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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $633 per month in Amwaj vs $1,384 in Riffa, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,926 per month in Amwaj vs $2,059 in Riffa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,218 per month in Amwaj vs $2,734 in Riffa, rent included.

Amwaj is about 54% cheaper than Riffa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Amwaj sits 53% below the global median, while Riffa is 3% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.41 BHD 2.04

$6.50 BHD 2.45

-16.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.19 BHD 17.79

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.10 BHD 3.43

$6.09 BHD 2.30

49.43%

Cappuccino

$2.69 BHD 1.01

$1.96 BHD 0.74

37.24%

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

$1.05 BHD 0.40

$0.61 BHD 0.23

72.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 BHD 0.24

$0.28 BHD 0.11

128.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.06 BHD 3.04

$8.10 BHD 3.05

-0.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.44 BHD 3.94

$10.69 BHD 4.03

-2.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 BHD 0.50

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 BHD 0.49

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.37 BHD 0.89

Eggs

$2.17 BHD 0.82

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.94 BHD 3.37

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.18 BHD 3.84

$6.94 BHD 2.62

46.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.06 BHD 3.79

Apples (1kg)

$2.33 BHD 0.88

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 BHD 0.70

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 BHD 0.67

Tomato (1kg)

$1.22 BHD 0.46

Potato (1kg)

$0.94 BHD 0.35

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 BHD 0.41

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 BHD 0.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 BHD 0.19

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.26 BHD 1.98

$6.59 BHD 2.49

-20.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.30 BHD 5.02

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.45 BHD 1.30

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 BHD 1.25

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 BHD 0.29

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.41 BHD 12.22

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.54 BHD 1.71

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.03 BHD 1.52

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.04 BHD 10.19

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 BHD 0.14

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

$26.0K BHD 9,819

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

$36.6K BHD 13.8K

$20.6K BHD 7,776

77.47%

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

$160 BHD 60.2

$122 BHD 46.10

30.48%

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

$26.99 BHD 10.17

$26.89 BHD 10.14

0.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.5 BHD 25.46

$39.00 BHD 14.70

73.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.2 BHD 30.25

Cinema Ticket

$7.99 BHD 3.01

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

$395 BHD 149

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.1K BHD 4,925

$6,656 BHD 2,509

96.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.3 BHD 24.63

$39.40 BHD 14.86

65.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.9 BHD 24.86

$63.4 BHD 23.88

4.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.0 BHD 35.44

$67.4 BHD 25.40

39.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$117 BHD 44.18

$39.72 BHD 14.98

195.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,179 BHD 445

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 BHD 200

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,377 BHD 896

$2,163 BHD 815

9.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,135 BHD 805

$945 BHD 356

126.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,939 BHD 1,485

$1,410 BHD 532

179.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.75

15.00%

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

Last update for Amwaj: June 1, 2026

Last update for Riffa: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 179% higher in Amwaj, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

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 119% 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 $949 per month in Amwaj and $2,076 in Riffa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $633 in Amwaj and $1,384 in Riffa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 370% more in Riffa, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Amwaj, where all-in costs run around $633, than in Riffa at $1,384. 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.