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: $1,479 in Manama versus $1,380 in Riffa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,410 in Manama versus $2,041 in Riffa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,340 in Manama versus $2,702 in Riffa.

Living in Manama is roughly 7% more expensive than in Riffa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Manama 11% above, Riffa 3% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.57 BHD 2.48

$6.45 BHD 2.43

1.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.0 BHD 19.60

$45.93 BHD 17.31

13.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 BHD 2.85

$6.09 BHD 2.30

24.14%

Cappuccino

$5.46 BHD 2.06

$2.02 BHD 0.76

170.30%

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

$0.79 BHD 0.30

$0.58 BHD 0.22

36.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 BHD 0.14

$0.26 BHD 0.10

42.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.01 BHD 3.02

$7.90 BHD 2.98

1.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.46 BHD 3.94

$10.53 BHD 3.97

-0.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 BHD 0.62

$1.37 BHD 0.52

20.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 BHD 0.50

$1.29 BHD 0.49

3.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 BHD 0.88

$2.38 BHD 0.90

-1.68%

Eggs

$2.40 BHD 0.90

$2.11 BHD 0.79

13.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.62 BHD 3.25

$8.65 BHD 3.26

-0.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.50 BHD 2.83

$6.88 BHD 2.59

9.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.23 BHD 3.86

$10.06 BHD 3.79

1.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 BHD 0.92

$2.46 BHD 0.93

-0.41%

Banana (1kg)

$2.10 BHD 0.79

$1.87 BHD 0.71

12.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 BHD 0.64

$1.77 BHD 0.67

-3.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 BHD 0.44

$1.21 BHD 0.46

-3.31%

Potato (1kg)

$0.92 BHD 0.35

$0.93 BHD 0.35

-1.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 BHD 0.41

$1.05 BHD 0.40

2.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 BHD 0.54

$1.45 BHD 0.55

-0.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 BHD 0.34

$0.51 BHD 0.19

78.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.48 BHD 2.44

$6.60 BHD 2.49

-1.82%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.75 BHD 7.07

$13.40 BHD 5.05

39.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.35 BHD 1.26

$3.38 BHD 1.27

-0.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 BHD 1.18

$3.27 BHD 1.23

-3.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 BHD 0.29

$0.78 BHD 0.30

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.29 BHD 12.17

$32.12 BHD 12.11

0.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.66 BHD 1.76

$4.52 BHD 1.70

3.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.00 BHD 1.51

$4.09 BHD 1.54

-2.20%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.04 BHD 9.81

$26.83 BHD 10.11

-2.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 BHD 0.20

$0.38 BHD 0.14

39.47%

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

$37.7K BHD 14.2K

$26.4K BHD 9,941

42.95%

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

$20.7K BHD 7,813

$21.2K BHD 7,986

-2.16%

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

$122 BHD 46.06

$120 BHD 45.11

2.11%

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

$26.99 BHD 10.17

$26.98 BHD 10.17

0.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.99 BHD 14.70

$38.52 BHD 14.52

1.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.4 BHD 26.90

$80.9 BHD 30.50

-11.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.42 BHD 16.74

Cinema Ticket

$10.53 BHD 3.97

$7.93 BHD 2.99

32.79%

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

$394 BHD 148

$391 BHD 147

0.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,780 BHD 3,309

$6,714 BHD 2,530

30.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.27 BHD 17.44

$39.00 BHD 14.70

18.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$61.5 BHD 23.19

$63.7 BHD 24.01

-3.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.8 BHD 31.21

$65.6 BHD 24.72

26.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.4 BHD 33.71

$39.27 BHD 14.80

127.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$803 BHD 303

$1,173 BHD 442

-31.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$548 BHD 207

$535 BHD 202

2.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,794 BHD 676

$2,105 BHD 793

-14.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,208 BHD 455

$921 BHD 347

31.14%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,668 BHD 1,006

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,960 BHD 739

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,276 BHD 858

$1,381 BHD 520

64.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.56

71.20%

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

Last update for Manama: July 14, 2026

Last update for Riffa: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $803 in Manama and $1,173 in Riffa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manama pays 65% 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: $52.0 in Manama vs $46.00 in Riffa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $262 vs $239 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 7% 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 65% 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: $803 in Manama versus $1,173 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 1% less than in Manama. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $394 in Manama versus $391 in Riffa. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,380 in Riffa versus $1,479 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 7% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.