Cost of Living Comparison Between Amwaj and Riffa Cost of Living Comparison Between Amwaj and Riffa

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $613 per month in Amwaj vs $1,203 in Riffa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,394 per month in Amwaj vs $1,881 in Riffa, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,175 per month in Amwaj vs $2,559 in Riffa, rent included.

Amwaj is about 49% cheaper than Riffa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Amwaj and Riffa are more affordable than the global median – Amwaj 55% lower, Riffa 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.63 BHD 4.01

$6.58 BHD 2.48

61.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.28 BHD 11.79

$39.11 BHD 14.74

-20.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.82 BHD 3.70

$6.01 BHD 2.27

63.39%

Cappuccino

$3.94 BHD 1.49

$3.89 BHD 1.47

1.29%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.16 BHD 0.82

$0.67 BHD 0.25

222.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 BHD 0.26

$0.26 BHD 0.10

161.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.85 BHD 2.96

$6.73 BHD 2.54

16.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.74 BHD 4.05

$7.73 BHD 2.91

38.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 BHD 0.53

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 BHD 0.26

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 BHD 0.69

Eggs

$2.20 BHD 0.83

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.14 BHD 3.07

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.02 BHD 2.27

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 BHD 3.26

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 BHD 0.89

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 BHD 0.63

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 BHD 0.72

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 BHD 0.39

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 BHD 0.40

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 BHD 0.24

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 BHD 0.21

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 BHD 0.19

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.38 BHD 2.03

$5.34 BHD 2.01

0.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.32 BHD 5.02

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 BHD 0.71

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 BHD 0.98

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 BHD 0.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.36 BHD 13.71

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.25 BHD 1.98

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.50 BHD 1.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.52 BHD 3.97

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 BHD 0.28

$0.46 BHD 0.17

60.87%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.0K BHD 8,667

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$37.8K BHD 14.2K

$20.2K BHD 7,633

86.66%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$132 BHD 49.82

$132 BHD 49.87

-0.10%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$23.82 BHD 8.98

$24.51 BHD 9.24

-2.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.1 BHD 25.31

$35.27 BHD 13.30

90.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.8 BHD 27.06

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 BHD 4.96

Cinema Ticket

$10.40 BHD 3.92

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$498 BHD 188

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K BHD 5,024

$5,673 BHD 2,139

134.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.0 BHD 24.50

$29.70 BHD 11.20

118.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.9 BHD 24.85

$21.27 BHD 8.02

209.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$93.6 BHD 35.27

$66.6 BHD 25.09

40.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$119 BHD 44.94

$40.22 BHD 15.16

196.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 BHD 337

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$431 BHD 162

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,393 BHD 902

$1,544 BHD 582

54.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,992 BHD 1,128

$872 BHD 329

243.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,932 BHD 1,482

$1,379 BHD 520

185.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.5

27.27%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Amwaj: August 31, 2026

Last update for Riffa: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 185% higher in Amwaj, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Amwaj versus $39.00 in Riffa. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Amwaj vs Riffa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Riffa costs about 96% more than Amwaj, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $920 per month in Amwaj and $1,805 in Riffa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $613 in Amwaj and $1,203 in Riffa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Amwaj and $39.00 in Riffa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Amwaj, where all-in costs run around $613, than in Riffa at $1,203. In Amwaj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Riffa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Amwaj – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Amwaj. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Riffa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.