Lusaka vs Manama Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Lusaka vs Manama: everyday costs favor Lusaka (~84% CPI gap), housing index favors Lusaka, wage stretch favors Manama. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Lusaka
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Purchasing Power (239% gap, Manama ahead); Utilities (77% gap, Manama ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $330 lower in Lusaka than in Manama (~66% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $330 (favoring Lusaka).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Lusaka | CPI 22.4 vs 41.2 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Lusaka | Rent index 13 vs 21.3 (lower is better) |
| Food | Lusaka | Groceries index 31.3 vs 39.4 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Manama | One-way ticket 3.5 vs 10.56 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Manama | Utilities (85m²) 156.34 vs 676 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Manama | Internet 151.31 vs 471.38 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Lusaka | Restaurant index 22 vs 35 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Lusaka | Avg net salary 32562.4 vs 15586.49 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Manama | PP index 68.5 vs 20.2 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Purchasing Power: Manama leads with a 239% gap.
PP index 68.5 vs 20.2 (higher is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Lusaka — Lower housing / rent index (64% gap).
- Families: Lusaka — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Lusaka; purchasing power favors Manama.
- Remote Workers: Lusaka — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Lusaka (~84% gap).
- Budget Living: Lusaka — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Lusaka is the overall cost winner on CPI (~84% lower everyday-cost index than Manama).
- Housing: Lusaka leads on rent index (64% gap).
- Food / groceries: Lusaka is lower (26% gap).
- Purchasing power: Manama scores higher (239% gap).
- Largest category gap: Purchasing Power (239%), favoring Manama.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$330 cheaper in Lusaka.
Analysis
Lusaka versus Manama is not a single number. With a 84% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Lusaka, while housing follows Lusaka's rent index. Purchasing power (20.2 vs 68.5) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-21
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Regional
- Nearby
On-page labels for this view: Regional · Nearby.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.