Cost of living comparison

compared to

Manama vs. Apia Cost of Living Summary

Manama is 52.1% more expensive than Apia.

Restaurants
pay 76.4% less in Manama
Groceries
pay 3.6% less in Manama
Transportation
pay 37.6% less in Manama
Housing
pay 4.9 times more in Manama
Entertainment and Sports
pay 55.6% more in Manama

The cost of housing and entertainment and sports in Manama are more expensive than in Apia. Expenses including restaurants, transportation, and groceries are lower in Manama. Notably, housing is significantly more expensive in Manama.

Manama vs. Apia Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Manama instead of Apia, you would:

pay 76.4% less for restaurants

 
Apia
Manama
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $47.26
WST130.00
$5.30
BHD2.010
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$14.54
WST40.00
$7.43
BHD2.810
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $1.82
WST5.00
$0.86
BHD0.330

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pay 3.6% less for groceries

 
Apia
Manama
Bread
1 loaf
$0.82
WST2.25
$1.08
BHD0.410
Local cheese (8 oz) $0.45
WST1.25
$4.33
BHD1.640
Milk (1 gallon) $6.88
WST18.93
$5.35
BHD2.030

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pay 37.6% less for transportation

 
Apia
Manama
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.13
WST11.36
$2.53
BHD0.960
Monthly public transit pass ?? $37.13
BHD14.050
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) ?? $37,115.81
BHD14,050.110

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pay 4.9 times more for housing

 
Apia
Manama
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$36.35
WST100.00
$35.14
BHD13.300
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area ?? $995.34
BHD376.780
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center ?? $645.13
BHD244.210

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pay (unknown) more for childcare

 
Apia
Manama
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly ?? $489.38
BHD185.260
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters ?? $11,017.71
BHD4,170.730

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pay 55.6% more for entertainment and sports

 
Apia
Manama
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $3.45
WST9.50
$6.63
BHD2.510
Cappuccino in mid-range area $2.91
WST8.00
$4.94
BHD1.870
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$6.18
WST17.00
$5.30
BHD2.010

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pay (unknown) more for clothing

 
Apia
Manama
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
?? $51.08
BHD19.340
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
?? $57.58
BHD21.800
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
?? $87.84
BHD33.250

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We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Sources: MyLifeElsewhere's cost-of-living dataset (prices updated November 2026). How we calculate this

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