Cost of Living Comparison Between Ahmadi and Sabah Al Salem Cost of Living Comparison Between Ahmadi and Sabah Al Salem

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,353 per month in Ahmadi vs $1,353 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,082 per month in Ahmadi vs $2,248 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,810 per month in Ahmadi vs $3,144 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

Ahmadi and Sabah Al Salem have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Ahmadi and Sabah Al Salem sit above the global median – Ahmadi by 1%, Sabah Al Salem by 1%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.96 KWD 1.52

$7.84 KWD 2.41

-36.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.79 KWD 7.61

$59.0 KWD 18.14

-58.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.27 KWD 2.54

$8.47 KWD 2.60

-2.36%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 KWD 0.76

$2.42 KWD 0.74

2.07%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.67 KWD 0.51

$3.49 KWD 1.07

-52.15%

Cappuccino

$5.57 KWD 1.71

$5.52 KWD 1.70

0.91%

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

$0.50 KWD 0.15

$0.63 KWD 0.19

-20.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 KWD 0.10

$0.34 KWD 0.10

-8.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 KWD 0.41

$1.42 KWD 0.44

-5.63%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 KWD 0.26

$1.10 KWD 0.34

-22.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 KWD 0.49

$1.65 KWD 0.51

-3.03%

Eggs

$1.38 KWD 0.42

$2.06 KWD 0.63

-33.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.32 KWD 1.02

$4.39 KWD 1.35

-24.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 KWD 1.55

$6.64 KWD 2.04

-23.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.30 KWD 3.17

$9.61 KWD 2.95

7.18%

Apples (1kg)

$1.45 KWD 0.45

$2.25 KWD 0.69

-35.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 KWD 0.46

$1.67 KWD 0.51

-9.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.16 KWD 0.36

$1.51 KWD 0.46

-23.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.81 KWD 0.25

$1.38 KWD 0.42

-41.30%

Potato (1kg)

$0.48 KWD 0.15

$1.28 KWD 0.39

-62.50%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 KWD 0.16

$1.13 KWD 0.35

-54.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 KWD 0.41

$1.67 KWD 0.51

-20.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 KWD 0.15

$0.45 KWD 0.14

8.89%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.16 KWD 0.97

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 KWD 0.32

$1.01 KWD 0.31

2.97%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 KWD 0.43

$1.35 KWD 0.41

3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 KWD 0.92

$2.97 KWD 0.91

0.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 KWD 0.29

$0.84 KWD 0.26

13.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.95 KWD 9.20

$43.88 KWD 13.48

-31.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 KWD 0.98

$3.20 KWD 0.98

-0.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.18 KWD 0.98

$3.28 KWD 1.01

-3.05%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.14 KWD 4.96

$16.27 KWD 5.00

-0.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

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

$21.5K KWD 6,595

$20.8K KWD 6,381

3.36%

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

$18.3K KWD 5,635

$19.0K KWD 5,839

-3.49%

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

$62.1 KWD 19.09

$62.1 KWD 19.08

0.03%

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

$16.62 KWD 5.11

$18.31 KWD 5.63

-9.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.91 KWD 7.96

$26.13 KWD 8.03

-0.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$134 KWD 41.12

$92.3 KWD 28.34

45.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$49.44 KWD 15.19

$46.63 KWD 14.32

6.03%

Cinema Ticket

$11.56 KWD 3.55

$11.58 KWD 3.56

-0.17%

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

$97.1 KWD 29.81

$284 KWD 87.2

-65.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,674 KWD 2,050

$5,984 KWD 1,838

11.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.94 KWD 12.89

$41.77 KWD 12.83

0.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.33 KWD 13.31

$41.78 KWD 12.83

3.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.3 KWD 26.50

$87.6 KWD 26.91

-1.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.0 KWD 25.50

$80.1 KWD 24.62

3.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$824 KWD 253

$791 KWD 243

4.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 KWD 193

$602 KWD 185

4.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,874 KWD 576

$1,556 KWD 478

20.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,259 KWD 387

$1,264 KWD 388

-0.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,113 KWD 956

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,564 KWD 788

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,551 KWD 1,091

$3,030 KWD 931

17.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

7.14

-36.97%

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

Last update for Ahmadi: June 13, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $824 in Ahmadi versus $791 in Sabah Al Salem. 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 17% higher in Ahmadi. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Ahmadi versus $59.0 in Sabah Al Salem. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $139 vs $168 – making Ahmadi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Ahmadi vs Sabah Al Salem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,029 per month in Ahmadi and $2,029 in Sabah Al Salem. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 21% cheaper in Ahmadi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

Kindergarten costs $97.1 per month in Ahmadi and $284 in Sabah Al Salem. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sabah Al Salem, where all-in costs run around $1,353, than in Ahmadi at $1,353. In Sabah Al Salem it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ahmadi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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