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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,995 per month in Saar vs $1,384 in Riffa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,793 per month in Saar vs $2,059 in Riffa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,590 per month in Saar vs $2,734 in Riffa, rent included.

Saar costs about 44% more than Riffa, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Saar and Riffa sit above the global median – Saar by 49%, Riffa by 3%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.47 BHD 3.95

$6.50 BHD 2.45

61.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.54 BHD 12.27

$47.19 BHD 17.79

-31.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.40 BHD 3.92

$6.09 BHD 2.30

70.77%

Cappuccino

$5.81 BHD 2.19

$1.96 BHD 0.74

196.43%

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

$0.96 BHD 0.36

$0.61 BHD 0.23

57.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 BHD 0.17

$0.28 BHD 0.11

57.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$6.09 BHD 2.30

$8.10 BHD 3.05

-24.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$9.04 BHD 3.41

$10.69 BHD 4.03

-15.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 BHD 0.63

$1.32 BHD 0.50

26.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 BHD 0.50

$1.29 BHD 0.49

1.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.63 BHD 0.99

$2.37 BHD 0.89

10.97%

Eggs

$2.60 BHD 0.98

$2.17 BHD 0.82

19.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.16 BHD 4.96

$8.94 BHD 3.37

47.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.60 BHD 2.49

$6.94 BHD 2.62

-4.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.79 BHD 5.95

$10.06 BHD 3.79

56.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.88 BHD 1.46

$2.33 BHD 0.88

66.52%

Banana (1kg)

$2.37 BHD 0.89

$1.85 BHD 0.70

28.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.60 BHD 1.36

$1.77 BHD 0.67

103.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.93 BHD 0.73

$1.22 BHD 0.46

58.20%

Potato (1kg)

$0.69 BHD 0.26

$0.94 BHD 0.35

-26.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 BHD 0.63

$1.07 BHD 0.41

57.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 BHD 0.54

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 BHD 0.19

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.59 BHD 2.49

Wine (Bottle)

$26.54 BHD 10.01

$13.30 BHD 5.02

99.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.45 BHD 1.30

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.32 BHD 1.25

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 BHD 0.29

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.41 BHD 12.22

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$5.28 BHD 1.99

$4.54 BHD 1.71

16.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.03 BHD 1.52

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$27.04 BHD 10.19

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 BHD 0.14

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

$26.0K BHD 9,819

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

$20.6K BHD 7,776

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

$135 BHD 50.8

$122 BHD 46.10

10.08%

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

$26.89 BHD 10.14

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.34 BHD 12.19

$39.00 BHD 14.70

-17.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$189 BHD 71.2

$80.2 BHD 30.25

135.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$108 BHD 40.75

Cinema Ticket

$20.97 BHD 7.90

$7.99 BHD 3.01

162.45%

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

$553 BHD 209

$395 BHD 149

39.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,994 BHD 3,014

$6,656 BHD 2,509

20.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$91.6 BHD 34.52

$39.40 BHD 14.86

132.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.16 BHD 14.76

$63.4 BHD 23.88

-38.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 BHD 40.37

$67.4 BHD 25.40

58.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 BHD 39.82

$39.72 BHD 14.98

165.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,309 BHD 494

$1,179 BHD 445

11.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$944 BHD 356

$531 BHD 200

77.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,131 BHD 804

$2,163 BHD 815

-1.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,171 BHD 441

$945 BHD 356

23.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,216 BHD 835

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,428 BHD 915

$1,410 BHD 532

72.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

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

Last update for Saar: June 1, 2026

Last update for Riffa: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,309 in Saar versus $1,179 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 72% 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 $33.00 in Saar versus $47.00 in Riffa. Groceries tell a different story – $287 in Saar vs $239 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 44%, 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 $2,992 per month in Saar and $2,076 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 $33.00 in Saar and $47.00 in Riffa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% 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 $1,384, than in Saar at $1,995. 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.