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: $1,263 in Janub-as-surrah versus $1,432 in Sabah Al Salem.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,157 in Janub-as-surrah versus $2,446 in Sabah Al Salem.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,051 in Janub-as-surrah versus $3,460 in Sabah Al Salem.

Living in Janub-as-surrah costs roughly 12% less than in Sabah Al Salem, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Janub-as-surrah is 8% below, Sabah Al Salem is 5% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.08 KWD 2.80

$8.32 KWD 2.56

9.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.0 KWD 19.41

$71.6 KWD 22.06

-12.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.74 KWD 2.69

$9.25 KWD 2.85

-5.51%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.35 KWD 1.03

$3.28 KWD 1.01

2.13%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.62 KWD 1.11

$3.15 KWD 0.97

14.92%

Cappuccino

$5.56 KWD 1.71

$6.62 KWD 2.04

-16.01%

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

$0.58 KWD 0.18

$0.48 KWD 0.15

20.83%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 KWD 0.10

$0.48 KWD 0.15

-33.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 KWD 0.36

$1.98 KWD 0.61

-40.91%

White Bread (500g)

$0.83 KWD 0.26

$1.33 KWD 0.41

-37.59%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 KWD 0.65

$2.13 KWD 0.66

-0.94%

Eggs

$2.18 KWD 0.67

$3.02 KWD 0.93

-27.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.14 KWD 1.28

$7.32 KWD 2.26

-43.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.24 KWD 1.92

$5.38 KWD 1.66

15.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.49 KWD 3.23

$10.15 KWD 3.13

3.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.41 KWD 0.74

$2.51 KWD 0.77

-3.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 KWD 0.53

$1.86 KWD 0.57

-6.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 KWD 0.39

$1.32 KWD 0.41

-3.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 KWD 0.42

$1.54 KWD 0.47

-11.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 KWD 0.38

$1.31 KWD 0.40

-6.11%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 KWD 0.30

$0.95 KWD 0.29

2.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 KWD 0.50

$1.65 KWD 0.51

-1.82%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 KWD 0.16

$0.48 KWD 0.15

10.42%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.88 KWD 0.89

$3.01 KWD 0.93

-4.32%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 KWD 0.32

$0.95 KWD 0.29

9.47%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 KWD 0.46

$1.43 KWD 0.44

3.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.74 KWD 0.84

$2.79 KWD 0.86

-1.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 KWD 0.24

$0.75 KWD 0.23

4.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$115 KWD 35.36

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 KWD 0.98

$3.05 KWD 0.94

3.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.15 KWD 0.97

$3.50 KWD 1.08

-10.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.10 KWD 4.96

$14.39 KWD 4.44

11.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.34 KWD 0.11

$0.33 KWD 0.10

3.03%

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

$22.4K KWD 6,899

$21.8K KWD 6,720

2.67%

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

$20.3K KWD 6,264

$21.9K KWD 6,743

-7.11%

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

$59.4 KWD 18.29

$39.29 KWD 12.11

51.08%

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

$20.98 KWD 6.46

$24.66 KWD 7.60

-14.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.86 KWD 8.58

$38.81 KWD 11.96

-28.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$85.3 KWD 26.28

$128 KWD 39.50

-33.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.17 KWD 12.07

Cinema Ticket

$9.95 KWD 3.06

$11.39 KWD 3.51

-12.64%

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

$295 KWD 90.8

$277 KWD 85.4

6.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,583 KWD 2,645

$7,546 KWD 2,325

13.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.17 KWD 10.84

$37.94 KWD 11.69

-7.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.85 KWD 10.74

$40.10 KWD 12.35

-13.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.4 KWD 26.92

$96.3 KWD 29.67

-9.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.9 KWD 26.47

$90.3 KWD 27.81

-4.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$709 KWD 218

$725 KWD 223

-2.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$525 KWD 162

$555 KWD 171

-5.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,579 KWD 486

$1,811 KWD 558

-12.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,403 KWD 432

$1,352 KWD 417

3.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,022 KWD 931

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 Janub-as-surrah: September 12, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $709 in Janub-as-surrah and $725 in Sabah Al Salem. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $63.0 in Janub-as-surrah vs $72.0 in Sabah Al Salem for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $165 vs $188 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

Janub-as-surrah wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Sabah Al Salem. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Janub-as-surrah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,894 in Janub-as-surrah and $2,148 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: $709 in Janub-as-surrah versus $725 in Sabah Al Salem. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 14% higher in Sabah Al Salem. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,263 per month in Janub-as-surrah versus $1,432 in Sabah Al Salem – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,263 in Janub-as-surrah versus $1,432 in Sabah Al Salem, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Janub-as-surrah but tight or insufficient in Sabah Al Salem. The gap between the two cities makes Janub-as-surrah 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 Janub-as-surrah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Sabah Al Salem. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.