Popular cities
Manama Prices & Cost of Living 2026
Bahrain · Big city — Manama is about 54% cheaper than New York. Not just exchange rates: what a fair price is, where it turns into a rip-off, and what that means in your money.
Manama prices at a glance
Just got quoted a price? Check it
Pick the item and type the price you were quoted or paid — instant verdict. If you actually paid it, you can share it right here.
Open in the app: see it in your money & log it ›Free · no sign-up · Rip-off guide
Manama travel difficulty
Taxis may skip the meter; Careem and Uber give fixed fares
English widely spoken; signs in Arabic and English
No metro, sparse buses; get around by Careem or Uber
Cards and contactless almost everywhere; cash for souq stalls
Low street crime; Iranian drone/missile attacks — US Level 3
Good to knowAt the airport insist on the meter, or book Careem/Uber instead
Handy apps: Careem · Uber
Visas depend on your passport, so they are not scored. Info on this city is thin, so some scores lean on country-level data. Felt different on the ground? Tell other travelers below. Travel difficulty in the Middle East & Africa › Difficulty ranking for 502 cities ›
In your money
Manama is about 54% cheaper than New York
Based on 8 things travelers buy most, compared with New York. Each pair of bars is the same purchase in both cities, converted to your currency. Set your own city and currency in “My basis” above.
Manama in numbers
- 🍜12 local meals
- ☕20 coffees
- 🍺10 beers
- 🚕15 5-km taxi rides
- 💆2.5 h of massage
- 🏨0.9 hotel nights
- Local meal39 min · New York 52 min
- Coffee23 min · New York 15 min
- Beer45 min · New York 23 min
- Taxi32 min · New York 59 min
- Entry ticket#46 cheapest
- Street food#106 cheapest
- Bottled water#140 cheapest
- Beer#18 priciest
- Cocktail & wine#28 priciest
Manama price guide & rip-off thresholds
Manama travel budget
Per person per day, estimated. Flights and shopping not included.
See 4-day, 1-week and 1-month budget tables › · Plan a multi-city trip budget ›
How to spend money in Manama
Live prices reported in Manama
Loading…
FAQ
Is Manama cheaper than New York?
Across 8 things travelers buy most (meals, coffee, beer, taxis, hotels…), Manama is about 54% cheaper than New York. A local meal is about BD 3 (≈ $7.98) and a coffee about BD 1.8 (≈ $4.79).
How hard is Manama to travel?
Averaging rip-offs, language, getting around, payments and safety, Manama scores 2.4/5 — 'moderate'. The main thing to watch is safety (4/5): Low street crime; Iranian drone/missile attacks — US Level 3. Tip: At the airport insist on the meter, or book Careem/Uber instead
Is Manama good for first-time travelers?
With a little preparation, yes (2.4/5). Safety: Low street crime; Iranian drone/missile attacks — US Level 3. Tip: At the airport insist on the meter, or book Careem/Uber instead
What is a realistic daily budget for Manama?
Mid-range (3-star hotel, local meals plus a dinner out, two taxi rides) is about $188 a day. Guesthouses and street food bring it to about $54; 4-star and restaurants push it to about $410.
How much does it cost to live in Manama for a month?
A short-term studio (about $1,808) plus food, transport and a SIM (about $1,267) comes to roughly $3,075 a month. A local long-term lease (studio about BD 300) brings it down a lot.
How much should a taxi cost in Manama?
For 5 km in town, expect BD 2 – BD 4; anything above BD 4.8 is suspicious.
Where do these numbers come from?
Base prices start from public cost-of-living data; once 3+ traveler reports come in, the app blends in the median of what people actually paid.
Fair range & rip-off line — each item gets its own spread (tight for transit, wide for street food). Above 1.2× the top of the fair range is flagged as a likely rip-off.
Budgets add up item prices for the lifestyle described above. Peak season and prime tourist spots run higher.
Exchange rate as of October 2026: 1 USD = BD 0.38. Last updated 2026-10-05.