Cost of Living Comparison Between Fahaheel and As-salimiyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Fahaheel and As-salimiyah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,258 per month in Fahaheel vs $1,341 in As-salimiyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,145 per month in Fahaheel vs $2,298 in As-salimiyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,031 per month in Fahaheel vs $3,255 in As-salimiyah, rent included.

Fahaheel is about 6% cheaper than As-salimiyah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Fahaheel and As-salimiyah are more affordable than the global median – Fahaheel 8% lower, As-salimiyah 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.31 KWD 2.55

$11.18 KWD 3.44

-25.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.3 KWD 18.22

$57.3 KWD 17.62

3.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.21 KWD 2.52

$8.00 KWD 2.46

2.63%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.34 KWD 1.03

$3.28 KWD 1.01

1.83%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.36 KWD 1.03

$1.58 KWD 0.48

112.66%

Cappuccino

$5.05 KWD 1.55

$5.10 KWD 1.57

-0.98%

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

$0.55 KWD 0.17

$0.76 KWD 0.23

-27.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 KWD 0.08

$0.31 KWD 0.10

-16.13%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 KWD 0.44

$1.29 KWD 0.40

10.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.80 KWD 0.25

$0.74 KWD 0.23

8.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 KWD 0.63

$1.96 KWD 0.60

4.59%

Eggs

$2.15 KWD 0.66

$2.13 KWD 0.66

0.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.84 KWD 1.18

$4.50 KWD 1.38

-14.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.05 KWD 1.55

$5.43 KWD 1.67

-7.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.05 KWD 3.09

$9.99 KWD 3.07

0.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 KWD 0.72

$2.06 KWD 0.63

14.08%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 KWD 0.58

$1.59 KWD 0.49

17.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 KWD 0.45

$1.31 KWD 0.40

12.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 KWD 0.51

$1.50 KWD 0.46

9.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 KWD 0.41

$1.36 KWD 0.42

-2.21%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 KWD 0.28

$0.83 KWD 0.25

10.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.67 KWD 0.51

$1.61 KWD 0.49

3.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 KWD 0.14

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.84 KWD 0.87

$3.26 KWD 1.00

-12.88%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.16 KWD 0.36

$1.06 KWD 0.32

9.43%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.22 KWD 0.37

$1.41 KWD 0.43

-13.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.16 KWD 0.97

$2.70 KWD 0.83

17.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 KWD 0.26

$1.02 KWD 0.31

-18.63%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.74 KWD 14.67

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 KWD 1.01

$3.18 KWD 0.98

3.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.01 KWD 0.93

$3.28 KWD 1.01

-8.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.63 KWD 4.50

$16.08 KWD 4.94

-9.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

$0.35 KWD 0.11

-2.86%

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

$21.0K KWD 6,443

$21.0K KWD 6,444

-0.02%

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

$21.0K KWD 6,466

$20.1K KWD 6,190

4.45%

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

$58.4 KWD 17.94

$32.90 KWD 10.11

77.45%

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

$19.98 KWD 6.14

$20.79 KWD 6.39

-3.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.77 KWD 10.07

$30.09 KWD 9.25

8.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.8 KWD 24.54

$95.3 KWD 29.29

-16.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$65.8 KWD 20.21

Cinema Ticket

$11.41 KWD 3.51

$11.26 KWD 3.46

1.33%

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

$305 KWD 93.7

$275 KWD 84.5

10.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,127 KWD 2,497

$6,451 KWD 1,982

25.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.90 KWD 11.65

$38.37 KWD 11.79

-1.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.51 KWD 12.14

$38.85 KWD 11.94

1.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 KWD 33.20

$89.4 KWD 27.49

20.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.7 KWD 25.40

$65.7 KWD 20.18

25.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$711 KWD 218

$894 KWD 275

-20.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$644 KWD 198

$632 KWD 194

1.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,795 KWD 552

$1,757 KWD 540

2.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,339 KWD 412

$1,389 KWD 427

-3.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,240 KWD 1,303

$2,785 KWD 856

52.24%

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 Fahaheel: September 13, 2026

Last update for As-salimiyah: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $711 in Fahaheel versus $894 in As-salimiyah. 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 52% higher in Fahaheel, 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 Fahaheel versus $57.0 in As-salimiyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $161 vs $158 – making As-salimiyah 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

Fahaheel vs As-salimiyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – As-salimiyah is pricier by about 7%, 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 $1,888 per month in Fahaheel and $2,011 in As-salimiyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Fahaheel, 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 $59.0 in Fahaheel and $57.0 in As-salimiyah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 2% cheaper in As-salimiyah – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fahaheel, where all-in costs run around $1,258, than in As-salimiyah at $1,341. In Fahaheel it covers expenses comfortably, while in As-salimiyah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Fahaheel – 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 Fahaheel. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, As-salimiyah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.