Cost of Living Comparison Between Janub-as-surrah and Sabah Al Salem Cost of Living Comparison Between Janub-as-surrah and Sabah Al Salem

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,343 in Janub-as-surrah versus $1,312 in Sabah Al Salem.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,222 in Janub-as-surrah versus $2,228 in Sabah Al Salem.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,100 in Janub-as-surrah versus $3,143 in Sabah Al Salem.

Living in Janub-as-surrah is roughly 2% more expensive than Sabah Al Salem, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Janub-as-surrah is 0% above, Sabah Al Salem is 2% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.63 KWD 2.34

$7.56 KWD 2.32

0.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.9 KWD 17.77

$58.7 KWD 18.00

-1.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.51 KWD 2.61

$8.59 KWD 2.63

-0.93%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 KWD 0.76

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 KWD 1.10

$3.56 KWD 1.09

0.56%

Cappuccino

$5.25 KWD 1.61

$5.34 KWD 1.64

-1.69%

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

$0.63 KWD 0.19

$0.62 KWD 0.19

1.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 KWD 0.11

$0.34 KWD 0.10

8.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.48 KWD 0.46

$1.43 KWD 0.44

3.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 KWD 0.34

$1.05 KWD 0.32

3.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.66 KWD 0.51

$1.65 KWD 0.51

0.61%

Eggs

$1.97 KWD 0.60

$2.04 KWD 0.62

-3.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.42 KWD 1.35

$4.58 KWD 1.40

-3.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.68 KWD 2.05

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.82 KWD 3.01

$9.91 KWD 3.04

-0.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 KWD 0.72

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 KWD 0.49

$1.65 KWD 0.51

-3.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 KWD 0.48

$1.56 KWD 0.48

0.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 KWD 0.42

$1.43 KWD 0.44

-4.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 KWD 0.38

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 KWD 0.35

$1.10 KWD 0.34

3.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 KWD 0.50

$1.69 KWD 0.52

-4.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 KWD 0.13

$0.46 KWD 0.14

-6.52%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

$1.00 KWD 0.31

5.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 KWD 0.43

$1.33 KWD 0.41

4.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.91 KWD 0.89

$2.86 KWD 0.88

1.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 KWD 0.26

$0.90 KWD 0.28

-5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.96 KWD 13.48

$44.87 KWD 13.76

-2.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 KWD 1.03

$3.18 KWD 0.97

5.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.28 KWD 1.01

$3.16 KWD 0.97

3.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.15 KWD 4.95

$16.57 KWD 5.08

-2.53%

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)

$20.3K KWD 6,222

$20.5K KWD 6,280

-0.93%

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

$18.9K KWD 5,800

$18.9K KWD 5,794

0.12%

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

$63.7 KWD 19.53

$63.6 KWD 19.50

0.11%

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

$18.40 KWD 5.64

$18.43 KWD 5.65

-0.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.68 KWD 7.88

$26.24 KWD 8.05

-2.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.4 KWD 28.96

$95.5 KWD 29.30

-1.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$47.06 KWD 14.43

$46.83 KWD 14.36

0.49%

Cinema Ticket

$11.51 KWD 3.53

$11.29 KWD 3.46

1.95%

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

$288 KWD 88.2

$278 KWD 85.4

3.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,158 KWD 1,889

$6,070 KWD 1,862

1.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.65 KWD 13.08

$42.73 KWD 13.11

-0.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.29 KWD 12.97

$42.21 KWD 12.95

0.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.9 KWD 27.27

$87.9 KWD 26.96

1.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.1 KWD 25.17

$81.8 KWD 25.07

0.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$779 KWD 239

$808 KWD 248

-3.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$613 KWD 188

$611 KWD 188

0.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,590 KWD 488

$1,586 KWD 486

0.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,290 KWD 396

$1,309 KWD 402

-1.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,958 KWD 907

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 Janub-as-surrah: May 30, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $779 in Janub-as-surrah and $808 in Sabah Al Salem. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $58.0 in Janub-as-surrah vs $59.0 in Sabah Al Salem for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $168 vs $170 per month, with Janub-as-surrah 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

Janub-as-surrah vs Sabah Al Salem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sabah Al Salem wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Janub-as-surrah. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sabah Al Salem the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,014 in Janub-as-surrah and $1,968 in Sabah Al Salem to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $779 in Janub-as-surrah versus $808 in Sabah Al Salem. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,343 per month in Janub-as-surrah versus $1,312 in Sabah Al Salem – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sabah Al Salem runs roughly 2% less than in Janub-as-surrah. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,312 in Sabah Al Salem versus $1,343 in Janub-as-surrah, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sabah Al Salem but tight or insufficient in Janub-as-surrah. The gap between the two cities makes Sabah Al Salem 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.

Safety-wise, Janub-as-surrah and Sabah Al Salem are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Sabah Al Salem gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Janub-as-surrah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.