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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,379 per month in Al-Qurain vs $1,400 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,295 per month in Al-Qurain vs $2,495 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,212 per month in Al-Qurain vs $3,589 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

Al-Qurain is about 2% cheaper than Sabah Al Salem, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Al-Qurain and Sabah Al Salem sit above the global median – Al-Qurain by 0%, Sabah Al Salem by 2%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.77 KWD 3.91

$7.93 KWD 2.43

61.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.9 KWD 19.89

$72.6 KWD 22.26

-10.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.12 KWD 2.80

$9.17 KWD 2.81

-0.55%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 KWD 1.01

$3.26 KWD 1.00

0.61%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.79 KWD 1.47

$3.16 KWD 0.97

51.58%

Cappuccino

$5.51 KWD 1.69

$6.44 KWD 1.97

-14.44%

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

$0.70 KWD 0.21

$0.47 KWD 0.15

48.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 KWD 0.12

$0.51 KWD 0.16

-25.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.97 KWD 0.60

-16.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 KWD 0.47

$1.26 KWD 0.39

21.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 KWD 0.58

$2.06 KWD 0.63

-7.77%

Eggs

$2.14 KWD 0.66

$3.16 KWD 0.97

-32.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.51 KWD 1.38

$7.26 KWD 2.23

-37.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.83 KWD 2.09

$5.43 KWD 1.67

25.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.43 KWD 3.20

$10.33 KWD 3.17

0.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.44 KWD 0.75

$2.46 KWD 0.75

-0.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 KWD 0.59

$1.85 KWD 0.57

4.86%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 KWD 0.57

$1.31 KWD 0.40

41.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 KWD 0.47

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 KWD 0.42

$1.32 KWD 0.41

3.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.49 KWD 0.46

$0.96 KWD 0.29

55.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.39 KWD 0.73

$1.60 KWD 0.49

49.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 KWD 0.18

$0.47 KWD 0.14

25.53%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.26 KWD 1.00

$3.12 KWD 0.96

4.49%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 KWD 0.33

$1.03 KWD 0.32

3.88%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 KWD 0.43

$1.63 KWD 0.50

-14.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 KWD 0.86

$2.91 KWD 0.89

-3.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 KWD 0.24

$0.81 KWD 0.25

-2.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 KWD 34.94

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.74 KWD 1.45

$3.37 KWD 1.03

40.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.30 KWD 1.01

$3.70 KWD 1.13

-10.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.34 KWD 5.01

$17.45 KWD 5.35

-6.36%

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)

$21.1K KWD 6,478

$20.0K KWD 6,121

5.83%

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

$20.6K KWD 6,310

$20.5K KWD 6,295

0.23%

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

$65.2 KWD 19.98

$38.32 KWD 11.75

70.04%

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

$23.10 KWD 7.08

$23.88 KWD 7.32

-3.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.40 KWD 9.32

$39.34 KWD 12.06

-22.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.1 KWD 29.45

$131 KWD 40.27

-26.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.26 KWD 11.73

Cinema Ticket

$11.12 KWD 3.41

$11.13 KWD 3.41

-0.09%

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

$296 KWD 90.7

$273 KWD 83.8

8.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,269 KWD 2,842

$7,488 KWD 2,296

23.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.71 KWD 11.56

$37.51 KWD 11.50

0.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.47 KWD 12.10

$39.45 KWD 12.10

0.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.7 KWD 30.25

$98.2 KWD 30.11

0.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.5 KWD 27.76

$88.8 KWD 27.21

2.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$737 KWD 226

$731 KWD 224

0.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$586 KWD 180

$552 KWD 169

6.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,795 KWD 550

$1,811 KWD 555

-0.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,365 KWD 418

$1,319 KWD 404

3.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,559 KWD 1,398

$2,911 KWD 893

56.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

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

Last update for Al-Qurain: September 7, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $737 in Al-Qurain versus $731 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 Al-Qurain, 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 $65.0 in Al-Qurain versus $73.0 in Sabah Al Salem. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Al-Qurain vs $187 in Sabah Al Salem – so Sabah Al Salem wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Yes – Sabah Al Salem is pricier by about 2%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,068 per month in Al-Qurain and $2,100 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-Qurain, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Al-Qurain and $73.0 in Sabah Al Salem. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 1% cheaper in Sabah Al Salem – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al-Qurain, where all-in costs run around $1,379, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,400. In Al-Qurain 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-Qurain – 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-Qurain. 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.