😐A single person spends $1,346 per month in Fahaheel vs $1,217 in Mahboula, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,185 per month in Fahaheel vs $2,010 in Mahboula, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,025 per month in Fahaheel vs $2,803 in Mahboula, rent included.
😐Fahaheel costs about 11% more than Mahboula, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Fahaheel sits 1% above the global median, while Mahboula is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Fahaheel
Mahboula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.91KWD 2.46
$6.60KWD 2.05
19.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$58.7KWD 18.21
$26.12KWD 8.11
124.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.42KWD 2.61
$9.17KWD 2.85
-8.18%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41KWD 0.75
$1.66KWD 0.52
45.18%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41KWD 1.06
$3.23KWD 1.00
5.57%
Cappuccino
$5.37KWD 1.67
$5.77KWD 1.79
-6.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59KWD 0.18
$0.48KWD 0.15
22.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34KWD 0.10
$0.15KWD 0.05
126.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Fahaheel
Mahboula
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.41KWD 0.44
$1.54KWD 0.48
-8.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.08KWD 0.34
$0.94KWD 0.29
14.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.67KWD 0.52
$1.80KWD 0.56
-7.22%
Eggs
$1.96KWD 0.61
$1.34KWD 0.42
46.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.37KWD 1.36
$5.12KWD 1.59
-14.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.47KWD 2.01
$6.34KWD 1.97
2.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.75KWD 3.02
$10.36KWD 3.22
-5.89%
Apples(1kg)
$2.23KWD 0.69
$2.35KWD 0.73
-5.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.60KWD 0.50
$1.98KWD 0.61
-19.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53KWD 0.47
$1.80KWD 0.56
-15.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42KWD 0.44
$1.13KWD 0.35
25.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.27KWD 0.40
$1.26KWD 0.39
0.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10KWD 0.34
$1.16KWD 0.36
-5.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.61KWD 0.50
$1.62KWD 0.50
-0.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46KWD 0.14
$0.46KWD 0.14
-
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$3.64KWD 1.13
$3.24KWD 1.00
12.35%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.02KWD 0.32
$1.05KWD 0.33
-2.86%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.40KWD 0.43
$1.33KWD 0.41
5.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.01KWD 0.93
$1.67KWD 0.52
80.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Fahaheel
Mahboula
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85KWD 0.26
$0.79KWD 0.24
7.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$44.24KWD 13.73
$48.97KWD 15.20
-9.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23KWD 1.00
$1.58KWD 0.49
104.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.23KWD 1.00
$1.67KWD 0.52
93.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.41KWD 5.09
$5.64KWD 1.75
190.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.36KWD 0.11
$0.16KWD 0.05
125.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KKWD 6,454
$19.6KKWD 6,081
6.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.9KKWD 5,859
$17.8KKWD 5,524
6.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Fahaheel
Mahboula
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$62.0KWD 19.23
$61.3KWD 19.02
1.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.52KWD 5.75
$16.37KWD 5.08
13.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.33KWD 8.17
$25.84KWD 8.02
1.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Fahaheel
Mahboula
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$81.1KWD 25.17
$92.7KWD 28.77
-12.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$47.05KWD 14.60
$45.43KWD 14.10
3.57%
Cinema Ticket
$11.63KWD 3.61
$11.24KWD 3.49
3.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Fahaheel
Mahboula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$288KWD 89.2
$392KWD 122
-26.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,055KWD 1,879
$6,526KWD 2,025
-7.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Fahaheel
Mahboula
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.81KWD 12.97
$42.24KWD 13.11
-1.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.86KWD 13.30
$42.25KWD 13.11
1.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.7KWD 27.51
$89.0KWD 27.61
-0.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.3KWD 24.93
$81.3KWD 25.23
-1.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Fahaheel
Mahboula
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$780KWD 242
$728KWD 226
7.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$608KWD 189
$503KWD 156
20.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,591KWD 494
$1,808KWD 561
-11.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,307KWD 405
$1,135KWD 352
15.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Fahaheel
Mahboula
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,251KWD 1,319
$1,302KWD 404
226.38%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.14
7.14
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Fahaheel: July 28, 2026
Last update for Mahboula: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $780 in Fahaheel versus $728 in Mahboula. 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 226% higher in Fahaheel, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Fahaheel versus $26.00 in Mahboula. Groceries tell a different story – $166 in Fahaheel vs $170 in Mahboula – so Fahaheel 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
Fahaheel vs Mahboula: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Fahaheel and in Mahboula compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,346 in Fahaheel, $1,217 in Mahboula – roughly 11% apart. Fahaheel costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Fahaheel compared to Mahboula?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,019 per month in Fahaheel and $1,825 in Mahboula. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Fahaheel and Mahboula?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mahboula, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Fahaheel or Mahboula?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,346 in Fahaheel and $1,217 in Mahboula. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do commuting costs compare in Fahaheel and in Mahboula?
Public transport costs about 11% less in Mahboula. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mahboula, where all-in costs run around $1,217, than in Fahaheel at $1,346. In Mahboula it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fahaheel it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: Fahaheel or Mahboula?
Families tend to lean toward Mahboula – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Fahaheel or Mahboula safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Fahaheel and Mahboula?
If budget matters most, go with Mahboula. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fahaheel makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.