Cost of living comparison

compared to

Manama vs. San Salvador Cost of Living Summary

Manama is 22.1% more expensive than San Salvador.

Restaurants
pay 22.9% less in Manama
Groceries
pay 23.5% less in Manama
Transportation
pay 28.0% more in Manama
Housing
pay 7.2% less in Manama
Childcare
pay 63.9% more in Manama
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.3 times more in Manama
Clothing
pay 11.7% less in Manama

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

Manama vs. San Salvador Cost Breakdown

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

pay 22.9% less for restaurants

 
San Salvador
Manama
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $7.00
SVC61.08
$6.63
BHD2.500
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$7.00
SVC61.08
$7.43
BHD2.800
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $1.14
SVC9.90
$0.80
BHD0.300

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pay 23.5% less for groceries

 
San Salvador
Manama
Bread
1 loaf
$1.95
SVC17.01
$1.13
BHD0.420
Local cheese (8 oz) $3.77
SVC32.86
$3.36
BHD1.260
Milk (1 gallon) $6.84
SVC59.68
$6.23
BHD2.350

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pay 28.0% more for transportation

 
San Salvador
Manama
Gasoline (1 gallon) $3.82
SVC33.34
$2.09
BHD0.790
Monthly public transit pass $15.00
SVC130.88
$31.83
BHD11.980
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $25,500.00
SVC222,494.28
$34,479.19
BHD12,981.900

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pay 7.2% less for housing

 
San Salvador
Manama
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$43.33
SVC378.09
$40.27
BHD15.160
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $900.00
SVC7,852.74
$803.25
BHD302.440
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $758.33
SVC6,616.66
$544.92
BHD205.170

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pay 63.9% more for childcare

 
San Salvador
Manama
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $162.67
SVC1,419.31
$306.00
BHD115.210
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $6,420.00
SVC56,016.21
$8,971.22
BHD3,377.790

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pay 2.3 times more for entertainment and sports

 
San Salvador
Manama
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $2.00
SVC17.45
$7.96
BHD3.000
Cappuccino in mid-range area $3.25
SVC28.35
$5.26
BHD1.980
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$4.00
SVC34.90
$5.97
BHD2.250

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pay 11.7% less for clothing

 
San Salvador
Manama
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$62.60
SVC546.20
$48.07
BHD18.100
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$45.83
SVC399.91
$59.49
BHD22.400
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$131.80
SVC1,149.99
$86.20
BHD32.450

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: December 2025
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