Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Austin, TX and Sabah Al Salem

For one person, living is cheaper in Sabah Al Salem: $1,404 a month against $2,704 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $15,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

129

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index
69

Cost of Living Index in Sabah Al Salem
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Sabah Al Salem Living Index

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Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,704

/mo nomad

Sabah Al Salem

🇰🇼 Kuwait

$1,404

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Austin, TX and in Sabah Al Salem

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Austin, TX and in Sabah Al Salem actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,704 in Austin, TX versus $1,404 in Sabah Al Salem.

Austin, TX $2,704
Sabah Al Salem $1,404

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,133 in Austin, TX versus $2,448 in Sabah Al Salem.

Austin, TX $4,133
Sabah Al Salem $2,448

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,562 in Austin, TX versus $3,492 in Sabah Al Salem.

Austin, TX $5,562
Sabah Al Salem $3,492

Living in Austin, TX is roughly 93% more expensive than in Sabah Al Salem, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Austin, TX 102% above, Sabah Al Salem 5% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$20.22 $20.22

$8.29 KWD 2.58

143.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$85.0 $85.0

$70.4 KWD 21.87

20.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.35 $12.35

$9.36 KWD 2.91

31.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.18 KWD 0.99

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 KWD 0.99

Cappuccino

$5.47 $5.47

$6.51 KWD 2.02

-15.98%

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

$3.82 $3.82

$0.49 KWD 0.15

679.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 $2.50

$0.50 KWD 0.16

400.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$8.06 $8.06

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$8.99 $8.99

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 $1.13

$1.91 KWD 0.59

-40.84%

White Bread (500g)

$3.78 $3.78

$1.32 KWD 0.41

186.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$3.25 $3.25

$2.12 KWD 0.66

53.30%

Eggs

$4.14 $4.14

$3.04 KWD 0.94

36.18%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.08 $13.08

$7.35 KWD 2.28

77.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$14.31 $14.31

$5.56 KWD 1.73

157.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.96 $15.96

$10.28 KWD 3.19

55.25%

Apples (1kg)

$4.38 $4.38

$2.39 KWD 0.74

83.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 $1.45

$1.88 KWD 0.58

-22.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$4.54 $4.54

$1.28 KWD 0.40

254.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$4.19 $4.19

$1.49 KWD 0.46

181.21%

Potato (1kg)

$2.63 $2.63

$1.31 KWD 0.41

100.76%

Onion (1kg)

$2.36 $2.36

$0.92 KWD 0.28

156.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.76 $1.76

$1.65 KWD 0.51

6.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.16 $2.16

$0.47 KWD 0.14

359.57%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.62 KWD 1.12

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 KWD 0.37

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.58 KWD 0.49

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.81 $9.81

$2.51 KWD 0.78

290.84%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.72 $14.72

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 $2.78

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.48 $3.48

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.49 $1.49

$0.79 KWD 0.25

88.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.51 $40.51

$113 KWD 35.09

-64.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 $2.67

$3.68 KWD 1.14

-27.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 $1.58

$2.78 KWD 0.86

-43.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$35.29 $35.29

$14.47 KWD 4.49

143.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 $0.99

$0.33 KWD 0.10

200.00%

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

$35.8K $35.8K

$18.8K KWD 5,851

90.01%

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

$27.2K $27.2K

$18.8K KWD 5,837

44.55%

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

$219 $219

$38.57 KWD 11.97

468.50%

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

$58.0 $58.0

$24.68 KWD 7.66

134.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.4 $68.4

$39.63 KWD 12.31

72.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$57.9 $57.9

$131 KWD 40.69

-55.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.82 $14.82

$39.05 KWD 12.13

-62.05%

Cinema Ticket

$14.13 $14.13

$11.52 KWD 3.58

22.66%

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

$1,509 $1,509

$283 KWD 87.8

433.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$21.5K $21.5K

$7,527 KWD 2,337

185.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.7 $51.7

$38.19 KWD 11.86

35.27%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$44.05 $44.05

$38.92 KWD 12.09

13.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.1 $85.1

$98.1 KWD 30.47

-13.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 $105

$89.1 KWD 27.67

18.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,932 $1,932

$792 KWD 246

143.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,272 $1,272

$557 KWD 173

128.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,670 $3,670

$1,769 KWD 549

107.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,525 $2,525

$1,325 KWD 411

90.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$7,617 $7,617

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$3,199 $3,199

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$5,105 $5,105

$2,960 KWD 919

72.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.79

6.53

3.98%

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

Last update for Austin, TX: October 5, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Austin, TX

$1.3K 48.2%

Sabah Al Salem

$557 38.9% 56.2% $715

Groceries & Markets

Austin, TX

$403 15.3%

Sabah Al Salem

$187 13.1% 53.5% $216

Eating Out

Austin, TX

$348 13.2%

Sabah Al Salem

$176 12.3% 49.3% $172

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Austin, TX

$346 13.1%

Sabah Al Salem

$103 7.2% 70.2% $243

Clothing & Footwear

Austin, TX

$129 4.9%

Sabah Al Salem

$119 8.3% 7.6% $9.8

Sport & Entertainment

Austin, TX

$86 3.3%

Sabah Al Salem

$154 10.8% 78.8% $68

Getting Around

Austin, TX

$57 2.2%

Sabah Al Salem

$134 9.4% 135% $77

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,932 in Austin, TX and $792 in Sabah Al Salem. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 72% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $85.0 in Austin, TX vs $70.0 in Sabah Al Salem for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $403 vs $187 per month, with Sabah Al Salem cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🇰🇼 Sabah Al Salem

🕒 Local time

01:50 1:50 AM

09:50 9:50 AM

8 h ahead of Austin, TX

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

974,447

92,818

💱 Currency

United States Dollar USD $

Kuwaiti Dinar KWD د.ك

📈 Exchange rate

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

1 KWD = 3.22 USD

1 KWD = 2.87 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

KWD, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

🇰🇼 Kuwaiti Dinar (د.ك)

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Kuwaiti Dinar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 0.311 KWD (1 KWD = 3.22 USD). 1 EUR = 0.348 KWD (1 KWD = 2.87 EUR).

KWD to USD in detail →

On the map

Lowest

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Between locations

Austin, TX Sabah Al Salem 12,470 km ≈ 16 h nonstop flight

From you

Austin, TX
Sabah Al Salem

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Austin, TX vs Sabah Al Salem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sabah Al Salem wins on cost – living expenses run 93% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sabah Al Salem the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 72% higher in Austin, TX, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $1,932 in Austin, TX versus $792 in Sabah Al Salem. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $2,704 per month in Austin, TX versus $1,404 in Sabah Al Salem – a 93% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sabah Al Salem runs roughly 179% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,404 in Sabah Al Salem versus $2,704 in Austin, TX, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sabah Al Salem but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Sabah Al Salem the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Austin, TX and Sabah Al Salem are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Sabah Al Salem gentler on the wallet – expenses run 93% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.