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 $1,334 per month in Al-'udayliyah vs $1,358 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,226 per month in Al-'udayliyah vs $2,245 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,118 per month in Al-'udayliyah vs $3,132 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

Al-'udayliyah is about 2% cheaper than Sabah Al Salem, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.71 KWD 2.37

$7.70 KWD 2.37

0.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.3 KWD 18.22

$58.1 KWD 17.84

2.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.34 KWD 2.56

$8.41 KWD 2.59

-0.83%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.52 KWD 0.77

$2.48 KWD 0.76

1.61%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 KWD 1.09

$3.43 KWD 1.05

2.92%

Cappuccino

$5.38 KWD 1.65

$5.28 KWD 1.62

1.89%

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

$0.63 KWD 0.19

$0.60 KWD 0.18

5.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

$1.49 KWD 0.46

-4.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 KWD 0.32

$1.06 KWD 0.33

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 KWD 0.51

$1.72 KWD 0.53

-3.49%

Eggs

$2.02 KWD 0.62

$2.05 KWD 0.63

-1.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.38 KWD 1.35

$4.37 KWD 1.34

0.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.46 KWD 1.99

$6.41 KWD 1.97

0.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.41 KWD 2.89

$9.76 KWD 3.00

-3.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.23 KWD 0.69

$2.32 KWD 0.71

-3.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 KWD 0.52

$1.60 KWD 0.49

5.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 KWD 0.46

$1.52 KWD 0.47

-0.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 KWD 0.42

$1.35 KWD 0.42

1.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 KWD 0.39

$1.22 KWD 0.38

4.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 KWD 0.34

$1.15 KWD 0.35

-4.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 KWD 0.50

$1.63 KWD 0.50

-0.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 KWD 0.14

$0.42 KWD 0.13

9.52%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.09 KWD 0.95

$2.85 KWD 0.88

8.42%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 KWD 0.31

$1.05 KWD 0.32

-2.86%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 KWD 0.43

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 KWD 0.92

$3.00 KWD 0.92

-0.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 KWD 0.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.60 KWD 13.40

$43.89 KWD 13.49

-0.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 KWD 1.02

$3.25 KWD 1.00

2.15%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.30 KWD 1.01

$3.33 KWD 1.02

-0.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.22 KWD 4.99

$16.23 KWD 4.99

-0.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

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

$20.8K KWD 6,386

$20.7K KWD 6,373

0.20%

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

$19.0K KWD 5,854

$19.3K KWD 5,947

-1.56%

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

$61.5 KWD 18.89

$62.2 KWD 19.10

-1.13%

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

$18.40 KWD 5.66

$18.37 KWD 5.65

0.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.62 KWD 7.88

$25.42 KWD 7.81

0.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$92.1 KWD 28.31

$92.2 KWD 28.35

-0.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.57 KWD 14.01

$46.49 KWD 14.29

-1.98%

Cinema Ticket

$11.39 KWD 3.50

$11.23 KWD 3.45

1.42%

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

$288 KWD 88.5

$282 KWD 86.8

1.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,174 KWD 1,898

$6,129 KWD 1,884

0.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.09 KWD 12.94

$41.43 KWD 12.74

1.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.05 KWD 13.23

$41.70 KWD 12.82

3.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.2 KWD 27.10

$87.1 KWD 26.78

1.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.9 KWD 25.48

$80.5 KWD 24.75

2.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$782 KWD 240

$808 KWD 248

-3.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$613 KWD 189

$619 KWD 190

-0.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,595 KWD 490

$1,591 KWD 489

0.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,295 KWD 398

$1,289 KWD 396

0.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.0K KWD 3,686

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,860 KWD 879

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,515 KWD 1,695

$2,998 KWD 922

83.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.14

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

Last update for Al-'udayliyah: July 13, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $782 in Al-'udayliyah 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 84% 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 $59.0 in Al-'udayliyah versus $58.0 in Sabah Al Salem. Groceries tell a different story – $165 in Al-'udayliyah vs $167 in Sabah Al Salem – so Al-'udayliyah 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-'udayliyah vs Sabah Al Salem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sabah Al Salem costs about 2% more than Al-'udayliyah, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,002 per month in Al-'udayliyah and $2,037 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,334 in Al-'udayliyah and $1,358 in Sabah Al Salem. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 1% less in Al-'udayliyah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Al-'udayliyah, where all-in costs run around $1,334, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,358. 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.