Cost of Living Comparison Between Ibb and Sanaa Cost of Living Comparison Between Ibb and Sanaa

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $987 in Ibb versus $900 in Sanaa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,658 in Ibb versus $1,466 in Sanaa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,329 in Ibb versus $2,032 in Sanaa.

Living in Ibb is roughly 10% more expensive than Sanaa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ibb 26% lower, Sanaa 33% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.85 YER 1,633

$6.11 YER 1,455

12.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.65 YER 9,687

$22.83 YER 5,440

78.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.50 YER 2,978

$10.15 YER 2,418

23.15%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 YER 432

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 YER 430

Cappuccino

$2.08 YER 495

$3.72 YER 888

-44.09%

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

$1.60 YER 382

$1.14 YER 273

40.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 YER 119

$0.46 YER 110

8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.26 YER 778

$1.91 YER 455

70.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 YER 276

$1.20 YER 287

-3.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.74 YER 1,131

$2.47 YER 589

91.90%

Eggs

$6.43 YER 1,531

$4.03 YER 959

59.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.11 YER 2,172

$9.86 YER 2,350

-7.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.60 YER 3,002

$6.82 YER 1,625

84.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.63 YER 6,585

$19.15 YER 4,563

44.28%

Apples (1kg)

$5.80 YER 1,382

$3.92 YER 933

47.96%

Banana (1kg)

$2.17 YER 517

$1.44 YER 344

50.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.45 YER 1,537

$2.41 YER 574

167.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.67 YER 876

$1.64 YER 391

123.78%

Potato (1kg)

$2.32 YER 554

$1.70 YER 405

36.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.02 YER 481

$1.57 YER 374

28.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 YER 186

$0.64 YER 151

21.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 YER 334

$0.74 YER 176

89.19%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.34 YER 795

$3.28 YER 782

1.83%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 YER 394

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 YER 772

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.04 YER 963

$3.91 YER 932

3.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 YER 101

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$82.1 YER 19.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.08 YER 496

$4.21 YER 1,004

-50.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.99 YER 952

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.32 YER 1,745

Gasoline (1 liter)

$3.99 YER 952

$2.68 YER 640

48.88%

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

$16.4K YER 3.9M

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

$33.5K YER 8.0M

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

$90.8 YER 21.6K

$72.3 YER 17.2K

25.56%

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

$15.33 YER 3,652

$13.70 YER 3,266

11.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.6 YER 18.5K

$38.45 YER 9,163

101.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$80.6 YER 19.2K

$66.6 YER 15.9K

20.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.68 YER 3,975

Cinema Ticket

$5.90 YER 1,405

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

$28.67 YER 6,833

$116 YER 27.5K

-75.18%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,323 YER 791.9K

$1,808 YER 430.7K

83.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.35 YER 6,993

$39.29 YER 9,363

-25.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$148 YER 35.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.95 YER 11.7K

$41.65 YER 9,924

17.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.5 YER 13.7K

$42.36 YER 10.1K

35.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$216 YER 51.5K

$167 YER 39.8K

29.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$160 YER 38.2K

$95.3 YER 22.7K

68.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$571 YER 136.1K

$410 YER 97.8K

39.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$395 YER 94.1K

$265 YER 63.2K

48.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 YER 982.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$819 YER 195.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$352 YER 83.9K

$191 YER 45.5K

84.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.25

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ibb: June 1, 2026

Last update for Sanaa: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $216 in Ibb and $167 in Sanaa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ibb pays 84% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $41.00 in Ibb vs $23.00 in Sanaa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $379 vs $244 per month, with Sanaa cheaper across the board.

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

Ibb vs Sanaa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sanaa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Ibb pays 84% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $216 in Ibb versus $167 in Sanaa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 55% higher in Ibb. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $987 per month in Ibb versus $900 in Sanaa – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Sanaa gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Sanaa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Ibb. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.