Survey: Manama fourth most expensive GCC city for expats

TDT | Manama

Manama has been ranked as the fourth most expensive city for expatriates to live in among other GCC cities, according to an international survey released yesterday. Mercer, a global financial consulting firm, compiled cost of living statistics from a worldwide study conducted in March earlier this year.

Manama holds the 52nd rank on the list of the world’s most expensive cities for expatriates—and fourth in the GCC behind Dubai (23rd), Riyadh (31st), and Abu Dhabi (39th). Mercer’s report found that the strength of the US dollar has raised costs for expatriates in American cities; and yet, living costs in Manama are higher than in US cities like Seattle (55th) and Atlanta (60th).

Mercer France head of mobility Jean-Philippe Sarra was quoted as saying that the survey was based on the cost of living in February going into March, when “most countries had not yet been affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis.” Sarra noted a smaller sample of the data taken in April did not show the virus having a noticeable impact, but added that future consequences for expatriates could not be ruled out.