Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-farwaniyah and Sabah Al Salem Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-farwaniyah and Sabah Al Salem

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,092 per month in Al-farwaniyah vs $1,312 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,831 per month in Al-farwaniyah vs $2,228 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,570 per month in Al-farwaniyah vs $3,143 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

Al-farwaniyah is about 17% cheaper than Sabah Al Salem, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Al-farwaniyah and Sabah Al Salem are more affordable than the global median – Al-farwaniyah 18% lower, Sabah Al Salem 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.41 KWD 1.97

$7.56 KWD 2.32

-15.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$29.24 KWD 8.97

$58.7 KWD 18.00

-50.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.78 KWD 1.47

$8.59 KWD 2.63

-44.35%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 KWD 0.77

$2.48 KWD 0.76

1.21%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.66 KWD 1.12

$3.56 KWD 1.09

2.81%

Cappuccino

$2.89 KWD 0.89

$5.34 KWD 1.64

-45.88%

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

$0.66 KWD 0.20

$0.62 KWD 0.19

6.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.11

$0.34 KWD 0.10

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 KWD 0.33

$1.43 KWD 0.44

-24.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 KWD 0.40

$1.05 KWD 0.32

23.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.96 KWD 0.29

$1.65 KWD 0.51

-41.82%

Eggs

$1.93 KWD 0.59

$2.04 KWD 0.62

-5.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.97 KWD 1.22

$4.58 KWD 1.40

-13.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.67 KWD 2.05

$6.68 KWD 2.05

-0.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.31 KWD 3.16

$9.91 KWD 3.04

4.04%

Apples (1kg)

$1.51 KWD 0.46

$2.35 KWD 0.72

-35.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 KWD 0.41

$1.65 KWD 0.51

-19.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.94 KWD 0.29

$1.56 KWD 0.48

-39.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.03 KWD 0.32

$1.43 KWD 0.44

-27.97%

Potato (1kg)

$0.77 KWD 0.24

$1.23 KWD 0.38

-37.40%

Onion (1kg)

$0.90 KWD 0.28

$1.10 KWD 0.34

-18.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 KWD 0.50

$1.69 KWD 0.52

-4.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 KWD 0.13

$0.46 KWD 0.14

-8.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.16 KWD 0.97

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 KWD 0.31

$1.00 KWD 0.31

1.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 KWD 0.41

$1.33 KWD 0.41

-0.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 KWD 0.91

$2.86 KWD 0.88

3.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 KWD 0.25

$0.90 KWD 0.28

-7.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$33.21 KWD 10.19

$44.87 KWD 13.76

-25.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.47 KWD 0.76

$3.18 KWD 0.97

-22.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.73 KWD 0.53

$3.16 KWD 0.97

-45.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.33 KWD 5.01

$16.57 KWD 5.08

-1.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.31 KWD 0.09

$0.36 KWD 0.11

-13.89%

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

$19.7K KWD 6,040

$20.5K KWD 6,280

-3.82%

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

$17.9K KWD 5,475

$18.9K KWD 5,794

-5.50%

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

$58.1 KWD 17.82

$63.6 KWD 19.50

-8.60%

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

$16.11 KWD 4.94

$18.43 KWD 5.65

-12.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.14 KWD 8.02

$26.24 KWD 8.05

-0.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.8 KWD 19.88

$95.5 KWD 29.30

-32.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$64.2 KWD 19.70

$46.83 KWD 14.36

37.18%

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 KWD 3.46

$11.29 KWD 3.46

-0.09%

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

$106 KWD 32.40

$278 KWD 85.4

-62.06%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,602 KWD 1,411

$6,070 KWD 1,862

-24.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.39 KWD 12.69

$42.73 KWD 13.11

-3.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.39 KWD 11.47

$42.21 KWD 12.95

-11.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.4 KWD 27.42

$87.9 KWD 26.96

1.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.0 KWD 19.94

$81.8 KWD 25.07

-20.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$578 KWD 177

$808 KWD 248

-28.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$494 KWD 151

$611 KWD 188

-19.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,384 KWD 425

$1,586 KWD 486

-12.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,132 KWD 347

$1,309 KWD 402

-13.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,783 KWD 853

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,457 KWD 1,060

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,884 KWD 578

$2,958 KWD 907

-36.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.5

7.14

-50.98%

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

Last update for Al-farwaniyah: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $578 in Al-farwaniyah versus $808 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 57% higher in Sabah Al Salem, 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 $29.00 in Al-farwaniyah versus $59.0 in Sabah Al Salem. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $152 vs $170 – making Al-farwaniyah 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,092 in Al-farwaniyah, $1,312 in Sabah Al Salem – roughly 20% apart. Sabah Al Salem costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,639 per month in Al-farwaniyah and $1,968 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 Al-farwaniyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $106 per month in Al-farwaniyah and $278 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 12% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Al-farwaniyah, where all-in costs run around $1,092, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,312. In Al-farwaniyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sabah Al Salem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-farwaniyah – 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 Al-farwaniyah. 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.