-3.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.6 BHD 25.11

$88.8 BHD 33.47

-24.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$656 BHD 247

$818 BHD 308

-19.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$398 BHD 150

$559 BHD 211

-28.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,432 BHD 540

$1,791 BHD 675

-20.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$797 BHD 301

$1,244 BHD 469

-35.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,629 BHD 991

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,941 BHD 732

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,171 BHD 442

$2,360 BHD 890

-50.36%

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 Sanad: June 1, 2026

Last update for Manama: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $656 in Sanad and $818 in Manama. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manama pays 101% 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: $53.0 in Sanad vs $53.0 in Manama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $256 vs $265 per month, with Sanad 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

Sanad vs Manama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sanad wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Manama. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sanad the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Manama earns 101% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $656 in Sanad versus $818 in Manama. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 4% higher in Manama. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,260 per month in Sanad versus $1,496 in Manama – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,260 in Sanad versus $1,496 in Manama, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sanad but tight or insufficient in Manama. The gap between the two cities makes Sanad 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, Sanad 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 Sanad gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.