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 $1,169 per month in Hawalli vs $1,440 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,010 per month in Hawalli vs $2,466 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,851 per month in Hawalli vs $3,492 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

Hawalli is about 19% cheaper than Sabah Al Salem, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Hawalli sits 15% below the global median, while Sabah Al Salem is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.79 KWD 1.48

$8.27 KWD 2.55

-42.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.7 KWD 19.97

$72.1 KWD 22.25

-10.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.00 KWD 2.78

$9.32 KWD 2.88

-3.43%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.16 KWD 0.98

$3.21 KWD 0.99

-1.56%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 KWD 0.99

$3.18 KWD 0.98

1.26%

Cappuccino

$4.84 KWD 1.49

$6.67 KWD 2.06

-27.44%

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

$0.41 KWD 0.13

$0.47 KWD 0.14

-12.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 KWD 0.12

$0.50 KWD 0.16

-26.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 KWD 0.51

$1.90 KWD 0.59

-13.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 KWD 0.47

$1.26 KWD 0.39

21.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 KWD 0.60

$2.09 KWD 0.64

-6.70%

Eggs

$2.05 KWD 0.63

$3.13 KWD 0.96

-34.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.27 KWD 1.01

$7.37 KWD 2.28

-55.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.21 KWD 0.99

$5.67 KWD 1.75

-43.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.29 KWD 1.02

$10.26 KWD 3.17

-67.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 KWD 0.78

$2.40 KWD 0.74

5.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 KWD 0.60

$1.93 KWD 0.60

1.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 KWD 0.58

$1.28 KWD 0.39

46.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 KWD 0.46

$1.55 KWD 0.48

-3.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 KWD 0.41

$1.33 KWD 0.41

-0.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 KWD 0.46

$0.93 KWD 0.29

59.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 KWD 0.70

$1.66 KWD 0.51

37.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 KWD 0.17

$0.48 KWD 0.15

14.58%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.19 KWD 0.98

$3.59 KWD 1.11

-11.14%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 KWD 0.32

$0.95 KWD 0.29

7.37%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 KWD 0.43

$1.36 KWD 0.42

2.94%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.67 KWD 0.82

$3.04 KWD 0.94

-12.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 KWD 0.25

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.38 KWD 15.24

$114 KWD 35.22

-56.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.73 KWD 1.46

$3.43 KWD 1.06

37.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.30 KWD 1.02

$3.44 KWD 1.06

-4.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.07 KWD 4.96

$17.73 KWD 5.47

-9.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

$0.35 KWD 0.11

2.86%

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

$21.4K KWD 6,595

$23.1K KWD 7,141

-7.65%

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

$20.3K KWD 6,262

$20.0K KWD 6,162

1.61%

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

$64.7 KWD 19.97

$39.56 KWD 12.21

63.52%

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

$22.99 KWD 7.10

$24.37 KWD 7.52

-5.66%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.54 KWD 7.89

$38.96 KWD 12.03

-34.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.2 KWD 19.81

$129 KWD 39.77

-50.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.23 KWD 11.80

Cinema Ticket

$11.13 KWD 3.44

$11.48 KWD 3.54

-3.05%

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

$304 KWD 93.7

$282 KWD 87.1

7.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,531 KWD 2,942

$7,641 KWD 2,359

24.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.13 KWD 9.92

$37.10 KWD 11.45

-13.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.36 KWD 12.15

$39.17 KWD 12.09

0.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.1 KWD 29.98

$98.4 KWD 30.36

-1.26%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.0 KWD 27.16

$90.3 KWD 27.87

-2.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 KWD 180

$729 KWD 225

-19.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$485 KWD 150

$559 KWD 173

-13.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$982 KWD 303

$1,789 KWD 552

-45.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,180 KWD 982

$1,337 KWD 413

137.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,881 KWD 581

$2,964 KWD 915

-36.54%

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 Hawalli: September 1, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $584 in Hawalli versus $729 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 58% 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 $65.0 in Hawalli versus $72.0 in Sabah Al Salem. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $145 vs $188 – making Hawalli 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,169 in Hawalli, $1,440 in Sabah Al Salem – roughly 23% apart. Sabah Al Salem costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,754 per month in Hawalli and $2,160 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 29% 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 $65.0 in Hawalli and $72.0 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 $1,169, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,440. 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 $1,169 in Hawalli to $1,440 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.