Cost of Living in Bahrain for Single Person & Family in 2024

Average Cost of Living in Bahrain for International Students

Bahrain has become a popular study destination for international students due to its high-quality education and diverse culture. 

Below is a breakdown of the typical living costs for international students in Bahrain:

Area of Expense Monthly Cost (in BHD)
Accommodation BHD 136 – BHD 227
Food and Groceries BHD 91 – BHD 136
Transportation BHD 14 – BHD 27
Utilities BHD 34 – BHD 68
Miscellaneous BHD 23 – BHD 45

Average Cost of Living in Bahrain for Bachelors, Couples & Families

Understanding the average cost of living in Bahrain is crucial for financial planning, whether you're single, a couple, or raising a family.

The table below will help you plan your finances accordingly:

Area of Expense Bachelors Couples Families
Accommodation 200 BHD - 300 BHD/month 500 BHD - 800 BHD/month 400 BHD - 900 BHD/month
Food 10.00 BHD/meal 20.00 BHD/meal 65.00BHD/meal
Transportation 10 BHD/month 20 BHD/month 40 BHD/month
Utilities 40 BHD - 60 BHD/month 60 BHD - 80 BHD/month 70 BHD - 100 BHD/month
Entertainment 20 BHD - 50/month 40 BHD - 60 BHD/month 50 BHD - 80 BHD/month

Cost of Living in Major Cities in Bahrain

Here is an overview of the average cost of living in some of the top cities in Bahrain:

 

Cost of Living in Manama

The cost of living in Manama is as follows:

Area of Expense Bachelors Couples Families
Accommodation 200 BHD- 400 BHD/month 500 BHD- 800 BHD/month 800 BHD - 1,200 BHD/month
Food 2 BHD - 5 BHD/meal 10 BHD- 30 BHD/meal 40 BHD- 70 BHD/meal
Transportation 10 BHD - 15 BHD/month 20 BHD - 30 BHD/month 40 BHD - 60 BHD/month
Utilities 45 BHD - 60 BHD/month 60 BHD - 80 BHD/month 80 BHD - 120 BHD/month
Entertainment 20 BHD - 40 BHD/month 40 BHD - 70 BHD/month 60 BHD- 80 BHD/month

Cost of Living in Al Muharraq

The cost of living in Al Muharraq is as follows:

Area of Expense Bachelors Couples Families
Accommodation 200 BHD- 350 BHD/month 300 BHD- 400 BHD/month 350 BHD- 500 BHD/month
Food 1 BHD - 5 BHD/meal 10 BHD - 30 BHD/meal 20 BHD - 50 BHD/meal
Transportation 0.50 BHD/ticket 1 BHD - 2 BHD/ticket 4 BHD - 8 BHD/ticket
Utilities 30 BHD - 50 BHD/month 40 BHD - 60 BHD/month 50 BHD - 80 BHD/month
Entertainment 20 BHD/month 40 BHD/month 80 BHD/month

Cost of Living in Isa Town

The cost of living in Isa Town is as follows:

Area of Expense Bachelors Couples Families
Accommodation NA NA 500 BHD/month
Food 3 BHD/meal 10 BHD/meal 15 BHD - 20 BHD/meal
Transportation 5 BHD/month 10 BHD/month 20 BHD month
Utilities NA NA NA
Entertainment 60 BHD/month 100 BHD- 120 BHD/month 200 BHD - 250 BHD/month

Cost of Living in Riffa

The cost of living in Riffa is as follows:

Area of Expense Bachelors Couples Families
Accommodation 380 BHD/month NA NA
Food 1 BHD - 5 BHD/meal 12 BHD- 30 BHD/meal 20 BHD - 50 BHD/meal
Transportation 1 BHD - 3.5 BHD/km 2 BHD - 7 BHD/km 4 BHD - 10 BHD/km
Utilities 30 BHD - 50 BHD/month 50 BHD - 70 BHD/month 100 BHD - 150 BHD/month
Entertainment 3 BHD - 5 BHD/cinema ticket 3 BHD - 5 BHD/cinema ticket 3 BHD - 5 BHD/cinema ticket

Cost of Living in Budaiya

The cost of living in Budaiya is as follows:

Area of Expense Bachelors Couples Families
Accommodation NA NA NA
Food 1 BHD - 5 BHD/meal 12 BHD- 30 BHD/meal 20 BHD - 50 BHD/meal
Transportation NA NA NA
Utilities 35 BHD - 50 BHD/month 60 BHD - 80 BHD/month 100 BHD - 150 BHD/month
Entertainment 3 BHD - 5 BHD/cinema ticket 3 BHD - 5 BHD/cinema ticket 3 BHD - 5 BHD/cinema ticket

Factors Impacting the Cost of Living in Bahrain

What is the Average Income in Bahrain?

The income needed to live comfortably in Bahrain varies based on individual circumstances:

  • Student: A student typically needs BHD 350 to BHD 600 per month to live comfortably.
  • Bachelor: A monthly income of BHD 500 to BHD 700 is enough to cover basic expenses for a single person. 
  • Couple: A couple usually requires a combined income of BHD 800 to BHD 1,200 per month to live comfortably.
  • Families: A family of four will need an income of BHD 1,200 to BHD 1,800 per month for families.

The table below mentions some of the jobs in Bahrain and their salaries:

Job Title Average Salary (BHD)
Doctors and Surgeons 444.4 - 6,055.5 BHD
Judges 52,270.0 BHD
Orthodontists 2,300.0 BHD
Lawyers 1,000.0 - 1,222.2 BHD
Senior Bank Manager 340.0 - 415.5 BHD
Chief Executive Officer 3,500.0 BHD
Financial Service Professionals 960.2 BHD
Regional Directors 1,731.0 BHD
Aviation Safety Manager 3,000.0 BHD

How Expensive is Bahrain Compared to Other Countries?

Compared to other Persian Gulf countries, Bahrain is fairly reasonable when it comes to the cost of living. For instance, it costs 20% less to live in Bahrain than in Dubai, UAE. Bahrain offers a good balance between expenses and quality of life, attracting people around the world. 

 Below is a comparison of living costs between Bahrain and other major cities:

City Accommodation (Monthly) Transportation (Monthly) Meal for 2 People Other Expenses (Monthly)
Manama Starting BHD 300 Starting BHD 20 Starting BHD 15 Starting BHD 50
London Starting EUR 2,000 Starting EUR 200 Starting EUR 90 Starting EUR 200
Jakarta Starting IDR 5,000,000 Starting IDR 100,000 Starting IDR 50,000/meal Starting IDR 750,000
Sydney Starting AUD 650 Starting AUD 160 Starting AUD 150 Starting AUD 190
Madrid Starting EUR 1,000 Starting EUR 50 Starting EUR 60 Starting EUR 150

Tips for Reducing the Cost of Living in Bahrain

FAQs about the Cost of Living in Bahrain