Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Riffa Cost of Living Comparison Between Manama and Riffa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,595 in Manama versus $1,203 in Riffa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,515 in Manama versus $1,881 in Riffa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,435 in Manama versus $2,559 in Riffa.

Living in Manama is roughly 33% more expensive than in Riffa, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Manama is 16% above, Riffa is 12% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.80 BHD 2.56

$6.58 BHD 2.48

3.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.6 BHD 20.22

$39.11 BHD 14.74

37.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.61 BHD 2.87

$6.01 BHD 2.27

26.62%

Cappuccino

$4.88 BHD 1.84

$3.89 BHD 1.47

25.45%

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

$0.88 BHD 0.33

$0.67 BHD 0.25

31.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 BHD 0.11

$0.26 BHD 0.10

15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.53 BHD 2.46

$6.73 BHD 2.54

-2.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.04 BHD 3.78

$7.73 BHD 2.91

29.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

$1.41 BHD 0.53

3.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 BHD 0.40

$0.68 BHD 0.26

54.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.29 BHD 0.86

$1.84 BHD 0.69

24.46%

Eggs

$2.34 BHD 0.88

$2.20 BHD 0.83

6.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.83 BHD 3.33

$8.14 BHD 3.07

8.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 BHD 2.46

$6.02 BHD 2.27

8.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.79 BHD 3.31

$8.64 BHD 3.26

1.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 BHD 0.90

$2.36 BHD 0.89

1.69%

Banana (1kg)

$2.24 BHD 0.85

$1.68 BHD 0.63

33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.93 BHD 0.73

$1.91 BHD 0.72

1.05%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 BHD 0.54

$1.03 BHD 0.39

38.83%

Potato (1kg)

$1.04 BHD 0.39

$1.06 BHD 0.40

-1.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 BHD 0.53

$0.64 BHD 0.24

118.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.54 BHD 0.58

$0.55 BHD 0.21

180.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 BHD 0.29

$0.51 BHD 0.19

50.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.25 BHD 1.98

$5.34 BHD 2.01

-1.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.49 BHD 6.97

$13.32 BHD 5.02

38.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.52 BHD 1.33

$1.89 BHD 0.71

86.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 BHD 0.98

$2.60 BHD 0.98

0.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.65 BHD 0.24

$0.82 BHD 0.31

-20.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.34 BHD 14.08

$36.36 BHD 13.71

2.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.41 BHD 2.04

$5.25 BHD 1.98

3.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.50 BHD 1.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.94 BHD 6.01

$10.52 BHD 3.97

51.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.70 BHD 0.26

$0.46 BHD 0.17

52.17%

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

$36.9K BHD 13.9K

$23.0K BHD 8,667

60.40%

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

$20.4K BHD 7,676

$20.2K BHD 7,633

0.57%

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

$154 BHD 58.0

$132 BHD 49.87

16.32%

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

$24.04 BHD 9.06

$24.51 BHD 9.24

-1.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.64 BHD 13.44

$35.27 BHD 13.30

1.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$61.9 BHD 23.33

$71.8 BHD 27.06

-13.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.03 BHD 11.32

$13.16 BHD 4.96

128.19%

Cinema Ticket

$10.56 BHD 3.98

$10.40 BHD 3.92

1.54%

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

$493 BHD 186

$498 BHD 188

-0.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.9K BHD 4,093

$5,673 BHD 2,139

91.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 BHD 19.20

$29.70 BHD 11.20

71.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.6 BHD 21.34

$21.27 BHD 8.02

166.10%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 BHD 32.49

$66.6 BHD 25.09

29.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.9 BHD 33.51

$40.22 BHD 15.16

121.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$990 BHD 373

$894 BHD 337

10.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 BHD 240

$431 BHD 162

47.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,078 BHD 783

$1,544 BHD 582

34.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,389 BHD 524

$872 BHD 329

59.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,636 BHD 994

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,954 BHD 736

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,346 BHD 885

$1,379 BHD 520

70.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.21

5.5

12.91%

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

Last update for Manama: August 30, 2026

Last update for Riffa: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $990 in Manama and $894 in Riffa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manama pays 70% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $54.0 in Manama vs $39.00 in Riffa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $206 per month, with Riffa cheaper across the board.

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

Manama vs Riffa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Riffa wins on cost – living expenses run 33% lower than in Manama. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Riffa the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 70% higher in Manama, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $990 in Manama versus $894 in Riffa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Riffa runs roughly 3% less than in Manama. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $493 in Manama versus $498 in Riffa. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,203 in Riffa versus $1,595 in Manama, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Riffa but tight or insufficient in Manama. The gap between the two cities makes Riffa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Manama and Riffa are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Riffa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.