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: $1,496 in Manama versus $1,384 in Riffa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,408 in Manama versus $2,059 in Riffa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,319 in Manama versus $2,734 in Riffa.

Living in Manama is roughly 8% more expensive than Riffa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Manama 12% above, Riffa 3% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.48 BHD 2.44

$6.50 BHD 2.45

-0.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.5 BHD 20.16

$47.19 BHD 17.79

13.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.27 BHD 2.74

$6.09 BHD 2.30

19.38%

Cappuccino

$5.34 BHD 2.01

$1.96 BHD 0.74

172.45%

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

$0.87 BHD 0.33

$0.61 BHD 0.23

42.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 BHD 0.14

$0.28 BHD 0.11

28.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.09 BHD 3.05

$8.10 BHD 3.05

-0.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.54 BHD 3.97

$10.69 BHD 4.03

-1.40%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 BHD 0.64

$1.32 BHD 0.50

29.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 BHD 0.48

$1.29 BHD 0.49

-1.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.43 BHD 0.91

$2.37 BHD 0.89

2.53%

Eggs

$2.47 BHD 0.93

$2.17 BHD 0.82

13.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.59 BHD 3.24

$8.94 BHD 3.37

-3.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 BHD 2.92

$6.94 BHD 2.62

11.53%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.28 BHD 3.88

$10.06 BHD 3.79

2.19%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 BHD 0.89

$2.33 BHD 0.88

1.29%

Banana (1kg)

$2.11 BHD 0.79

$1.85 BHD 0.70

14.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 BHD 0.67

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 BHD 0.44

$1.22 BHD 0.46

-3.28%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 BHD 0.35

$0.94 BHD 0.35

-1.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 BHD 0.41

$1.07 BHD 0.41

1.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 BHD 0.55

$1.44 BHD 0.54

1.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.86 BHD 0.32

$0.51 BHD 0.19

68.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 BHD 2.48

$6.59 BHD 2.49

-0.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.88 BHD 7.12

$13.30 BHD 5.02

41.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.44 BHD 1.30

$3.45 BHD 1.30

-0.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 BHD 1.24

$3.32 BHD 1.25

-0.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 BHD 0.31

$0.77 BHD 0.29

7.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$31.28 BHD 11.79

$32.41 BHD 12.22

-3.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.58 BHD 1.72

$4.54 BHD 1.71

0.88%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.96 BHD 1.49

$4.03 BHD 1.52

-1.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.86 BHD 10.13

$27.04 BHD 10.19

-0.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 BHD 0.19

$0.36 BHD 0.14

44.44%

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

$36.8K BHD 13.9K

$26.0K BHD 9,819

41.38%

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

$20.7K BHD 7,796

$20.6K BHD 7,776

0.27%

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

$121 BHD 45.53

$122 BHD 46.10

-1.23%

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

$26.86 BHD 10.13

$26.89 BHD 10.14

-0.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.52 BHD 14.52

$39.00 BHD 14.70

-1.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.0 BHD 26.78

$80.2 BHD 30.25

-11.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.13 BHD 17.01

Cinema Ticket

$10.78 BHD 4.06

$7.99 BHD 3.01

34.92%

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

$382 BHD 144

$395 BHD 149

-3.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,953 BHD 3,375

$6,656 BHD 2,509

34.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.73 BHD 17.62

$39.40 BHD 14.86

18.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.8 BHD 24.03

$63.4 BHD 23.88

0.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.8 BHD 31.98

$67.4 BHD 25.40

25.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 BHD 33.47

$39.72 BHD 14.98

123.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$818 BHD 308

$1,179 BHD 445

-30.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 BHD 211

$531 BHD 200

5.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,791 BHD 675

$2,163 BHD 815

-17.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,244 BHD 469

$945 BHD 356

31.74%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,629 BHD 991

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,941 BHD 732

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,360 BHD 890

$1,410 BHD 532

67.39%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Riffa: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $818 in Manama and $1,179 in Riffa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Manama pays 67% 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: $53.0 in Manama vs $47.00 in Riffa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $265 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 8% 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.

Manama pays 67% more on average, 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: $818 in Manama versus $1,179 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 4% less than in Manama. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $382 in Manama versus $395 in Riffa. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,384 in Riffa versus $1,496 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 8% less than in Manama. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.