Stockholm vs Manama Cost of Living Comparison
Executive summary: Manama leads on CPI (41.2 vs 69.4, NYC=100), Manama leads on rent index, and Stockholm leads on purchasing power. Validate neighbourhood rents before relocating — city-wide winners can reverse at district scale.
Overall Cost Winner
Manama
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Transport (82% gap, Manama ahead); Utilities (79% gap, Manama ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $526 lower in Manama than in Stockholm (~39% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $526 (favoring Manama).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Manama | CPI 41.2 vs 69.4 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Manama | Rent index 21.3 vs 35.4 (lower is better) |
| Food | Manama | Groceries index 39.4 vs 67 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Manama | One-way ticket 3.5 vs 19.73 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Manama | Utilities (85m²) 156.34 vs 743.4 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Manama | Internet 151.31 vs 476.28 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Manama | Restaurant index 35 vs 70 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Stockholm | Avg net salary 69266.4 vs 15586.49 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Stockholm | PP index 106.4 vs 68.5 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Transport: Manama leads with a 82% gap.
One-way ticket 3.5 vs 19.73 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Manama — Lower housing / rent index (40% gap).
- Families: Manama — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Manama; purchasing power favors Stockholm.
- Remote Workers: Manama — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Manama (~41% gap).
- Budget Living: Manama — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Manama is the overall cost winner on CPI (~41% lower everyday-cost index than Stockholm).
- Housing: Manama leads on rent index (40% gap).
- Food / groceries: Manama is lower (41% gap).
- Purchasing power: Stockholm scores higher (36% gap).
- Largest category gap: Transport (82%), favoring Manama.
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$526 cheaper in Manama.
Analysis
Detailed breakdown uses only paired indices: CPI 69.4/41.2, rent 35.4/21.3, purchasing power 106.4/68.5. Category winners can diverge — a city may win rent while losing CPI. No GDP, climate, or industry claims are invented for either city.
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.