Manama vs Queenstown Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Manama vs Queenstown: everyday costs favor Manama (~18% CPI gap), housing index favors Queenstown, wage stretch favors Manama. Use category winners, not a single headline, when the binding constraint is rent or income.
Overall Cost Winner
Manama
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Salary (66% gap, Manama ahead); Utilities (65% gap, Queenstown ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $110 lower in Queenstown than in Manama (~13% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $110 (favoring Queenstown).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Manama | CPI 41.2 vs 48.7 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Queenstown | Rent index 18.2 vs 21.3 (lower is better) |
| Food | Manama | Groceries index 39.4 vs 54.1 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Queenstown | One-way ticket 1.65 vs 3.5 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Queenstown | Utilities (85m²) 54.96 vs 156.34 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Queenstown | Internet 69.34 vs 151.31 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Manama | Restaurant index 35 vs 41.7 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Manama | Avg net salary 15586.49 vs 5270.81 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Manama | PP index 68.5 vs 56.3 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Salary: Manama leads with a 66% gap.
Avg net salary 15586.49 vs 5270.81 (higher is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Queenstown — Lower housing / rent index (15% gap).
- Families: Queenstown — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Queenstown; purchasing power favors Manama.
- Remote Workers: Manama — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Manama (~18% gap).
- Budget Living: Manama — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Manama is the overall cost winner on CPI (~18% lower everyday-cost index than Queenstown).
- Housing: Queenstown leads on rent index (15% gap).
- Food / groceries: Manama is lower (37% gap).
- Purchasing power: Manama scores higher (18% gap).
- Largest category gap: Salary (66%), favoring Manama.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$110 cheaper in Queenstown.
Analysis
Manama versus Queenstown is not a single number. With a 18% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Manama, while housing follows Queenstown's rent index. Purchasing power (68.5 vs 56.3) 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):
- Nearby
- Regional
On-page labels for this view: Nearby · Regional.
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.