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 $914 in Sanaa.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,625 in Ibb versus $1,460 in Sanaa.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,263 in Ibb versus $2,006 in Sanaa.

Living in Ibb is roughly 8% more expensive than in Sanaa, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ibb 26% lower, Sanaa 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.79 YER 1,606

$6.33 YER 1,499

7.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$41.32 YER 9,781

$22.96 YER 5,433

79.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$12.77 YER 3,023

$10.47 YER 2,479

21.97%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 YER 417

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 YER 431

Cappuccino

$2.03 YER 480

$3.69 YER 873

-44.99%

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

$1.67 YER 395

$1.16 YER 274

43.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 YER 126

$0.47 YER 111

12.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$3.29 YER 778

$1.88 YER 446

75.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.17 YER 277

$1.22 YER 289

-4.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$4.82 YER 1,140

$2.48 YER 588

94.35%

Eggs

$6.53 YER 1,545

$4.03 YER 953

62.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.58 YER 2,268

$9.87 YER 2,337

-2.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$12.30 YER 2,912

$6.69 YER 1,582

83.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$27.51 YER 6,512

$18.58 YER 4,397

48.06%

Apples (1kg)

$5.71 YER 1,352

$3.85 YER 912

48.31%

Banana (1kg)

$2.14 YER 507

$1.39 YER 329

53.96%

Oranges (1kg)

$6.26 YER 1,482

$2.39 YER 566

161.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$3.73 YER 883

$1.64 YER 389

127.44%

Potato (1kg)

$2.30 YER 545

$1.79 YER 424

28.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.10 YER 496

$1.62 YER 384

29.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 YER 182

$0.63 YER 149

22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 YER 346

$0.73 YER 172

100.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.43 YER 813

$3.38 YER 800

1.48%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 YER 395

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 YER 775

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.18 YER 988

$4.05 YER 958

3.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 YER 101

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$81.8 YER 19.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.06 YER 488

$4.15 YER 982

-50.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.03 YER 953

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.02 YER 1,661

Gasoline (1 liter)

$4.06 YER 961

$2.74 YER 648

48.18%

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

$16.7K YER 3.9M

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

$33.9K YER 8.0M

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

$91.3 YER 21.6K

$71.5 YER 16.9K

27.71%

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

$15.57 YER 3,685

$13.56 YER 3,209

14.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$76.6 YER 18.1K

$38.21 YER 9,042

100.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.2 YER 19.4K

$67.4 YER 16.0K

21.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.43 YER 3,889

Cinema Ticket

$5.89 YER 1,394

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

$29.42 YER 6,963

$112 YER 26.6K

-73.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,391 YER 802.6K

$1,809 YER 428.2K

87.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.45 YER 6,735

$39.44 YER 9,336

-27.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$147 YER 34.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$48.93 YER 11.6K

$40.85 YER 9,668

19.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$58.1 YER 13.7K

$41.77 YER 9,885

39.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$216 YER 51.2K

$166 YER 39.4K

30.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$161 YER 38.2K

$95.4 YER 22.6K

69.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$586 YER 138.7K

$403 YER 95.4K

45.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$396 YER 93.7K

$261 YER 61.7K

51.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,070 YER 963.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$808 YER 191.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$354 YER 83.8K

$190 YER 45.0K

86.04%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Sanaa: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $216 in Ibb and $166 in Sanaa. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ibb pays 86% 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 $380 vs $241 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 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 86% 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: $216 in Ibb versus $166 in Sanaa. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 57% 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 $914 in Sanaa – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $914 in Sanaa versus $987 in Ibb, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sanaa but tight or insufficient in Ibb. The gap between the two cities makes Sanaa 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 Sanaa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Ibb. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.