What if you were born in Bahrain?

If you had grown up in Bahrain instead of Pakistan, here is what your money, your home and your day in Manama could look like.

Try it with my numbers

Manama skyline across the water from Muharraq. Photo: Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

Three alternate lives in Bahrain

Each person keeps the same place on the income ladder they have in Pakistan. Amounts are per month, after tax, in BHD and in rupees at today’s rate.

Single, starting out

Earns Rs 60,000 a month in Pakistan, on your own.

Take-home in Bahrain: BHD 554Rs 408,000
Rent (city centre): BHD 160
Transport (public transport): BHD 38
Food: BHD 80
Saved: BHD 83

Family of four

Earns Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, as a family of four.

Take-home in Bahrain: BHD 1,270Rs 938,000
Rent (suburbs): BHD 325
Transport (public transport): BHD 87
Food: BHD 216
Saved: BHD 191

High-earning couple

Earns Rs 300,000 a month in Pakistan, as a couple.

Take-home in Bahrain: BHD 2,060Rs 1,520,000
Rent (city centre): BHD 505
Transport (car): BHD 193
Food: BHD 252
Saved: BHD 578

Try it with my own income

A day in Manama

The family of four above, with one parent working as an engineer.

Morning
You wake up in Manama, a city of mild winters around 18°C and hot summers near 35°C, and rain is rare.
Commute
Public transport is limited here, so you share rides or use taxis and buses for a longer commute.
Work
As an engineer: You spend the morning on site and the afternoon on drawings and calls with suppliers.
Language
You speak Arabic at home, and English works almost everywhere.
Lunch
Lunch might be machboos: spiced rice with chicken or fish.
Evening
You get home with BHD 191 saved each month. Walking home late feels completely normal here.
Weekend
Weekends are for the coast.

Bahrain compared with Pakistan

	Bahrain	Pakistan
Prices of everyday things	2.1× Pakistan	1×
Average life expectancy	81 years	68 years
Air pollution (PM2.5)	57 µg/m³	58 µg/m³
Unemployment	1.1%	5.4%
Average temperature, main city	27°C	26°C
Languages	Arabic	Urdu, English, regional languages
Currency	BHD	PKR

Sources: World Bank (price levels, household spending, life expectancy, PM2.5, unemployment), NASA POWER (climate), Dareecha’s daily exchange rates.

Thinking of really moving? See Pakistan vs Bahrain, living in Bahrain and the visa checker.

Questions

How much would I earn if I was born in Bahrain?

It depends on where you are on the ladder. A family earning Rs 120,000 a month in Pakistan, above the national average, would take home around BHD 1,270 a month at the same level in Bahrain (about Rs 938,000 at today's rate). Try your own numbers in the simulator.

Is Bahrain more expensive than Pakistan?

Yes. Everyday goods and services cost about 2.1 times as much as in Pakistan (World Bank price levels), but incomes there are higher too, so what matters is how far your pay goes.

What language would I speak in Bahrain?

Mainly Arabic. English is widely spoken.

Can I actually move to Bahrain?

This page imagines being born there. For a real move, compare costs, safety and jobs on the Pakistan vs Bahrain page, and check visa rules in the visa checker.