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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,380 in Riffa versus $1,479 in Manama.

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

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

Living in Riffa costs roughly 7% less than in Manama, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.45 BHD 2.43

$6.57 BHD 2.48

-1.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$45.93 BHD 17.31

$52.0 BHD 19.60

-11.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.09 BHD 2.30

$7.56 BHD 2.85

-19.44%

Cappuccino

$2.02 BHD 0.76

$5.46 BHD 2.06

-63.00%

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

$0.58 BHD 0.22

$0.79 BHD 0.30

-26.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 BHD 0.10

$0.37 BHD 0.14

-29.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$7.90 BHD 2.98

$8.01 BHD 3.02

-1.37%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$10.53 BHD 3.97

$10.46 BHD 3.94

0.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.37 BHD 0.52

$1.65 BHD 0.62

-16.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 BHD 0.49

$1.33 BHD 0.50

-3.01%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.38 BHD 0.90

$2.34 BHD 0.88

1.71%

Eggs

$2.11 BHD 0.79

$2.40 BHD 0.90

-12.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.65 BHD 3.26

$8.62 BHD 3.25

0.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.88 BHD 2.59

$7.50 BHD 2.83

-8.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.06 BHD 3.79

$10.23 BHD 3.86

-1.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.46 BHD 0.93

$2.45 BHD 0.92

0.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 BHD 0.71

$2.10 BHD 0.79

-10.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.77 BHD 0.67

$1.70 BHD 0.64

4.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 BHD 0.46

$1.17 BHD 0.44

3.42%

Potato (1kg)

$0.93 BHD 0.35

$0.92 BHD 0.35

1.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 BHD 0.40

$1.08 BHD 0.41

-2.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.45 BHD 0.55

$1.44 BHD 0.54

0.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 BHD 0.19

$0.91 BHD 0.34

-43.96%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.60 BHD 2.49

$6.48 BHD 2.44

1.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.40 BHD 5.05

$18.75 BHD 7.07

-28.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.38 BHD 1.27

$3.35 BHD 1.26

0.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 BHD 1.23

$3.14 BHD 1.18

4.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 BHD 0.30

$0.78 BHD 0.29

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.12 BHD 12.11

$32.29 BHD 12.17

-0.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.52 BHD 1.70

$4.66 BHD 1.76

-3.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.09 BHD 1.54

$4.00 BHD 1.51

2.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$26.83 BHD 10.11

$26.04 BHD 9.81

3.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.38 BHD 0.14

$0.53 BHD 0.20

-28.30%

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

$26.4K BHD 9,941

$37.7K BHD 14.2K

-30.04%

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

$21.2K BHD 7,986

$20.7K BHD 7,813

2.21%

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

$120 BHD 45.11

$122 BHD 46.06

-2.07%

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

$26.98 BHD 10.17

$26.99 BHD 10.17

-0.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.52 BHD 14.52

$38.99 BHD 14.70

-1.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.9 BHD 30.50

$71.4 BHD 26.90

13.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.42 BHD 16.74

Cinema Ticket

$7.93 BHD 2.99

$10.53 BHD 3.97

-24.69%

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

$391 BHD 147

$394 BHD 148

-0.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,714 BHD 2,530

$8,780 BHD 3,309

-23.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.00 BHD 14.70

$46.27 BHD 17.44

-15.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.7 BHD 24.01

$61.5 BHD 23.19

3.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.6 BHD 24.72

$82.8 BHD 31.21

-20.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.27 BHD 14.80

$89.4 BHD 33.71

-56.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,173 BHD 442

$803 BHD 303

46.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$535 BHD 202

$548 BHD 207

-2.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,105 BHD 793

$1,794 BHD 676

17.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$921 BHD 347

$1,208 BHD 455

-23.74%

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)

$1,381 BHD 520

$2,276 BHD 858

-39.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.56

-41.59%

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

Last update for Riffa: July 11, 2026

Last update for Manama: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,173 in Riffa and $803 in Manama. 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: $46.00 in Riffa vs $52.0 in Manama for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $239 vs $262 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

Riffa vs Manama: 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.

On paper, salaries run 65% lower in Manama. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,173 in Riffa versus $803 in Manama. 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 $391 in Riffa versus $394 in Manama. 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, Riffa and Manama 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.