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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,380 per month in Riffa vs $630 in Amwaj, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,041 per month in Riffa vs $1,939 in Amwaj, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,702 per month in Riffa vs $3,248 in Amwaj, rent included.

Riffa costs about 119% more than Amwaj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.45 BHD 2.43

$5.29 BHD 1.99

21.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.93 BHD 17.31

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.09 BHD 2.30

$9.31 BHD 3.51

-34.59%

Cappuccino

$2.02 BHD 0.76

$2.61 BHD 0.98

-22.61%

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

$0.58 BHD 0.22

$1.04 BHD 0.39

-44.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 BHD 0.10

$0.67 BHD 0.25

-61.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.90 BHD 2.98

$7.98 BHD 3.01

-1.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.53 BHD 3.97

$10.67 BHD 4.02

-1.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 BHD 0.52

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 BHD 0.49

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.38 BHD 0.90

Eggs

$2.11 BHD 0.79

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.65 BHD 3.26

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.88 BHD 2.59

$10.22 BHD 3.85

-32.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.06 BHD 3.79

Apples (1kg)

$2.46 BHD 0.93

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 BHD 0.71

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 BHD 0.67

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 BHD 0.46

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 BHD 0.35

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 BHD 0.40

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 BHD 0.55

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 BHD 0.19

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.60 BHD 2.49

$5.31 BHD 2.00

24.29%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.40 BHD 5.05

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.38 BHD 1.27

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 BHD 1.23

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 BHD 0.30

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.12 BHD 12.11

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.52 BHD 1.70

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.09 BHD 1.54

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.83 BHD 10.11

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.38 BHD 0.14

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

$26.4K BHD 9,941

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

$21.2K BHD 7,986

$36.4K BHD 13.7K

-41.84%

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

$120 BHD 45.11

$161 BHD 60.6

-25.57%

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

$26.98 BHD 10.17

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.52 BHD 14.52

$66.2 BHD 24.93

-41.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.9 BHD 30.50

Cinema Ticket

$7.93 BHD 2.99

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

$391 BHD 147

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,714 BHD 2,530

$13.0K BHD 4,902

-48.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.00 BHD 14.70

$65.1 BHD 24.52

-40.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.7 BHD 24.01

$65.0 BHD 24.51

-2.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.6 BHD 24.72

$93.9 BHD 35.38

-30.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.27 BHD 14.80

$120 BHD 45.17

-67.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,173 BHD 442

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$535 BHD 202

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,105 BHD 793

$2,417 BHD 911

-12.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$921 BHD 347

$2,114 BHD 797

-56.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,381 BHD 520

$4,038 BHD 1,522

-65.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.75

-13.04%

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

Last update for Riffa: July 11, 2026

Last update for Amwaj: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 192% 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

Riffa vs Amwaj: 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 $2,070 per month in Riffa and $945 in Amwaj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,380 in Riffa and $630 in Amwaj. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Groceries cost about 367% 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 $630, than in Riffa at $1,380. 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.