Cost of Living Comparison Between Riffa and Saar Cost of Living Comparison Between Riffa and Saar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,203 per month in Riffa vs $1,967 in Saar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,881 per month in Riffa vs $2,729 in Saar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,559 per month in Riffa vs $3,491 in Saar, rent included.

Riffa is about 39% cheaper than Saar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Riffa sits 12% below the global median, while Saar is 43% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.58 BHD 2.48

$10.49 BHD 3.96

-37.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.11 BHD 14.74

$33.69 BHD 12.70

16.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.01 BHD 2.27

$10.79 BHD 4.07

-44.30%

Cappuccino

$3.89 BHD 1.47

$5.77 BHD 2.18

-32.58%

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

$0.67 BHD 0.25

$1.65 BHD 0.62

-59.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 BHD 0.10

$1.00 BHD 0.38

-74.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.73 BHD 2.54

$5.92 BHD 2.23

13.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$7.73 BHD 2.91

$9.32 BHD 3.51

-17.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 BHD 0.53

$1.76 BHD 0.66

-19.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.68 BHD 0.26

$1.37 BHD 0.52

-50.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.84 BHD 0.69

$2.73 BHD 1.03

-32.60%

Eggs

$2.20 BHD 0.83

$2.63 BHD 0.99

-16.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.14 BHD 3.07

$13.17 BHD 4.97

-38.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.02 BHD 2.27

$6.58 BHD 2.48

-8.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 BHD 3.26

$15.66 BHD 5.90

-44.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 BHD 0.89

$3.89 BHD 1.47

-39.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 BHD 0.63

$2.37 BHD 0.89

-29.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.91 BHD 0.72

$3.76 BHD 1.42

-49.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 BHD 0.39

$2.04 BHD 0.77

-49.51%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 BHD 0.40

$0.69 BHD 0.26

53.62%

Onion (1kg)

$0.64 BHD 0.24

$1.69 BHD 0.64

-62.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 BHD 0.21

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 BHD 0.19

$0.83 BHD 0.31

-38.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.34 BHD 2.01

Wine (Bottle)

$13.32 BHD 5.02

$26.38 BHD 9.94

-49.51%

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

$0.78 BHD 0.29

5.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.36 BHD 13.71

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.25 BHD 1.98

$5.44 BHD 2.05

-3.49%

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

$0.57 BHD 0.21

-19.30%

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

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

$132 BHD 49.87

$131 BHD 49.36

1.02%

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

$24.51 BHD 9.24

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$35.27 BHD 13.30

$31.63 BHD 11.93

11.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$71.8 BHD 27.06

$160 BHD 60.5

-55.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.16 BHD 4.96

$104 BHD 39.26

-87.36%

Cinema Ticket

$10.40 BHD 3.92

$15.94 BHD 6.01

-34.76%

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

$498 BHD 188

$542 BHD 204

-8.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,673 BHD 2,139

$7,819 BHD 2,948

-27.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.70 BHD 11.20

$92.6 BHD 34.89

-67.91%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$21.27 BHD 8.02

$40.03 BHD 15.09

-46.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.6 BHD 25.09

$105 BHD 39.43

-36.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.22 BHD 15.16

$104 BHD 39.24

-61.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$894 BHD 337

$1,318 BHD 497

-32.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$431 BHD 162

$938 BHD 353

-54.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,544 BHD 582

$2,087 BHD 787

-26.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$872 BHD 329

$1,189 BHD 448

-26.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,175 BHD 820

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,379 BHD 520

$2,425 BHD 914

-43.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.5

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

Last update for Riffa: August 29, 2026

Last update for Saar: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $894 in Riffa versus $1,318 in Saar. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 76% higher in Saar, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Riffa versus $34.00 in Saar. Groceries tell a different story – $206 in Riffa vs $299 in Saar – so Riffa wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Saar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Saar is pricier by about 63%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,805 per month in Riffa and $2,951 in Saar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Riffa, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Riffa and $34.00 in Saar. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 45% more in Saar, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Riffa, where all-in costs run around $1,203, than in Saar at $1,967. In Riffa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Saar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Riffa – 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 Riffa. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Saar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.