Cost of living comparison

compared to

Riyadh vs. Manama Cost of Living Summary

Riyadh is 10.0% more expensive than Manama.

Restaurants
pay 23.9% more in Riyadh
Groceries
pay 18.7% more in Riyadh
Transportation
pay 9.9% less in Riyadh
Housing
pay 16.8% more in Riyadh
Childcare
pay 0.3% less in Riyadh
Entertainment and Sports
pay 6.9% less in Riyadh
Clothing
pay 9.9% more in Riyadh

The cost of restaurants, groceries, housing, and clothing in Riyadh are more expensive than in Manama. Expenses including transportation, entertainment and sports, and childcare are lower in Riyadh.

Riyadh vs. Manama Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Riyadh instead of Manama, you would:

pay 23.9% more for restaurants

 
Manama
Riyadh
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $5.30
BHD2.000
$7.99
SAR30.01
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$7.43
BHD2.800
$7.99
SAR30.01
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.86
BHD0.330
$0.87
SAR3.28

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pay 18.7% more for groceries

 
Manama
Riyadh
Bread
1 loaf
$1.08
BHD0.410
$1.29
SAR4.84
Local cheese (8 oz) $4.33
BHD1.630
$5.27
SAR19.79
Milk (1 gallon) $5.35
BHD2.020
$6.76
SAR25.40

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pay 9.9% less for transportation

 
Manama
Riyadh
Gasoline (1 gallon) $2.53
BHD0.950
$2.35
SAR8.82
Monthly public transit pass $37.13
BHD14.000
$37.31
SAR140.06
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $37,115.81
BHD13,996.040
$34,642.08
SAR130K

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pay 16.8% more for housing

 
Manama
Riyadh
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$35.14
BHD13.250
$71.73
SAR269.31
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $995.34
BHD375.330
$1,186.87
SAR4,456.00
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $645.13
BHD243.270
$833.69
SAR3,130.02

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pay 0.3% less for childcare

 
Manama
Riyadh
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $489.38
BHD184.540
$530.73
SAR1,992.59
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $11,017.71
BHD4,154.680
$10,105.80
SAR37,941.20

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pay 6.9% less for entertainment and sports

 
Manama
Riyadh
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $6.63
BHD2.500
$2.13
SAR8.00
Cappuccino in mid-range area $4.94
BHD1.860
$4.28
SAR16.07
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$5.30
BHD2.000
$7.73
SAR29.01

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pay 9.9% more for clothing

 
Manama
Riyadh
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$51.08
BHD19.260
$58.30
SAR218.87
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$57.58
BHD21.710
$54.26
SAR203.73
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$87.84
BHD33.130
$102.59
SAR385.18

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We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Sources: MyLifeElsewhere's cost-of-living dataset (prices updated November 2026). How we calculate this

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