Cost of Living Comparison Between Hawalli and Sabah Al Salem Cost of Living Comparison Between Hawalli and Sabah Al Salem

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,101 per month in Hawalli vs $1,312 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,962 per month in Hawalli vs $2,228 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,824 per month in Hawalli vs $3,143 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

Hawalli is about 16% cheaper than Sabah Al Salem, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Hawalli and Sabah Al Salem are more affordable than the global median – Hawalli 18% lower, Sabah Al Salem 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.84 KWD 1.48

$7.56 KWD 2.32

-35.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.0 KWD 20.85

$58.7 KWD 18.00

15.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.77 KWD 2.69

$8.59 KWD 2.63

2.10%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 KWD 0.77

$2.48 KWD 0.76

0.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 KWD 1.01

$3.56 KWD 1.09

-7.87%

Cappuccino

$4.54 KWD 1.39

$5.34 KWD 1.64

-14.98%

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

$0.52 KWD 0.16

$0.62 KWD 0.19

-16.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.11

$0.34 KWD 0.10

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 KWD 0.49

$1.43 KWD 0.44

11.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 KWD 0.40

$1.05 KWD 0.32

22.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 KWD 0.55

$1.65 KWD 0.51

9.09%

Eggs

$2.03 KWD 0.62

$2.04 KWD 0.62

-0.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.37 KWD 1.03

$4.58 KWD 1.40

-26.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.32 KWD 1.02

$6.68 KWD 2.05

-50.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.64 KWD 1.73

$9.91 KWD 3.04

-43.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 KWD 0.73

$2.35 KWD 0.72

0.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 KWD 0.60

$1.65 KWD 0.51

18.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 KWD 0.55

$1.56 KWD 0.48

15.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 KWD 0.44

$1.43 KWD 0.44

0.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 KWD 0.37

$1.23 KWD 0.38

-1.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 KWD 0.40

$1.10 KWD 0.34

19.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.63 KWD 0.50

$1.69 KWD 0.52

-3.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 KWD 0.10

$0.46 KWD 0.14

-30.43%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.17 KWD 0.97

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 KWD 0.31

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 KWD 0.40

$1.33 KWD 0.41

-0.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 KWD 0.92

$2.86 KWD 0.88

4.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 KWD 0.24

$0.90 KWD 0.28

-12.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.30 KWD 14.81

$44.87 KWD 13.76

7.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 KWD 0.98

$3.18 KWD 0.97

0.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.28 KWD 1.01

$3.16 KWD 0.97

3.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.02 KWD 4.91

$16.57 KWD 5.08

-3.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.37 KWD 0.11

$0.36 KWD 0.11

2.78%

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

$21.5K KWD 6,585

$20.5K KWD 6,280

4.85%

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

$19.9K KWD 6,099

$18.9K KWD 5,794

5.28%

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

$61.8 KWD 18.96

$63.6 KWD 19.50

-2.77%

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

$18.89 KWD 5.79

$18.43 KWD 5.65

2.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.93 KWD 7.95

$26.24 KWD 8.05

-1.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.89 KWD 15.30

$95.5 KWD 29.30

-47.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.54 KWD 14.27

$46.83 KWD 14.36

-0.62%

Cinema Ticket

$9.79 KWD 3.00

$11.29 KWD 3.46

-13.29%

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

$405 KWD 124

$278 KWD 85.4

45.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,666 KWD 2,045

$6,070 KWD 1,862

9.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.17 KWD 9.87

$42.73 KWD 13.11

-24.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.57 KWD 13.06

$42.21 KWD 12.95

0.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.3 KWD 27.39

$87.9 KWD 26.96

1.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.3 KWD 24.92

$81.8 KWD 25.07

-0.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$594 KWD 182

$808 KWD 248

-26.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$492 KWD 151

$611 KWD 188

-19.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$976 KWD 299

$1,586 KWD 486

-38.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,313 KWD 1,016

$1,309 KWD 402

153.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,854 KWD 569

$2,958 KWD 907

-37.31%

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 Hawalli: June 1, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $594 in Hawalli 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 60% higher in Sabah Al Salem, 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 $68.0 in Hawalli versus $59.0 in Sabah Al Salem. Groceries tell a different story – $143 in Hawalli vs $170 in Sabah Al Salem – so Hawalli 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

Hawalli vs Sabah Al Salem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,101 in Hawalli, $1,312 in Sabah Al Salem – roughly 19% apart. Sabah Al Salem costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,651 per month in Hawalli and $1,968 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 Hawalli, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% more in Sabah Al Salem, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $68.0 in Hawalli and $59.0 in Sabah Al Salem. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hawalli, where all-in costs run around $1,101, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,312. In Hawalli it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sabah Al Salem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Hawalli has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,101 in Hawalli to $1,312 in Sabah Al Salem. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Hawalli. 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.