Cost of Living Comparison [Muscat vs. Manama]

 

As part of www.jobibex.com effort to provide continuous coverage on employment market in Oman we often cover cost of living in Oman.  In this report we compare cost of living between Muscat, Oman and Manama, Bahrain according to https://www.numbeo.com.

 

Key Indices

The following table summarizes key indices differences between Muscat and Manama:

 

Indices Difference
Consumer Prices in Manama are 13.64% higher than in Muscat
Consumer Prices Including Rent in Manama are 13.28% higher than in Muscat
Rent Prices in Manama are 12.49% higher than in Muscat
Restaurant Prices in Manama are 3.96% higher than in Muscat
Groceries Prices in Manama are 21.45% higher than in Muscat
Local Purchasing Power in Manama is 35.99% lower than in Muscat

 

Key Itemized Difference

 

The table below lists and compares key components of Consumer Price Index within the two Gulf cities, Muscat and Manama:

  Muscat Manama Difference
Restaurants
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant RO2.20 RO2.04      -7.20 %
(BHD2.16 ) (BHD2.00)
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course RO15.00 RO16.33      +8.89 %
(BHD14.69) (BHD16.00)
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) RO2.60 RO2.35      -9.70 %
(BHD2.55) (BHD2.30)
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter draught) RO3.00 RO3.57      +19.09 %
(BHD2.94 ) (BHD3.50)
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) RO3.00 RO3.57      +19.09 %
(BHD2.94) (BHD3.50)
Cappuccino (regular) RO1.76 RO1.77      +0.38 %
(BHD1.72) (BHD1.73)
Coke/Pepsi (0.33 liter bottle) RO0.19 RO0.18      -5.67 %
(BHD0.18) (BHD0.17)
Water (0.33 liter bottle) RO0.11 RO0.10      -3.92 %
(BHD0.10) (BHD0.10)
Markets
Milk (regular), (1 liter) RO0.58 RO0.58      -0.44 %
(BHD0.57) (BHD0.56)
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (500g) RO0.45 RO0.41      -8.70 %
(BHD0.44) (BHD0.40)
Rice (white), (1kg) RO0.80 RO0.75      -6.04 %
(BHD0.78) (BHD0.74)
Eggs (regular) (12) RO1.03 RO0.91      -11.68 %
(BHD1.01) (BHD0.89)
Local Cheese (1kg) RO2.02 RO2.84      +40.22 %
(BHD1.98) (BHD2.78)
Chicken Breasts (Boneless, Skinless), (1kg) RO2.38 RO2.49      +4.47 %
(BHD2.33) (BHD2.44)
Beef Round (1kg) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) RO3.68 RO4.13      +12.29 %
(BHD3.61) (BHD4.05)
Apples (1kg) RO0.79 RO0.82      +4.51 %
(BHD0.77) (BHD0.81)
Banana (1kg) RO0.59 RO0.75      +27.27 %
(BHD0.58) (BHD0.74)
Oranges (1kg) RO0.67 RO0.78      +15.28 %
(BHD0.66) (BHD0.76)
Tomato (1kg) RO0.50 RO0.67      +34.94 %
(BHD0.49) (BHD0.66)
Potato (1kg) RO0.37 RO0.54      +45.86 %
(BHD0.36) (BHD0.53)
Onion (1kg) RO0.37 RO0.48      +28.17 %
(0.36 BHD) (BHD0.47)
Lettuce (1 head) RO0.53 RO0.80      +49.93 %
(0.52 BHD) (BHD0.78)
Water (1.5 liter bottle) RO0.21 RO0.26      +23.18 %
(0.21 BHD) (BHD0.26)
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) RO5.50 RO10.21      +85.60 %
(5.39 BHD) (BHD10.00)
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) RO1.43 RO1.09      -24.03 %
(1.40 BHD) (BHD1.07)
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) RO1.12 RO3.32      +197.10 %
(BHD1.09) (BHD3.25)
Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) RO1.20 RO1.43      +19.09 %
(BHD1.18) (BHD1.40)
Transportation
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) RO0.30 RO0.31      +2.08 %
(BHD0.29) (BHD0.30)
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) RO10.00 RO14.29      +42.91 %
(BHD9.80) (BHD14.00)
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) RO1.00 RO2.04      +104.16 %
(BHD0.98) (BHD2.00)
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff) RO0.20 RO0.31      +53.12 %
(BHD0.20) (BHD0.30)
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) RO2.50 RO2.04      -18.34 %
(BHD2.45) (BHD2.00)
Gasoline (1 liter) RO0.20 RO0.17      -16.15 %
(BHD0.20) (BHD0.16)
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) RO6,100 RO8,166      +33.88 %
(BHD5,975) (BHD8,000)
Toyota Corolla 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) RO7,250 RO7,029      -3.04 %
(BHD7,102) (BHD6,886)
Utilities (Monthly)
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 85m2 Apartment RO23.13 RO35.19      +52.11 %
(BHD22.66) (BHD34.47)
1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local (No Discounts or Plans) RO0.07 RO0.04      -49.59 %
(BHD0.07) (BHD0.04)
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) RO23.66 RO15.86      -32.99 %
(BHD23.18) (BHD15.53)
Sports And Leisure
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult RO17.82 RO27.45      +54.03 %
(BHD17.46) (BHD26.89)
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) RO11.25 RO8.78      -21.97 %
(BHD11.02) (BHD8.60)
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat RO3.00 RO3.06      +2.08 %
(BHD2.94) (BHD3.00)
Childcare
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Private, Monthly for 1 Child RO94.94 RO118.47      +24.79 %
(BHD93.01) (116.06 BHD)
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child RO2,783 RO2,561      -7.99 %
(BHD2,726) (BHD2,508)
Clothing And Shoes
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) RO22.77 RO15.24      -33.06 %
(BHD22.31) (BHD14.93)
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, …) RO17.14 RO20.12      +17.39 %
(BHD16.79) (BHD19.71)
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) RO33.45 RO29.60      -11.50 %
(BHD32.77) (BHD29.00)
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes RO31.47 RO26.98      -14.28 %
(BHD30.83) (BHD26.43)
Rent Per Month
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre RO283 RO341      +20.36 %
(BHD278) (BHD334)
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre RO192 RO221      +15.16 %
(BHD188) (BHD216)
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre RO550 RO637      +15.79 %
(BHD539) (BHD624)
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre RO395 RO398      +0.88 %
(BHD387) (BHD390)
Buy Apartment Price
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment in City Centre RO850 RO829      -2.42 %
(BHD832) (BHD813)
Price per Square Meter to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre RO367 RO595      +62.40 %
(BHD359) (BHD583)
Salaries And Financing
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) RO650 RO471      -27.50 %
(BHD636) (BHD461)
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate 5.06 6.12      +21.02 %

Should I work in Muscat or Manama?

In summary, working and living in Muscat is cheaper than in Manama.  You would need around BHD1,246 in Manama to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with RO in Muscat (assuming you rent in both cities).

 

Sources

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