Cost of Living Comparison Between Fahaheel and Sabah Al Salem Cost of Living Comparison Between Fahaheel and Sabah Al Salem

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,251 per month in Fahaheel vs $1,440 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,157 per month in Fahaheel vs $2,466 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,063 per month in Fahaheel vs $3,492 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

Fahaheel is about 13% cheaper than Sabah Al Salem, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Fahaheel sits 9% below the global median, while Sabah Al Salem is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.94 KWD 2.45

$8.27 KWD 2.55

-3.99%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.3 KWD 17.98

$72.1 KWD 22.24

-19.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.16 KWD 2.52

$9.32 KWD 2.88

-12.45%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.13 KWD 0.97

$3.21 KWD 0.99

-2.49%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 KWD 0.90

$3.18 KWD 0.98

-8.18%

Cappuccino

$4.83 KWD 1.49

$6.67 KWD 2.06

-27.59%

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

$0.60 KWD 0.18

$0.47 KWD 0.14

27.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.11

$0.50 KWD 0.16

-32.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 KWD 0.38

$1.90 KWD 0.59

-35.26%

White Bread (500g)

$0.73 KWD 0.23

$1.26 KWD 0.39

-42.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.97 KWD 0.61

$2.09 KWD 0.64

-5.74%

Eggs

$2.07 KWD 0.64

$3.13 KWD 0.96

-33.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.77 KWD 1.16

$7.37 KWD 2.27

-48.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.31 KWD 1.64

$5.67 KWD 1.75

-6.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.85 KWD 2.73

$10.26 KWD 3.16

-13.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 KWD 0.70

$2.40 KWD 0.74

-5.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 KWD 0.57

$1.93 KWD 0.60

-3.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.14 KWD 0.35

$1.28 KWD 0.39

-10.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 KWD 0.46

$1.55 KWD 0.48

-3.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 KWD 0.45

$1.33 KWD 0.41

10.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.92 KWD 0.28

$0.93 KWD 0.29

-1.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

$1.66 KWD 0.51

-13.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 KWD 0.17

$0.48 KWD 0.15

16.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.95 KWD 0.91

$3.59 KWD 1.11

-17.83%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 KWD 0.31

$0.95 KWD 0.29

4.21%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 KWD 0.50

$1.36 KWD 0.42

18.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.73 KWD 0.84

$3.04 KWD 0.94

-10.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 KWD 0.25

$0.82 KWD 0.25

1.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 KWD 35.19

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 KWD 1.02

$3.43 KWD 1.06

-3.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.41 KWD 1.05

$3.44 KWD 1.06

-0.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$18.57 KWD 5.73

$17.73 KWD 5.47

4.74%

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)

$20.3K KWD 6,264

$23.1K KWD 7,136

-12.22%

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

$22.9K KWD 7,069

$20.0K KWD 6,159

14.78%

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

$72.1 KWD 22.25

$39.56 KWD 12.20

82.31%

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

$22.67 KWD 6.99

$24.37 KWD 7.52

-6.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.51 KWD 10.03

$38.96 KWD 12.02

-16.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.5 KWD 25.43

$129 KWD 39.74

-36.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.23 KWD 11.79

Cinema Ticket

$11.53 KWD 3.56

$11.48 KWD 3.54

0.44%

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

$291 KWD 89.7

$282 KWD 87.0

3.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,613 KWD 2,657

$7,641 KWD 2,357

12.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.24 KWD 10.25

$37.10 KWD 11.44

-10.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.44 KWD 10.63

$39.17 KWD 12.08

-12.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 KWD 33.41

$98.4 KWD 30.34

10.11%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.9 KWD 24.33

$90.3 KWD 27.86

-12.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$737 KWD 227

$729 KWD 225

1.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$626 KWD 193

$559 KWD 173

11.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,974 KWD 609

$1,789 KWD 552

10.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,449 KWD 447

$1,337 KWD 412

8.41%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,230 KWD 1,305

$2,964 KWD 914

42.73%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $737 in Fahaheel versus $729 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 43% 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 $58.0 in Fahaheel versus $72.0 in Sabah Al Salem. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $153 vs $188 – making Fahaheel 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 Sabah Al Salem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,251 in Fahaheel, $1,440 in Sabah Al Salem – roughly 15% apart. Sabah Al Salem costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,876 per month in Fahaheel and $2,160 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 Fahaheel, 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 $1,251 in Fahaheel and $1,440 in Sabah Al Salem. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $291 per month in Fahaheel and $282 in Sabah Al Salem. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fahaheel, where all-in costs run around $1,251, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,440. In Fahaheel it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sabah Al Salem 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, Sabah Al Salem makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.