Cost of Living Comparison Between Hadiya and Salmiya Cost of Living Comparison Between Hadiya and Salmiya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,299 per month in Hadiya vs $1,621 in Salmiya, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,173 per month in Hadiya vs $2,442 in Salmiya, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,046 per month in Hadiya vs $3,264 in Salmiya, rent included.

Hadiya is about 20% cheaper than Salmiya, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Hadiya sits 5% below the global median, while Salmiya is 18% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.57 KWD 2.64

$9.51 KWD 2.93

-9.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$62.5 KWD 19.29

$48.29 KWD 14.90

29.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.22 KWD 2.54

$8.34 KWD 2.57

-1.44%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.59 KWD 1.11

$2.46 KWD 0.76

45.93%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 KWD 0.97

$2.62 KWD 0.81

20.23%

Cappuccino

$4.41 KWD 1.36

$5.08 KWD 1.57

-13.19%

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

$0.54 KWD 0.17

$0.45 KWD 0.14

20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 KWD 0.12

$0.34 KWD 0.10

11.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 KWD 0.36

$1.64 KWD 0.51

-28.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 KWD 0.22

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 KWD 0.55

$1.90 KWD 0.59

-6.84%

Eggs

$2.09 KWD 0.64

$2.06 KWD 0.64

1.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.23 KWD 1.31

$4.29 KWD 1.32

-1.40%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.02 KWD 1.55

$6.84 KWD 2.11

-26.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.13 KWD 3.43

$10.14 KWD 3.13

9.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.55 KWD 0.79

$2.49 KWD 0.77

2.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 KWD 0.51

$1.93 KWD 0.59

-13.47%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.42 KWD 0.44

$1.83 KWD 0.56

-22.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 KWD 0.50

$1.56 KWD 0.48

4.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 KWD 0.39

$1.31 KWD 0.41

-4.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.85 KWD 0.26

$1.49 KWD 0.46

-42.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 KWD 0.53

$2.29 KWD 0.71

-25.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 KWD 0.17

$0.47 KWD 0.14

19.15%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.51 KWD 1.08

$0.93 KWD 0.29

277.42%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.99 KWD 0.31

$1.03 KWD 0.32

-3.88%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.52 KWD 0.47

$1.40 KWD 0.43

8.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.08 KWD 0.95

$2.82 KWD 0.87

9.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 KWD 0.25

$1.15 KWD 0.35

-30.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.77 KWD 14.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 KWD 0.94

$3.27 KWD 1.01

-6.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.86 KWD 0.88

$3.30 KWD 1.02

-13.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.56 KWD 4.49

$10.49 KWD 3.24

38.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

$0.33 KWD 0.10

3.03%

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

$22.8K KWD 7,035

$19.4K KWD 6,000

17.25%

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

$20.4K KWD 6,285

$20.5K KWD 6,340

-0.85%

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

$67.4 KWD 20.78

$49.47 KWD 15.26

36.18%

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

$23.39 KWD 7.22

$22.42 KWD 6.92

4.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.24 KWD 9.64

$29.69 KWD 9.16

5.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$105 KWD 32.49

$155 KWD 47.83

-32.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.08 KWD 4.96

Cinema Ticket

$12.41 KWD 3.83

$11.52 KWD 3.55

7.73%

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

$292 KWD 90.2

$299 KWD 92.2

-2.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,521 KWD 2,012

$7,556 KWD 2,331

-13.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.92 KWD 11.08

$38.25 KWD 11.80

-6.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.60 KWD 13.14

$39.73 KWD 12.26

7.22%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$108 KWD 33.29

$100 KWD 30.89

7.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.9 KWD 26.82

$88.4 KWD 27.28

-1.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$734 KWD 226

$1,069 KWD 330

-31.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$572 KWD 177

$830 KWD 256

-31.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,913 KWD 590

$2,474 KWD 763

-22.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,478 KWD 456

$1,330 KWD 410

11.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,491 KWD 1,385

$2,114 KWD 652

112.38%

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 Hadiya: August 31, 2026

Last update for Salmiya: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $734 in Hadiya versus $1,069 in Salmiya. 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 112% higher in Hadiya, 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 $63.0 in Hadiya versus $48.00 in Salmiya. Groceries tell a different story – $161 in Hadiya vs $178 in Salmiya – 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 Salmiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Salmiya is pricier by about 25%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,948 per month in Hadiya and $2,431 in Salmiya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hadiya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $63.0 in Hadiya and $48.00 in Salmiya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Salmiya, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Hadiya, where all-in costs run around $1,299, than in Salmiya at $1,621. In Hadiya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Salmiya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Hadiya – 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 Hadiya. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Salmiya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.