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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,362 per month in Hadiya vs $1,394 in Shaab, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,224 per month in Hadiya vs $2,362 in Shaab, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,086 per month in Hadiya vs $3,329 in Shaab, rent included.

Hadiya is about 2% cheaper than Shaab, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Hadiya and Shaab sit above the global median – Hadiya by 2%, Shaab by 5%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.89 KWD 2.42

$10.08 KWD 3.09

-21.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.8 KWD 18.05

$83.2 KWD 25.54

-29.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 KWD 2.69

$8.94 KWD 2.74

-2.01%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.38 KWD 0.73

$2.50 KWD 0.77

-4.80%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.50 KWD 1.07

$3.76 KWD 1.15

-6.91%

Cappuccino

$5.51 KWD 1.69

$6.02 KWD 1.85

-8.47%

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

$0.62 KWD 0.19

$0.68 KWD 0.21

-8.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

$0.37 KWD 0.11

-8.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

$1.56 KWD 0.48

-8.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

$1.28 KWD 0.39

-17.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 KWD 0.50

$1.73 KWD 0.53

-5.20%

Eggs

$1.96 KWD 0.60

$2.12 KWD 0.65

-7.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.48 KWD 1.38

$5.09 KWD 1.56

-11.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.53 KWD 2.00

$6.43 KWD 1.97

1.56%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.40 KWD 2.89

$10.36 KWD 3.18

-9.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 KWD 0.72

$2.42 KWD 0.74

-3.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 KWD 0.51

$1.89 KWD 0.58

-12.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 KWD 0.46

$1.79 KWD 0.55

-15.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 KWD 0.44

$1.44 KWD 0.44

-1.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 KWD 0.39

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 KWD 0.35

$1.31 KWD 0.40

-12.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 KWD 0.50

$1.67 KWD 0.51

-2.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 KWD 0.13

$0.45 KWD 0.14

-4.44%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.31 KWD 1.02

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

$1.01 KWD 0.31

3.96%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 KWD 0.41

$1.39 KWD 0.43

-5.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.86 KWD 0.88

$2.89 KWD 0.89

-1.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 KWD 0.27

$0.83 KWD 0.25

6.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.43 KWD 13.64

$43.81 KWD 13.45

1.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.22 KWD 0.99

$3.20 KWD 0.98

0.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.28 KWD 1.01

$3.26 KWD 1.00

0.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.54 KWD 5.08

$16.40 KWD 5.03

0.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

$0.36 KWD 0.11

-5.56%

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

$20.1K KWD 6,158

$21.2K KWD 6,496

-5.20%

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

$18.8K KWD 5,770

$19.6K KWD 6,003

-3.88%

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

$62.2 KWD 19.07

$62.2 KWD 19.09

-0.08%

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

$18.07 KWD 5.55

$18.93 KWD 5.81

-4.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.20 KWD 8.04

$25.71 KWD 7.89

1.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$92.8 KWD 28.48

$95.7 KWD 29.38

-3.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$47.07 KWD 14.44

$46.00 KWD 14.12

2.33%

Cinema Ticket

$11.55 KWD 3.55

$11.50 KWD 3.53

0.43%

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

$282 KWD 86.4

$408 KWD 125

-30.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,973 KWD 1,833

$6,554 KWD 2,012

-8.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.98 KWD 13.19

$42.45 KWD 13.03

1.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.99 KWD 13.19

$42.29 KWD 12.98

1.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 KWD 27.19

$87.7 KWD 26.93

0.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.2 KWD 25.23

$82.0 KWD 25.18

0.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$795 KWD 244

$777 KWD 238

2.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$611 KWD 188

$612 KWD 188

-0.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,570 KWD 482

$1,552 KWD 476

1.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,307 KWD 401

$1,272 KWD 390

2.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$4,546 KWD 1,395

$3,250 KWD 997

39.89%

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: June 13, 2026

Last update for Shaab: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $795 in Hadiya versus $777 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 40% 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 $59.0 in Hadiya versus $83.0 in Shaab. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $166 vs $179 – 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 2%, 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 $2,043 per month in Hadiya and $2,092 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 1% less in Hadiya. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $282 per month in Hadiya and $408 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 $1,362, than in Shaab at $1,394. 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.