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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,203 per month in Riffa vs $613 in Amwaj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,881 per month in Riffa vs $2,394 in Amwaj, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,559 per month in Riffa vs $4,175 in Amwaj, rent included.

Riffa costs about 96% more than Amwaj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Riffa and Amwaj are more affordable than the global median – Riffa 12% lower, Amwaj 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.58 BHD 2.48

$10.63 BHD 4.01

-38.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.11 BHD 14.74

$31.28 BHD 11.79

25.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.01 BHD 2.27

$9.82 BHD 3.70

-38.80%

Cappuccino

$3.89 BHD 1.47

$3.94 BHD 1.49

-1.27%

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

$0.67 BHD 0.25

$2.16 BHD 0.82

-68.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 BHD 0.10

$0.68 BHD 0.26

-61.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.73 BHD 2.54

$7.85 BHD 2.96

-14.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.73 BHD 2.91

$10.74 BHD 4.05

-28.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 BHD 0.53

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 BHD 0.26

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 BHD 0.69

Eggs

$2.20 BHD 0.83

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.14 BHD 3.07

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.02 BHD 2.27

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 BHD 3.26

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 BHD 0.89

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 BHD 0.63

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 BHD 0.72

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 BHD 0.39

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 BHD 0.40

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 BHD 0.24

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 BHD 0.21

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 BHD 0.19

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.34 BHD 2.01

$5.38 BHD 2.03

-0.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.32 BHD 5.02

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 BHD 0.71

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 BHD 0.98

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 BHD 0.31

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.36 BHD 13.71

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.25 BHD 1.98

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.50 BHD 1.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.52 BHD 3.97

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.46 BHD 0.17

$0.74 BHD 0.28

-37.84%

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

$23.0K BHD 8,667

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

$20.2K BHD 7,633

$37.8K BHD 14.2K

-46.43%

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

$132 BHD 49.87

$132 BHD 49.82

0.10%

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

$24.51 BHD 9.24

$23.82 BHD 8.98

2.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.27 BHD 13.30

$67.1 BHD 25.31

-47.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.8 BHD 27.06

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 BHD 4.96

Cinema Ticket

$10.40 BHD 3.92

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

$498 BHD 188

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,673 BHD 2,139

$13.3K BHD 5,024

-57.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.70 BHD 11.20

$65.0 BHD 24.50

-54.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.27 BHD 8.02

$65.9 BHD 24.85

-67.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.6 BHD 25.09

$93.6 BHD 35.27

-28.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.22 BHD 15.16

$119 BHD 44.94

-66.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 BHD 337

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$431 BHD 162

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,544 BHD 582

$2,393 BHD 902

-35.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$872 BHD 329

$2,992 BHD 1,128

-70.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,379 BHD 520

$3,932 BHD 1,482

-64.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.5

-21.43%

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

Last update for Riffa: August 29, 2026

Last update for Amwaj: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 185% higher in Amwaj, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Riffa versus $31.00 in Amwaj. Use this as a proxy for overall food spending across the two cities.

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 96% 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 $1,805 per month in Riffa and $920 in Amwaj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,203 in Riffa and $613 in Amwaj. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Riffa and $31.00 in Amwaj. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Amwaj, where all-in costs run around $613, than in Riffa at $1,203. 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.