Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ahmadi and Sabah Al Salem

For one person, living is cheaper in Ahmadi: $1,220 a month against $1,406 in Sabah Al Salem, rent and utilities included – about $2,200 less a year. The total is higher in Sabah Al Salem despite lower rent and utilities.

60

Cost of Living Index in Ahmadi
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Ahmadi Living Index
69

Cost of Living Index in Sabah Al Salem
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Sabah Al Salem Living Index

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Ahmadi

🇰🇼 Kuwait

$1,220

/mo nomad

Sabah Al Salem

🇰🇼 Kuwait

$1,406

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ahmadi and in Sabah Al Salem

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ahmadi and in Sabah Al Salem actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,220 per month in Ahmadi vs $1,406 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

Ahmadi $1,220
Sabah Al Salem $1,406

A couple spends around $2,028 per month in Ahmadi vs $2,449 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

Ahmadi $2,028
Sabah Al Salem $2,449

A family of three spends $2,836 per month in Ahmadi vs $3,492 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

Ahmadi $2,836
Sabah Al Salem $3,492

Ahmadi is about 13% cheaper than Sabah Al Salem, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

Ahmadi sits 10% below the global median, while Sabah Al Salem is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.89 KWD 2.43

$7.94 KWD 2.45

-0.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$43.72 KWD 13.47

$70.6 KWD 21.75

-38.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.68 KWD 2.36

$9.09 KWD 2.80

-15.51%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.34 KWD 0.72

$3.14 KWD 0.97

-25.48%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 KWD 0.49

$3.14 KWD 0.97

-49.68%

Cappuccino

$4.22 KWD 1.30

$6.50 KWD 2.00

-35.08%

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

$0.58 KWD 0.18

$0.47 KWD 0.14

23.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 KWD 0.10

$0.47 KWD 0.14

-34.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 KWD 0.40

$1.93 KWD 0.60

-32.64%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 KWD 0.24

$1.31 KWD 0.40

-40.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 KWD 0.49

$2.15 KWD 0.66

-26.51%

Eggs

$1.34 KWD 0.41

$3.00 KWD 0.93

-55.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.28 KWD 1.01

$7.36 KWD 2.27

-55.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.77 KWD 1.47

$5.35 KWD 1.65

-10.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.22 KWD 3.15

$10.28 KWD 3.17

-0.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.40 KWD 0.43

$2.49 KWD 0.77

-43.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 KWD 0.45

$1.92 KWD 0.59

-23.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.10 KWD 0.34

$1.29 KWD 0.40

-14.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 KWD 0.24

$1.49 KWD 0.46

-46.98%

Potato (1kg)

$0.46 KWD 0.14

$1.37 KWD 0.42

-66.42%

Onion (1kg)

$0.50 KWD 0.15

$0.94 KWD 0.29

-46.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.31 KWD 0.40

$1.58 KWD 0.49

-17.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 KWD 0.17

$0.50 KWD 0.15

8.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.29 KWD 1.01

$2.85 KWD 0.88

15.44%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 KWD 0.31

$0.88 KWD 0.27

14.77%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 KWD 0.44

$1.25 KWD 0.38

15.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.78 KWD 0.86

$2.69 KWD 0.83

3.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.99 KWD 0.30

$0.82 KWD 0.25

20.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.74 KWD 8.86

$113 KWD 34.93

-74.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 KWD 0.98

$3.34 KWD 1.03

-4.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.29 KWD 1.01

$2.79 KWD 0.86

17.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.32 KWD 5.03

$17.68 KWD 5.45

-7.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

$0.35 KWD 0.11

2.86%

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

$20.5K KWD 6,322

$21.4K KWD 6,587

-4.02%

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

$17.8K KWD 5,488

$18.4K KWD 5,667

-3.15%

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

$64.2 KWD 19.77

$38.41 KWD 11.83

67.04%

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

$15.77 KWD 4.86

$23.71 KWD 7.31

-33.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.35 KWD 9.04

$39.51 KWD 12.17

-25.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$117 KWD 36.11

$131 KWD 40.25

-10.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.04 KWD 9.87

$39.15 KWD 12.06

-18.16%

Cinema Ticket

$10.61 KWD 3.27

$11.39 KWD 3.51

-6.85%

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

$94.7 KWD 29.17

$270 KWD 83.3

-64.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,224 KWD 2,842

$7,430 KWD 2,289

24.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.76 KWD 11.63

$37.61 KWD 11.59

0.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.24 KWD 12.09

$39.45 KWD 12.16

-0.53%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.5 KWD 29.74

$99.2 KWD 30.56

-2.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.6 KWD 26.67

$87.6 KWD 27.00

-1.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$633 KWD 195

$798 KWD 246

-20.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$527 KWD 163

$538 KWD 166

-1.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,604 KWD 494

$1,737 KWD 535

-7.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,201 KWD 370

$1,326 KWD 409

-9.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,121 KWD 962

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,468 KWD 760

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,545 KWD 1,092

$2,997 KWD 923

18.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.67

6.53

-28.48%

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

Last update for Ahmadi: October 11, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Ahmadi

$527 43.2%

Sabah Al Salem

$538 38.3% 2% $11

Eating Out

Ahmadi

$140 11.5%

Sabah Al Salem

$172 12.3% 22.9% $32

Sport & Entertainment

Ahmadi

$138 11.4%

Sabah Al Salem

$153 10.9% 10.9% $15

Groceries & Markets

Ahmadi

$135 11.1%

Sabah Al Salem

$188 13.3% 39% $53

Clothing & Footwear

Ahmadi

$117 9.6%

Sabah Al Salem

$119 8.5% 1.5% $1.7

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Ahmadi

$109 9%

Sabah Al Salem

$102 7.2% 7% $7.7

Getting Around

Ahmadi

$52 4.3%

Sabah Al Salem

$134 9.5% 156% $82

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $633 in Ahmadi versus $798 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 18% higher in Ahmadi, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Ahmadi versus $71.0 in Sabah Al Salem. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $135 vs $188 – making Ahmadi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know

🇰🇼 Ahmadi

🇰🇼 Sabah Al Salem

🕒 Local time

22:02 10:02 PM

Same time as Ahmadi

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

31,422

92,818

💱 Currency

Kuwaiti Dinar KWD د.ك

📈 Exchange rate

1 KWD = 3.25 USD

1 KWD = 2.89 EUR

1 KWD = 3.25 USD

1 KWD = 2.89 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Ahmadi Sabah Al Salem 18 km

From you

Ahmadi
Sabah Al Salem

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Yes – Sabah Al Salem is pricier by about 15%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in transport.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,830 per month in Ahmadi and $2,109 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 Ahmadi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $94.7 per month in Ahmadi and $270 in Sabah Al Salem. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 39% more in Sabah Al Salem, 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 Ahmadi, where all-in costs run around $1,220, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,406. In Ahmadi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sabah Al Salem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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