Cost of living comparison

compared to

San Jose vs. Manama Cost of Living Summary

San Jose is 31.7% more expensive than Manama.

Restaurants
pay 2.3 times more in San Jose
Groceries
pay 94.0% more in San Jose
Transportation
pay 22.0% more in San Jose
Housing
pay 0.3% less in San Jose
Childcare
pay 76.4% more in San Jose
Entertainment and Sports
pay 17.7% less in San Jose
Clothing
pay 30.6% more in San Jose

The cost of restaurants, groceries, childcare, clothing, and transportation in San Jose are more expensive than in Manama. Expenses including entertainment and sports and housing are lower in San Jose. Notably, restaurants, groceries, and childcare are significantly more expensive in San Jose.

San Jose vs. Manama Cost Breakdown

If you lived in San Jose instead of Manama, you would:

pay 2.3 times more for restaurants

 
Manama
San Jose
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $5.30
BHD2.010
$12.18
CRC5,543.94
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$7.43
BHD2.810
$11.62
CRC5,289.15
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.86
BHD0.330
$2.69
CRC1,222.04

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pay 94.0% more for groceries

 
Manama
San Jose
Bread
1 loaf
$1.08
BHD0.410
$3.09
CRC1,407.40
Local cheese (8 oz) $4.33
BHD1.640
$5.33
CRC2,425.82
Milk (1 gallon) $5.35
BHD2.030
$8.95
CRC4,075.15

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pay 22.0% more for transportation

 
Manama
San Jose
Gasoline (1 gallon) $2.53
BHD0.960
$5.80
CRC2,637.53
Monthly public transit pass $37.13
BHD14.060
$65.71
CRC29,903.89
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $37,115.81
BHD14,058.540
$21,990.00
CRC10M

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pay 0.3% less for housing

 
Manama
San Jose
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$35.14
BHD13.310
$59.17
CRC26,929.00
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $995.34
BHD377.010
$942.15
CRC429K
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $645.13
BHD244.360
$758.77
CRC345K

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pay 76.4% more for childcare

 
Manama
San Jose
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $489.38
BHD185.370
$980.95
CRC446K
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $11,017.71
BHD4,173.230
$17,102.76
CRC8M

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pay 17.7% less for entertainment and sports

 
Manama
San Jose
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $6.63
BHD2.510
$3.29
CRC1,495.19
Cappuccino in mid-range area $4.94
BHD1.870
$4.44
CRC2,020.72
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$5.30
BHD2.010
$5.91
CRC2,691.35

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pay 30.6% more for clothing

 
Manama
San Jose
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$51.08
BHD19.350
$71.32
CRC32,458.76
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$57.58
BHD21.810
$55.79
CRC25,389.75
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$87.84
BHD33.270
$128.46
CRC58,460.15

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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 October 2026). How we calculate this

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