Manama vs Sharjah Cost of Living Comparison
Takeaway for Manama vs Sharjah: everyday costs favor Manama (~29% CPI gap), housing index favors Manama, wage stretch favors Sharjah. 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: Housing (89% gap, Manama ahead); Utilities (89% gap, Manama ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $704 lower in Manama than in Sharjah (~85% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $704 (favoring Manama).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Manama | CPI 41.2 vs 53 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Manama | Rent index 21.3 vs 40.2 (lower is better) |
| Food | Manama | Groceries index 39.4 vs 45.5 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Manama | One-way ticket 3.5 vs 4.77 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Manama | Utilities (85m²) 156.34 vs 295.07 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Manama | Internet 151.31 vs 169.55 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Manama | Restaurant index 35 vs 49.9 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Sharjah | Avg net salary 21980.36 vs 15586.49 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Sharjah | PP index 96.6 vs 68.5 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Housing: Manama leads with a 89% gap.
Rent index 21.3 vs 40.2 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Manama — Lower housing / rent index (89% gap).
- Families: Manama — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Manama; purchasing power favors Sharjah.
- Remote Workers: Manama — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Manama (~29% gap).
- Budget Living: Manama — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Manama is the overall cost winner on CPI (~29% lower everyday-cost index than Sharjah).
- Housing: Manama leads on rent index (89% gap).
- Food / groceries: Manama is lower (15% gap).
- Purchasing power: Sharjah scores higher (41% gap).
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$704 cheaper in Manama.
Analysis
Manama versus Sharjah is not a single number. With a 29% CPI spread, groceries and services tend to move with Manama, while housing follows Manama's rent index. Purchasing power (68.5 vs 96.6) decides whether local wages offset local prices.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-26
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Nearby
- Nearby
On-page labels for this view: Nearby · 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.