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 $1,251 per month in Ahmadi vs $1,334 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,055 per month in Ahmadi vs $2,362 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,858 per month in Ahmadi vs $3,390 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

Ahmadi is about 6% cheaper than Sabah Al Salem, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Ahmadi and Sabah Al Salem are more affordable than the global median – Ahmadi 9% lower, Sabah Al Salem 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.91 KWD 2.43

$7.89 KWD 2.42

0.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.84 KWD 13.75

$71.6 KWD 21.95

-37.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.96 KWD 2.44

$9.33 KWD 2.86

-14.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 KWD 0.74

$3.16 KWD 0.97

-23.73%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.66 KWD 0.51

$3.19 KWD 0.98

-47.96%

Cappuccino

$4.23 KWD 1.30

$6.55 KWD 2.01

-35.42%

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

$0.59 KWD 0.18

$0.51 KWD 0.16

15.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 KWD 0.11

$0.47 KWD 0.14

-25.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 KWD 0.40

$1.90 KWD 0.58

-31.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.78 KWD 0.24

$1.28 KWD 0.39

-39.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$2.13 KWD 0.65

-22.54%

Eggs

$1.33 KWD 0.41

$3.09 KWD 0.95

-56.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.16 KWD 0.97

$7.08 KWD 2.17

-55.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.84 KWD 1.48

$5.64 KWD 1.73

-14.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.35 KWD 3.18

$9.62 KWD 2.95

7.59%

Apples (1kg)

$1.48 KWD 0.45

$2.28 KWD 0.70

-35.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

$1.66 KWD 0.51

-13.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.12 KWD 0.34

$1.27 KWD 0.39

-11.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.83 KWD 0.26

$1.56 KWD 0.48

-46.79%

Potato (1kg)

$0.47 KWD 0.14

$1.31 KWD 0.40

-64.12%

Onion (1kg)

$0.51 KWD 0.16

$0.83 KWD 0.26

-38.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 KWD 0.41

$1.58 KWD 0.49

-15.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 KWD 0.17

$0.60 KWD 0.18

-8.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.28 KWD 1.01

$3.15 KWD 0.97

4.13%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 KWD 0.31

$0.98 KWD 0.30

3.06%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 KWD 0.43

$1.56 KWD 0.48

-10.26%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.78 KWD 0.85

$2.99 KWD 0.92

-7.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.99 KWD 0.30

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.04 KWD 8.91

$48.91 KWD 15.00

-40.63%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 KWD 0.98

$3.53 KWD 1.08

-9.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.20 KWD 0.98

$2.76 KWD 0.85

15.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.40 KWD 5.03

$15.62 KWD 4.79

4.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.32 KWD 0.10

$0.33 KWD 0.10

-3.03%

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

$20.8K KWD 6,389

$21.3K KWD 6,528

-2.13%

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

$18.0K KWD 5,535

$20.1K KWD 6,157

-10.10%

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

$65.7 KWD 20.15

$38.25 KWD 11.73

71.76%

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

$16.32 KWD 5.01

$24.16 KWD 7.41

-32.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.29 KWD 9.29

$38.84 KWD 11.91

-22.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$118 KWD 36.24

$131 KWD 40.16

-9.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.50 KWD 9.97

$36.26 KWD 11.12

-10.37%

Cinema Ticket

$10.54 KWD 3.23

$11.48 KWD 3.52

-8.19%

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

$95.4 KWD 29.25

$281 KWD 86.3

-66.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,440 KWD 2,895

$7,421 KWD 2,276

27.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.14 KWD 11.39

$38.31 KWD 11.75

-3.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.35 KWD 12.07

$39.41 KWD 12.09

-0.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100.0 KWD 30.65

$98.9 KWD 30.32

1.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.7 KWD 27.19

$90.2 KWD 27.66

-1.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$649 KWD 199

$727 KWD 223

-10.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$532 KWD 163

$550 KWD 169

-3.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,649 KWD 506

$1,643 KWD 504

0.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,230 KWD 377

$1,333 KWD 409

-7.71%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,199 KWD 981

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,500 KWD 767

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,530 KWD 1,083

$2,981 KWD 914

18.42%

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: August 16, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $649 in Ahmadi versus $727 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 $45.00 in Ahmadi versus $72.0 in Sabah Al Salem. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $137 vs $184 – 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

Yes – Sabah Al Salem is pricier by about 7%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,877 per month in Ahmadi and $2,001 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 $95.4 per month in Ahmadi and $281 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 35% 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 $1,251, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,334. 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.