😐A single person spends $1,283 per month in Hadiya vs $1,240 in Mahboula, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,168 per month in Hadiya vs $2,021 in Mahboula, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,052 per month in Hadiya vs $2,802 in Mahboula, rent included.
😐Hadiya costs about 3% more than Mahboula, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Hadiya and Mahboula are more affordable than the global median – Hadiya7% lower, Mahboula10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Hadiya
Mahboula
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.14KWD 2.49
$6.58KWD 2.02
23.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.3KWD 18.19
$25.57KWD 7.84
132.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.99KWD 2.45
$8.87KWD 2.72
-9.92%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.22KWD 0.99
$1.57KWD 0.48
105.10%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16KWD 0.97
$3.29KWD 1.01
-3.95%
Cappuccino
$4.83KWD 1.48
$5.57KWD 1.71
-13.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56KWD 0.17
$0.47KWD 0.14
19.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35KWD 0.11
$0.18KWD 0.06
94.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Hadiya
Mahboula
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28KWD 0.39
$1.59KWD 0.49
-19.50%
White Bread(500g)
$0.80KWD 0.24
$0.94KWD 0.29
-14.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.90KWD 0.58
$1.92KWD 0.59
-1.04%
Eggs
$2.09KWD 0.64
$1.33KWD 0.41
57.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.34KWD 1.33
$4.36KWD 1.34
-0.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.65KWD 1.73
$6.57KWD 2.02
-14.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.14KWD 3.11
$10.21KWD 3.13
-0.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.49KWD 0.76
$2.42KWD 0.74
2.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.95KWD 0.60
$1.84KWD 0.57
5.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.28KWD 0.39
$1.80KWD 0.55
-28.89%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.51KWD 0.46
$1.11KWD 0.34
36.04%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38KWD 0.42
$1.38KWD 0.42
-
Onion(1kg)
$0.92KWD 0.28
$1.16KWD 0.35
-20.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.64KWD 0.50
$2.38KWD 0.73
-31.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51KWD 0.16
$0.51KWD 0.16
-
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$3.26KWD 1.00
$3.29KWD 1.01
-0.91%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01KWD 0.31
$1.01KWD 0.31
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44KWD 0.44
$1.38KWD 0.42
4.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.82KWD 0.86
$1.58KWD 0.48
78.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Hadiya
Mahboula
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84KWD 0.26
$0.84KWD 0.26
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$48.80KWD 14.96
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.15KWD 0.97
$1.60KWD 0.49
96.87%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.27KWD 1.00
$1.58KWD 0.49
106.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.27KWD 4.99
$5.60KWD 1.72
190.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.35KWD 0.11
$0.18KWD 0.06
94.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4KKWD 6,564
$19.1KKWD 5,859
12.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2KKWD 6,188
$17.8KKWD 5,450
13.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Hadiya
Mahboula
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.2KWD 20.29
$65.7KWD 20.16
0.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$20.78KWD 6.37
$16.24KWD 4.98
27.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.34KWD 9.30
$30.40KWD 9.32
-0.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Hadiya
Mahboula
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$95.8KWD 29.38
$96.5KWD 29.57
-0.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$48.77KWD 14.95
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.53KWD 3.53
$11.30KWD 3.46
2.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Hadiya
Mahboula
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$281KWD 86.1
$307KWD 94.0
-8.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,453KWD 2,285
$6,687KWD 2,050
11.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Hadiya
Mahboula
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.20KWD 11.71
$37.86KWD 11.61
0.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.29KWD 12.35
$39.59KWD 12.14
1.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$96.4KWD 29.54
$98.0KWD 30.05
-1.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.0KWD 27.27
$90.0KWD 27.60
-1.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Hadiya
Mahboula
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$734KWD 225
$720KWD 221
2.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$584KWD 179
$501KWD 154
16.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,785KWD 547
$1,790KWD 549
-0.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,321KWD 405
$1,128KWD 346
17.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Hadiya
Mahboula
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,513KWD 1,384
$1,284KWD 394
251.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.53
6.53
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Hadiya: September 5, 2026
Last update for Mahboula: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $734 in Hadiya versus $720 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 251% higher in Hadiya, 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 Hadiya versus $26.00 in Mahboula. Groceries tell a different story – $164 in Hadiya vs $173 in Mahboula – so Hadiya 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
Hadiya vs Mahboula: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mahboula cheaper than Hadiya?
Yes – Hadiya is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,925 per month in Hadiya and $1,860 in Mahboula. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Hadiya or in Mahboula?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Hadiya and $26.00 in Mahboula. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Hadiya and in Mahboula?
Interestingly, groceries are about 6% cheaper in Hadiya – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Hadiya or in Mahboula?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mahboula, where all-in costs run around $1,240, than in Hadiya at $1,283. In Mahboula it covers expenses comfortably, while in Hadiya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Hadiya or Mahboula more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Hadiya or Mahboula?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Mahboula. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Hadiya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.