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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Saar costs about 63% more than Riffa, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.49 BHD 3.96

$6.58 BHD 2.48

59.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.69 BHD 12.70

$39.11 BHD 14.74

-13.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.79 BHD 4.07

$6.01 BHD 2.27

79.53%

Cappuccino

$5.77 BHD 2.18

$3.89 BHD 1.47

48.33%

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

$1.65 BHD 0.62

$0.67 BHD 0.25

146.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.00 BHD 0.38

$0.26 BHD 0.10

284.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$5.92 BHD 2.23

$6.73 BHD 2.54

-12.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.32 BHD 3.51

$7.73 BHD 2.91

20.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.76 BHD 0.66

$1.41 BHD 0.53

24.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.37 BHD 0.52

$0.68 BHD 0.26

101.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.73 BHD 1.03

$1.84 BHD 0.69

48.37%

Eggs

$2.63 BHD 0.99

$2.20 BHD 0.83

19.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.17 BHD 4.97

$8.14 BHD 3.07

61.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.58 BHD 2.48

$6.02 BHD 2.27

9.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.66 BHD 5.90

$8.64 BHD 3.26

81.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.89 BHD 1.47

$2.36 BHD 0.89

64.83%

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 BHD 0.89

$1.68 BHD 0.63

41.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.76 BHD 1.42

$1.91 BHD 0.72

96.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.04 BHD 0.77

$1.03 BHD 0.39

98.06%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 BHD 0.26

$1.06 BHD 0.40

-34.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.69 BHD 0.64

$0.64 BHD 0.24

164.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 BHD 0.21

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.83 BHD 0.31

$0.51 BHD 0.19

62.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.34 BHD 2.01

Wine (Bottle)

$26.38 BHD 9.94

$13.32 BHD 5.02

98.05%

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)

$0.78 BHD 0.29

$0.82 BHD 0.31

-4.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.36 BHD 13.71

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.44 BHD 2.05

$5.25 BHD 1.98

3.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.50 BHD 1.32

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.52 BHD 3.97

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.57 BHD 0.21

$0.46 BHD 0.17

23.91%

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)

$131 BHD 49.36

$132 BHD 49.87

-1.01%

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

$24.51 BHD 9.24

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.63 BHD 11.93

$35.27 BHD 13.30

-10.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$160 BHD 60.5

$71.8 BHD 27.06

123.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$104 BHD 39.26

$13.16 BHD 4.96

691.41%

Cinema Ticket

$15.94 BHD 6.01

$10.40 BHD 3.92

53.27%

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

$542 BHD 204

$498 BHD 188

8.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,819 BHD 2,948

$5,673 BHD 2,139

37.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$92.6 BHD 34.89

$29.70 BHD 11.20

211.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.03 BHD 15.09

$21.27 BHD 8.02

88.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 BHD 39.43

$66.6 BHD 25.09

57.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$104 BHD 39.24

$40.22 BHD 15.16

158.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,318 BHD 497

$894 BHD 337

47.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$938 BHD 353

$431 BHD 162

117.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,087 BHD 787

$1,544 BHD 582

35.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,189 BHD 448

$872 BHD 329

36.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,175 BHD 820

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,425 BHD 914

$1,379 BHD 520

75.94%

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 Saar: August 30, 2026

Last update for Riffa: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,318 in Saar versus $894 in Riffa. 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 $34.00 in Saar versus $39.00 in Riffa. Groceries tell a different story – $299 in Saar vs $206 in Riffa – 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

Saar vs Riffa: 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 $2,951 per month in Saar and $1,805 in Riffa. 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 $34.00 in Saar and $39.00 in Riffa. 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.