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: $871 in Ibb versus $1,024 in Sanaa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,442 in Ibb versus $1,597 in Sanaa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,013 in Ibb versus $2,171 in Sanaa.

Living in Ibb costs roughly 15% less than in Sanaa, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ibb 37% lower, Sanaa 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.22 YER 1,473

$6.18 YER 1,462

0.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.96 YER 5,909

$25.63 YER 6,068

-2.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.65 YER 2,994

$9.77 YER 2,312

29.48%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 YER 486

$2.03 YER 480

0.99%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.55 YER 604

$2.46 YER 582

3.66%

Cappuccino

$2.07 YER 491

$3.79 YER 897

-45.38%

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

$1.13 YER 269

$1.18 YER 280

-4.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 YER 127

$0.65 YER 153

-16.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.08 YER 492

$1.99 YER 472

4.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 YER 242

$1.70 YER 403

-40.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.00 YER 473

$2.05 YER 486

-2.44%

Eggs

$3.57 YER 844

$3.53 YER 836

1.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.97 YER 3,307

$17.06 YER 4,038

-18.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.16 YER 1,931

$8.45 YER 2,001

-3.43%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.18 YER 4,541

$18.55 YER 4,391

3.40%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 YER 785

$3.42 YER 809

-2.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.01 YER 240

$1.02 YER 241

-0.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 YER 513

$2.21 YER 523

-1.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 YER 368

$1.56 YER 369

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 YER 347

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 YER 321

$1.32 YER 312

3.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 YER 191

$1.20 YER 283

-32.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 YER 149

$0.63 YER 150

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.40 YER 805

$3.32 YER 786

2.41%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 YER 441

$1.78 YER 422

4.49%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 YER 816

$3.43 YER 812

0.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.96 YER 936

$5.53 YER 1,309

-28.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 YER 103

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.5 YER 19.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.09 YER 494

$4.26 YER 1,009

-50.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.58 YER 610

$2.13 YER 505

21.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.11 YER 1,683

$7.47 YER 1,769

-4.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.10 YER 498

$2.02 YER 479

3.96%

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

$17.1K YER 4.0M

-0.08%

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

$34.6K YER 8.2M

$35.4K YER 8.4M

-2.21%

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

$64.4 YER 15.3K

$109 YER 25.9K

-41.13%

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

$16.07 YER 3,804

$23.95 YER 5,669

-32.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.95 YER 6,854

$101 YER 23.8K

-71.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.9 YER 15.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.92 YER 3,768

Cinema Ticket

$6.07 YER 1,436

$5.85 YER 1,384

3.76%

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

$24.22 YER 5,734

$114 YER 27.0K

-78.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,128 YER 503.8K

$2,204 YER 521.7K

-3.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$29.82 YER 7,060

$42.00 YER 9,943

-29.00%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$125 YER 29.5K

$122 YER 28.9K

2.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.60 YER 11.5K

$47.26 YER 11.2K

2.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.97 YER 9,699

$40.14 YER 9,501

2.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$312 YER 73.8K

$218 YER 51.5K

43.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$251 YER 59.5K

$96.3 YER 22.8K

161.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$757 YER 179.2K

$408 YER 96.5K

85.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$624 YER 147.7K

$269 YER 63.7K

131.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,221 YER 999.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$797 YER 188.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$352 YER 83.3K

$191 YER 45.2K

84.43%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Sanaa: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $312 in Ibb and $218 in Sanaa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ibb pays 84% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $25.00 in Ibb vs $26.00 in Sanaa for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $268 per month, with Ibb 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

Ibb is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 84% higher in Ibb, 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: $312 in Ibb versus $218 in Sanaa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Sanaa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $871 per month in Ibb versus $1,024 in Sanaa – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $871 in Ibb versus $1,024 in Sanaa, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ibb but tight or insufficient in Sanaa. The gap between the two cities makes Ibb the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Ibb gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Sanaa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.