Cost of Living Comparison Between Fahaheel and Mahboula Cost of Living Comparison Between Fahaheel and Mahboula

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,302 per month in Fahaheel vs $1,249 in Mahboula, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,201 per month in Fahaheel vs $2,042 in Mahboula, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,100 per month in Fahaheel vs $2,836 in Mahboula, rent included.

Fahaheel costs about 4% more than Mahboula, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Fahaheel and Mahboula are more affordable than the global median – Fahaheel 3% lower, Mahboula 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.71 KWD 2.37

$6.70 KWD 2.06

15.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.5 KWD 17.94

$26.42 KWD 8.11

121.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.75 KWD 2.69

$9.02 KWD 2.77

-2.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.38 KWD 0.73

$1.65 KWD 0.51

44.24%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.47 KWD 1.07

$3.18 KWD 0.98

9.12%

Cappuccino

$5.30 KWD 1.63

$5.95 KWD 1.83

-10.92%

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

$0.58 KWD 0.18

$0.50 KWD 0.15

16.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

$0.17 KWD 0.05

100.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 KWD 0.44

$1.55 KWD 0.47

-7.10%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 KWD 0.34

$0.99 KWD 0.31

11.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 KWD 0.51

$1.71 KWD 0.53

-2.34%

Eggs

$1.95 KWD 0.60

$1.34 KWD 0.41

45.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.44 KWD 1.36

$5.18 KWD 1.59

-14.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.61 KWD 2.03

$6.65 KWD 2.04

-0.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.44 KWD 2.90

$10.20 KWD 3.13

-7.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 KWD 0.71

$2.34 KWD 0.72

-0.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 KWD 0.52

$1.98 KWD 0.61

-15.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 KWD 0.48

$1.72 KWD 0.53

-9.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 KWD 0.42

$1.12 KWD 0.34

23.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 KWD 0.38

$1.23 KWD 0.38

-0.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.09 KWD 0.33

$1.17 KWD 0.36

-6.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.63 KWD 0.50

$1.66 KWD 0.51

-1.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 KWD 0.13

$0.45 KWD 0.14

-6.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.16 KWD 0.97

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 KWD 0.31

$1.00 KWD 0.31

1.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 KWD 0.41

$1.38 KWD 0.42

-2.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.89 KWD 0.89

$1.67 KWD 0.51

73.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 KWD 0.28

$0.78 KWD 0.24

15.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.51 KWD 13.66

$49.41 KWD 15.17

-9.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 KWD 0.98

$1.60 KWD 0.49

100.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.18 KWD 0.98

$1.65 KWD 0.51

92.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.02 KWD 4.92

$5.70 KWD 1.75

181.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.37 KWD 0.11

$0.20 KWD 0.06

85.00%

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

$20.2K KWD 6,189

$19.7K KWD 6,042

2.44%

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

$18.9K KWD 5,805

$17.8K KWD 5,451

6.51%

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

$62.3 KWD 19.13

$63.1 KWD 19.36

-1.21%

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

$18.23 KWD 5.60

$16.17 KWD 4.96

12.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.95 KWD 7.97

$25.68 KWD 7.88

1.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.0 KWD 25.16

$94.9 KWD 29.14

-13.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.75 KWD 14.05

$46.91 KWD 14.40

-2.47%

Cinema Ticket

$11.55 KWD 3.55

$11.43 KWD 3.51

1.05%

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

$289 KWD 88.6

$389 KWD 119

-25.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,958 KWD 1,829

$6,527 KWD 2,004

-8.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.53 KWD 13.06

$42.99 KWD 13.20

-1.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.70 KWD 13.11

$42.85 KWD 13.15

-0.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.4 KWD 27.15

$89.2 KWD 27.38

-0.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.3 KWD 25.26

$81.2 KWD 24.93

1.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$804 KWD 247

$724 KWD 222

11.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$614 KWD 189

$515 KWD 158

19.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,544 KWD 474

$1,764 KWD 542

-12.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 KWD 393

$1,147 KWD 352

11.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,225 KWD 1,297

$1,318 KWD 405

220.55%

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 Fahaheel: April 27, 2026

Last update for Mahboula: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $804 in Fahaheel versus $724 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 221% 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 $58.0 in Fahaheel versus $26.00 in Mahboula. Groceries tell a different story – $167 in Fahaheel vs $171 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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,302 in Fahaheel, $1,249 in Mahboula – roughly 4% apart. Fahaheel costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,953 per month in Fahaheel and $1,873 in Mahboula. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,302 in Fahaheel and $1,249 in Mahboula. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 11% less in Mahboula. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mahboula, where all-in costs run around $1,249, than in Fahaheel at $1,302. In Mahboula it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fahaheel it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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 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.