Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-'udayliyah and Sabah Al Salem Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-'udayliyah and Sabah Al Salem

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,270 per month in Al-'udayliyah vs $1,432 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,179 per month in Al-'udayliyah vs $2,446 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,088 per month in Al-'udayliyah vs $3,460 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

Al-'udayliyah is about 11% cheaper than Sabah Al Salem, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Al-'udayliyah sits 7% below the global median, while Sabah Al Salem is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.74 KWD 2.38

$8.32 KWD 2.56

-6.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$56.1 KWD 17.23

$71.6 KWD 22.00

-21.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.85 KWD 2.41

$9.25 KWD 2.84

-15.14%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.60 KWD 1.11

$3.28 KWD 1.01

9.76%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.71 KWD 1.14

$3.15 KWD 0.97

17.78%

Cappuccino

$4.62 KWD 1.42

$6.62 KWD 2.04

-30.21%

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

$0.55 KWD 0.17

$0.48 KWD 0.15

14.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 KWD 0.10

$0.48 KWD 0.15

-31.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 KWD 0.34

$1.98 KWD 0.61

-43.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.76 KWD 0.23

$1.33 KWD 0.41

-42.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.10 KWD 0.65

$2.13 KWD 0.65

-1.41%

Eggs

$2.10 KWD 0.65

$3.02 KWD 0.93

-30.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 KWD 1.35

$7.32 KWD 2.25

-40.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.01 KWD 1.54

$5.38 KWD 1.65

-6.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.77 KWD 3.00

$10.15 KWD 3.12

-3.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.15 KWD 0.66

$2.51 KWD 0.77

-14.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 KWD 0.53

$1.86 KWD 0.57

-6.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.12 KWD 0.34

$1.32 KWD 0.41

-15.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 KWD 0.42

$1.54 KWD 0.47

-11.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 KWD 0.45

$1.31 KWD 0.40

11.45%

Onion (1kg)

$0.89 KWD 0.27

$0.95 KWD 0.29

-6.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.67 KWD 0.51

$1.65 KWD 0.51

1.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 KWD 0.15

$0.48 KWD 0.15

2.08%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.20 KWD 0.98

$3.01 KWD 0.93

6.31%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 KWD 0.32

$0.95 KWD 0.29

9.47%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.41 KWD 0.43

$1.43 KWD 0.44

-1.40%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.13 KWD 0.96

$2.79 KWD 0.86

12.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 KWD 0.27

$0.75 KWD 0.23

14.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$115 KWD 35.27

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.89 KWD 0.89

$3.05 KWD 0.94

-5.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.32 KWD 1.02

$3.50 KWD 1.07

-5.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.92 KWD 4.28

$14.39 KWD 4.42

-3.27%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.31 KWD 0.09

$0.33 KWD 0.10

-6.06%

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

$18.1K KWD 5,561

$21.8K KWD 6,702

-17.03%

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

$22.3K KWD 6,846

$21.9K KWD 6,726

1.79%

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

$70.1 KWD 21.54

$39.29 KWD 12.07

78.39%

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

$22.18 KWD 6.82

$24.66 KWD 7.58

-10.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.77 KWD 9.76

$38.81 KWD 11.93

-18.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.9 KWD 27.92

$128 KWD 39.40

-29.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.17 KWD 12.04

Cinema Ticket

$12.56 KWD 3.86

$11.39 KWD 3.50

10.27%

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

$289 KWD 88.9

$277 KWD 85.2

4.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,207 KWD 2,215

$7,546 KWD 2,319

-4.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.67 KWD 12.81

$37.94 KWD 11.66

9.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.76 KWD 11.30

$40.10 KWD 12.32

-8.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 KWD 33.23

$96.3 KWD 29.59

12.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.7 KWD 26.34

$90.3 KWD 27.74

-5.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$713 KWD 219

$725 KWD 223

-1.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$565 KWD 174

$555 KWD 171

1.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,537 KWD 472

$1,811 KWD 557

-15.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,198 KWD 368

$1,352 KWD 415

-11.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.1K KWD 3,716

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,926 KWD 899

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,324 KWD 1,636

$3,022 KWD 929

76.20%

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-'udayliyah: September 15, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $713 in Al-'udayliyah versus $725 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 76% higher in Al-'udayliyah, 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 $56.0 in Al-'udayliyah versus $72.0 in Sabah Al Salem. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $154 vs $188 – making Al-'udayliyah 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-'udayliyah vs Sabah Al Salem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sabah Al Salem costs about 13% more than Al-'udayliyah, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,904 per month in Al-'udayliyah and $2,148 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-'udayliyah, 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 $56.0 in Al-'udayliyah and $72.0 in Sabah Al Salem. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 22% 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 $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Al-'udayliyah, where all-in costs run around $1,270, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,432. In Al-'udayliyah 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-'udayliyah – 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-'udayliyah. 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.