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: $820 in Zinj versus $1,464 in Manama.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,334 in Zinj versus $2,367 in Manama.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,847 in Zinj versus $3,270 in Manama.

Living in Zinj costs roughly 44% less than in Manama, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Zinj is 39% below, Manama is 9% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.69 BHD 2.52

$6.50 BHD 2.45

2.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.0 BHD 19.97

$53.3 BHD 20.08

-0.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.44 BHD 2.81

$7.65 BHD 2.88

-2.75%

Cappuccino

$5.33 BHD 2.01

$5.22 BHD 1.97

2.11%

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

$0.80 BHD 0.30

$0.84 BHD 0.32

-4.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 BHD 0.14

$0.39 BHD 0.15

-5.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.13 BHD 3.07

$7.81 BHD 2.94

4.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.51 BHD 3.96

$10.66 BHD 4.02

-1.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 BHD 0.65

$1.70 BHD 0.64

0.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 BHD 0.48

$1.27 BHD 0.48

0.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.39 BHD 0.90

$2.32 BHD 0.87

3.02%

Eggs

$2.40 BHD 0.91

$2.49 BHD 0.94

-3.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.83 BHD 3.33

$8.53 BHD 3.22

3.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.69 BHD 2.90

$7.89 BHD 2.97

-2.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.35 BHD 3.90

$10.02 BHD 3.78

3.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 BHD 0.88

$2.43 BHD 0.92

-3.70%

Banana (1kg)

$2.01 BHD 0.76

$2.05 BHD 0.77

-1.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 BHD 0.67

Tomato (1kg)

$1.20 BHD 0.45

$1.22 BHD 0.46

-1.64%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 BHD 0.34

$0.95 BHD 0.36

-6.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 BHD 0.41

$1.04 BHD 0.39

4.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.51 BHD 0.57

$1.44 BHD 0.54

4.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 BHD 0.35

$0.87 BHD 0.33

6.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.56 BHD 2.47

$6.80 BHD 2.56

-3.53%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.53 BHD 6.98

$18.25 BHD 6.88

1.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.50 BHD 1.32

$3.34 BHD 1.26

4.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 BHD 1.25

$3.20 BHD 1.21

3.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 BHD 0.30

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.72 BHD 11.96

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.70 BHD 1.77

$4.57 BHD 1.72

2.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.02 BHD 1.52

$3.89 BHD 1.47

3.34%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.05 BHD 10.19

$26.18 BHD 9.87

3.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.56 BHD 0.21

$0.52 BHD 0.19

7.69%

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

$36.6K BHD 13.8K

$37.1K BHD 14.0K

-1.52%

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

$20.7K BHD 7,804

$20.7K BHD 7,807

-0.04%

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

$120 BHD 45.12

$121 BHD 45.54

-0.94%

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

$26.92 BHD 10.14

$26.63 BHD 10.04

1.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.00 BHD 14.70

$37.82 BHD 14.26

3.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.7 BHD 26.65

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.42 BHD 16.74

Cinema Ticket

$10.59 BHD 3.99

$10.56 BHD 3.98

0.28%

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

$391 BHD 147

$387 BHD 146

0.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,920 BHD 3,362

$8,865 BHD 3,341

0.62%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.68 BHD 17.22

$45.59 BHD 17.18

0.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.4 BHD 23.90

$63.1 BHD 23.79

0.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.6 BHD 31.12

$81.8 BHD 30.84

0.93%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.2 BHD 33.23

$87.6 BHD 33.00

0.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$801 BHD 302

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$549 BHD 207

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,817 BHD 685

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,205 BHD 454

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,621 BHD 988

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,975 BHD 744

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,333 BHD 879

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Manama: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $53.0 in Zinj vs $53.0 in Manama. Groceries flip the comparison at $265 vs $262, 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

Zinj vs Manama: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Zinj wins on cost – living expenses run 79% 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 $1,230 in Zinj and $2,196 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 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $820 per month in Zinj versus $1,464 in Manama – a 79% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $820 in Zinj versus $1,464 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 79% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.