Cost of Living Comparison Between Hadiya and Shaab Cost of Living Comparison Between Hadiya and Shaab

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,320 per month in Hadiya vs $1,387 in Shaab, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,234 per month in Hadiya vs $2,337 in Shaab, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,148 per month in Hadiya vs $3,288 in Shaab, rent included.

Hadiya is about 5% cheaper than Shaab, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Hadiya sits 1% below the global median, while Shaab is 4% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.56 KWD 2.32

$9.99 KWD 3.07

-24.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.7 KWD 18.31

$80.5 KWD 24.71

-25.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.45 KWD 2.59

$9.25 KWD 2.84

-8.65%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 KWD 0.75

$2.47 KWD 0.76

-1.21%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 KWD 1.04

$3.63 KWD 1.12

-6.61%

Cappuccino

$5.54 KWD 1.70

$6.04 KWD 1.85

-8.28%

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

$0.63 KWD 0.19

$0.70 KWD 0.21

-10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 KWD 0.11

$0.38 KWD 0.12

-2.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.41 KWD 0.43

$1.55 KWD 0.48

-9.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

$1.24 KWD 0.38

-15.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.79 KWD 0.55

-7.82%

Eggs

$1.99 KWD 0.61

$2.11 KWD 0.65

-5.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.51 KWD 1.39

$5.16 KWD 1.58

-12.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.36 KWD 1.95

$6.33 KWD 1.94

0.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.71 KWD 2.98

$10.29 KWD 3.16

-5.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 KWD 0.69

$2.47 KWD 0.76

-8.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 KWD 0.52

$1.92 KWD 0.59

-12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 KWD 0.46

$1.78 KWD 0.55

-15.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 KWD 0.44

$1.45 KWD 0.44

-2.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 KWD 0.37

$1.23 KWD 0.38

-0.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 KWD 0.34

$1.27 KWD 0.39

-12.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 KWD 0.49

$1.67 KWD 0.51

-3.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 KWD 0.13

$0.46 KWD 0.14

-6.52%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.26 KWD 1.00

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 KWD 0.31

$1.04 KWD 0.32

-2.88%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 KWD 0.41

$1.39 KWD 0.43

-3.60%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 KWD 0.92

$3.03 KWD 0.93

-1.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 KWD 0.26

$0.88 KWD 0.27

-3.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.38 KWD 13.32

$43.44 KWD 13.34

-0.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.36 KWD 1.03

$3.19 KWD 0.98

5.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.28 KWD 1.01

$3.27 KWD 1.00

0.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.28 KWD 5.00

$16.08 KWD 4.94

1.24%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

$0.33 KWD 0.10

9.09%

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

$20.4K KWD 6,249

$21.5K KWD 6,613

-5.51%

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

$19.5K KWD 5,985

$20.2K KWD 6,201

-3.49%

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

$63.8 KWD 19.57

$63.0 KWD 19.34

1.17%

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

$18.61 KWD 5.71

$18.28 KWD 5.61

1.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.31 KWD 7.77

$25.72 KWD 7.90

-1.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.1 KWD 28.89

$95.8 KWD 29.41

-1.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.50 KWD 14.28

$46.65 KWD 14.32

-0.32%

Cinema Ticket

$11.62 KWD 3.57

$11.30 KWD 3.47

2.83%

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

$287 KWD 88.1

$398 KWD 122

-27.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,133 KWD 1,883

$6,609 KWD 2,029

-7.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.79 KWD 12.83

$42.60 KWD 13.08

-1.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.05 KWD 13.22

$41.66 KWD 12.79

3.34%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.9 KWD 27.28

$86.3 KWD 26.48

3.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.2 KWD 24.92

$80.8 KWD 24.81

0.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$806 KWD 247

$791 KWD 243

1.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$601 KWD 185

$611 KWD 188

-1.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,595 KWD 490

$1,578 KWD 484

1.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 KWD 388

$1,273 KWD 391

-0.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,505 KWD 1,383

$3,200 KWD 982

40.79%

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 Hadiya: April 26, 2026

Last update for Shaab: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $806 in Hadiya versus $791 in Shaab. 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 41% 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 $60.0 in Hadiya versus $80.0 in Shaab. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $166 vs $178 – making Hadiya 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

Hadiya vs Shaab: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Shaab is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,980 per month in Hadiya and $2,080 in Shaab. 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.

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

Kindergarten costs $287 per month in Hadiya and $398 in Shaab. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Hadiya, where all-in costs run around $1,320, than in Shaab at $1,387. In Hadiya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shaab 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, Shaab makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.