🇦🇪 Dubai vs 🇧🇭 Manama
Cost of Living Comparison (2026)
Manama is 47% cheaper than Dubai
Quick answer
Comparing Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Manama, Bahrain: a moderate single-person monthly budget is approximately $3,846 in Dubai versus $2,035 in Manama. Manama is roughly 47% cheaper overall. Central 1-bed rent: $2,286/mo (Dubai) vs $800/mo (Manama). The totals use the single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Key facts
- Moderate budget: $3,846/mo in Dubai single person — city-centre rent + modeled non-housing categories.
- Moderate budget: $2,035/mo in Manama single person — like-for-like city-centre basket.
- Central 1-bed rent $2,286/mo in Dubai · $800/mo in Manama.
- Cheaper overall: Manama ~47% cheaper than Dubai.
- Source World Bank ICP + national statistics · CC BY 4.0.
Monthly Budget Comparison
| Lifestyle | 🇦🇪 Dubai | 🇧🇭 Manama | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | $2,700/mo | $1,400/mo | -48% |
| Moderate | $3,846/mo | $2,035/mo | -47% |
| Comfortable | $5,750/mo | $3,050/mo | -47% |
The Moderate row equals the category table below: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending. Budget and Comfortable scale that same basket.
Cost Breakdown by Category
| Category | 🇦🇪 Dubai | 🇧🇭 Manama | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Housing (1-bed, center) | $2,286/mo | $800/mo | -65% |
| Groceries & Food | $480/mo | $380/mo | -21% |
| Dining Out | $240/mo | $190/mo | -21% |
| Transport | $240/mo | $190/mo | -21% |
| Utilities & Internet | $240/mo | $190/mo | -21% |
| Healthcare | $192/mo | $152/mo | -21% |
| Leisure & Personal | $168/mo | $133/mo | -21% |
Category sum = Moderate budget. Basis: single-person city-centre basket: canonical 1-bedroom city-centre rent plus modeled groceries, dining, transport, utilities/internet, healthcare, and leisure/personal spending.
Quick Facts
🇦🇪 Dubai
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $3,846
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $2,286/mo
- Cappuccino
- $4.50
- Inexpensive meal
- $10.00
- Monthly transit pass
- $80
- Internet speed
- 200 Mbps
- Safety index
- 88/100(very safe)
- Healthcare index
- 88/100
- Country
- United Arab Emirates
🇧🇭 Manama
- Monthly cost (moderate)
- $2,035
- 1-bed rent (center)
- $800/mo
- Cappuccino
- $4.50
- Inexpensive meal
- $5.00
- Internet speed
- 95 Mbps
- Safety index
- 82/100(very safe)
- Healthcare index
- 90/100
- Country
- Bahrain
Explore more: Dubai city guide | Manama city guide | United Arab Emirates | Bahrain