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 $1,350 per month in Fahaheel vs $1,358 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,198 per month in Fahaheel vs $2,245 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,046 per month in Fahaheel vs $3,132 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

Fahaheel is about 1% cheaper than Sabah Al Salem, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Fahaheel and Sabah Al Salem sit above the global median – Fahaheel by 1%, Sabah Al Salem by 2%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.91 KWD 2.43

$7.70 KWD 2.37

2.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.0 KWD 17.81

$58.1 KWD 17.84

-0.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.33 KWD 2.56

$8.41 KWD 2.59

-0.95%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 KWD 0.76

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 KWD 1.05

$3.43 KWD 1.05

-0.58%

Cappuccino

$5.52 KWD 1.70

$5.28 KWD 1.62

4.55%

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

$0.59 KWD 0.18

$0.60 KWD 0.18

-1.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

$0.36 KWD 0.11

-5.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 KWD 0.45

$1.49 KWD 0.46

-0.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 KWD 0.34

$1.06 KWD 0.33

3.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 KWD 0.52

$1.72 KWD 0.53

-2.33%

Eggs

$2.02 KWD 0.62

$2.05 KWD 0.63

-1.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.55 KWD 1.40

$4.37 KWD 1.34

4.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.31 KWD 1.94

$6.41 KWD 1.97

-1.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.64 KWD 2.96

$9.76 KWD 3.00

-1.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 KWD 0.72

$2.32 KWD 0.71

0.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 KWD 0.51

$1.60 KWD 0.49

3.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 KWD 0.47

$1.52 KWD 0.47

0.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.40 KWD 0.43

$1.35 KWD 0.42

3.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 KWD 0.39

$1.22 KWD 0.38

4.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 KWD 0.34

$1.15 KWD 0.35

-4.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 KWD 0.50

$1.63 KWD 0.50

-0.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 KWD 0.14

$0.42 KWD 0.13

9.52%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.63 KWD 1.12

$2.85 KWD 0.88

27.37%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 KWD 0.41

$1.40 KWD 0.43

-3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 KWD 0.88

$3.00 KWD 0.92

-5.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 KWD 0.26

$0.88 KWD 0.27

-4.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.93 KWD 13.50

$43.89 KWD 13.49

0.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 KWD 1.00

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.25 KWD 1.00

$3.33 KWD 1.02

-2.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.46 KWD 5.06

$16.23 KWD 4.99

1.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 KWD 0.10

$0.36 KWD 0.11

-8.33%

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

$20.4K KWD 6,273

$20.7K KWD 6,373

-1.57%

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

$19.3K KWD 5,932

$19.3K KWD 5,947

-0.26%

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

$62.7 KWD 19.29

$62.2 KWD 19.10

0.95%

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

$18.33 KWD 5.64

$18.37 KWD 5.65

-0.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.87 KWD 7.95

$25.42 KWD 7.81

1.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.3 KWD 25.31

$92.2 KWD 28.35

-10.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.53 KWD 14.00

$46.49 KWD 14.29

-2.06%

Cinema Ticket

$11.46 KWD 3.52

$11.23 KWD 3.45

2.05%

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

$278 KWD 85.3

$282 KWD 86.8

-1.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,174 KWD 1,898

$6,129 KWD 1,884

0.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.42 KWD 13.04

$41.43 KWD 12.74

2.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.18 KWD 12.97

$41.70 KWD 12.82

1.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.3 KWD 26.54

$87.1 KWD 26.78

-0.88%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 KWD 25.61

$80.5 KWD 24.75

3.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$785 KWD 241

$808 KWD 248

-2.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$612 KWD 188

$619 KWD 190

-1.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,569 KWD 482

$1,591 KWD 489

-1.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,315 KWD 404

$1,289 KWD 396

2.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,144 KWD 1,274

$2,998 KWD 922

38.22%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $785 in Fahaheel versus $808 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 38% 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 $58.0 in Sabah Al Salem. Groceries tell a different story – $168 in Fahaheel vs $167 in Sabah Al Salem – so Sabah Al Salem 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 Sabah Al Salem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,350 in Fahaheel, $1,358 in Sabah Al Salem – roughly 1% apart. Sabah Al Salem costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,025 per month in Fahaheel and $2,037 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 $1,350 in Fahaheel and $1,358 in Sabah Al Salem. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 0% less in Fahaheel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fahaheel, where all-in costs run around $1,350, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,358. 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.