Cost of Living Comparison Between Zinj and Manama Cost of Living Comparison Between Zinj and Manama

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $843 in Zinj versus $1,491 in Manama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,338 in Zinj versus $2,432 in Manama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,833 in Zinj versus $3,373 in Manama.

Living in Zinj costs roughly 43% less than in Manama, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Zinj is 37% below, Manama is 11% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.71 BHD 2.52

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.1 BHD 19.95

$52.5 BHD 19.72

1.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.40 BHD 2.78

$7.64 BHD 2.87

-3.14%

Cappuccino

$5.29 BHD 1.99

$5.19 BHD 1.95

1.93%

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

$0.79 BHD 0.30

$0.80 BHD 0.30

-1.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 BHD 0.15

$0.36 BHD 0.14

11.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.07 BHD 3.03

$8.04 BHD 3.02

0.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.67 BHD 4.01

$10.43 BHD 3.92

2.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 BHD 0.65

$1.70 BHD 0.64

1.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.32 BHD 0.50

$1.34 BHD 0.50

-1.49%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 BHD 0.88

$2.43 BHD 0.91

-3.70%

Eggs

$2.40 BHD 0.90

$2.48 BHD 0.93

-3.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.60 BHD 3.23

$8.87 BHD 3.33

-3.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.76 BHD 2.92

$7.73 BHD 2.91

0.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.34 BHD 3.89

$10.10 BHD 3.80

2.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.46 BHD 0.92

$2.43 BHD 0.91

1.23%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 BHD 0.79

$2.02 BHD 0.76

4.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.67 BHD 0.63

$1.70 BHD 0.64

-1.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 BHD 0.44

$1.18 BHD 0.44

-1.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 BHD 0.35

$0.87 BHD 0.33

8.05%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 BHD 0.41

$1.08 BHD 0.40

0.93%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 BHD 0.57

$1.52 BHD 0.57

-0.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.88 BHD 0.33

$0.86 BHD 0.32

2.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.57 BHD 2.47

$6.59 BHD 2.48

-0.30%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.57 BHD 6.98

$18.59 BHD 6.99

-0.11%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.33 BHD 1.25

$3.38 BHD 1.27

-1.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 BHD 1.25

$3.19 BHD 1.20

4.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 BHD 0.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.62 BHD 11.89

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.60 BHD 1.73

$4.53 BHD 1.70

1.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.86 BHD 1.45

$4.01 BHD 1.51

-3.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.37 BHD 9.91

$26.24 BHD 9.87

0.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 BHD 0.21

$0.52 BHD 0.20

7.69%

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

$36.5K BHD 13.7K

$37.1K BHD 13.9K

-1.59%

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

$20.9K BHD 7,844

$20.8K BHD 7,809

0.46%

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

$122 BHD 45.80

$124 BHD 46.47

-1.46%

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

$26.62 BHD 10.01

$27.44 BHD 10.32

-2.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.78 BHD 14.58

$38.91 BHD 14.63

-0.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.6 BHD 26.54

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$43.91 BHD 16.51

Cinema Ticket

$10.67 BHD 4.01

$10.72 BHD 4.03

-0.47%

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

$388 BHD 146

$394 BHD 148

-1.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,105 BHD 3,423

$8,871 BHD 3,336

2.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.76 BHD 17.58

$46.39 BHD 17.44

0.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.7 BHD 23.94

$63.4 BHD 23.82

0.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.6 BHD 31.45

$83.2 BHD 31.26

0.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.1 BHD 33.87

$89.5 BHD 33.63

0.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$822 BHD 309

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$554 BHD 208

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,764 BHD 663

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,223 BHD 460

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,580 BHD 970

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,957 BHD 736

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,391 BHD 899

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 Zinj: April 28, 2026

Last update for Manama: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $53.0 in Zinj vs $52.0 in Manama. Groceries flip the comparison at $264 vs $264, with Zinj 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

Zinj vs Manama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zinj wins on cost – living expenses run 77% lower than in Manama. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Zinj the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,265 in Zinj and $2,237 in Manama to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Shoppers in Manama pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $843 per month in Zinj versus $1,491 in Manama – a 77% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $843 in Zinj versus $1,491 in Manama, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Zinj but tight or insufficient in Manama. The gap between the two cities makes Zinj 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, Zinj 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 Zinj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 77% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.