Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuwait City and Sabah Al Salem Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuwait City and Sabah Al Salem

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,469 in Kuwait City versus $1,358 in Sabah Al Salem.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,440 in Kuwait City versus $2,245 in Sabah Al Salem.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,411 in Kuwait City versus $3,132 in Sabah Al Salem.

Living in Kuwait City is roughly 8% more expensive than in Sabah Al Salem, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kuwait City 10% above, Sabah Al Salem 2% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.88 KWD 3.04

$7.70 KWD 2.37

28.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.7 KWD 24.79

$58.1 KWD 17.84

38.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.26 KWD 2.85

$8.41 KWD 2.59

10.11%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 KWD 0.74

$2.48 KWD 0.76

-2.42%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 KWD 1.14

$3.43 KWD 1.05

7.58%

Cappuccino

$5.92 KWD 1.82

$5.28 KWD 1.62

12.12%

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

$0.68 KWD 0.21

$0.60 KWD 0.18

13.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 KWD 0.12

$0.36 KWD 0.11

5.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 KWD 0.50

$1.49 KWD 0.46

9.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 KWD 0.40

$1.06 KWD 0.33

21.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 KWD 0.55

$1.72 KWD 0.53

4.07%

Eggs

$2.10 KWD 0.64

$2.05 KWD 0.63

2.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.28 KWD 1.62

$4.37 KWD 1.34

20.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.52 KWD 2.00

$6.41 KWD 1.97

1.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.30 KWD 3.17

$9.76 KWD 3.00

5.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.43 KWD 0.75

$2.32 KWD 0.71

4.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 KWD 0.58

$1.60 KWD 0.49

18.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 KWD 0.55

$1.52 KWD 0.47

17.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 KWD 0.44

$1.35 KWD 0.42

6.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 KWD 0.38

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 KWD 0.40

$1.15 KWD 0.35

14.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 KWD 0.52

$1.63 KWD 0.50

3.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 KWD 0.14

$0.42 KWD 0.13

7.14%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.27 KWD 1.01

$2.85 KWD 0.88

14.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 KWD 0.32

$1.05 KWD 0.32

-0.95%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 KWD 0.41

$1.40 KWD 0.43

-3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 KWD 0.88

$3.00 KWD 0.92

-5.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 KWD 0.26

$0.88 KWD 0.27

-3.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.92 KWD 11.96

$43.89 KWD 13.49

-11.32%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 KWD 1.03

$3.25 KWD 1.00

2.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.17 KWD 0.97

$3.33 KWD 1.02

-4.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.40 KWD 5.04

$16.23 KWD 4.99

1.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

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

$21.0K KWD 6,442

$20.7K KWD 6,373

1.08%

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

$19.8K KWD 6,074

$19.3K KWD 5,947

2.13%

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

$62.7 KWD 19.27

$62.2 KWD 19.10

0.87%

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

$18.39 KWD 5.65

$18.37 KWD 5.65

0.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.42 KWD 7.81

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$108 KWD 33.14

$92.2 KWD 28.35

16.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.51 KWD 6.61

$46.49 KWD 14.29

-53.73%

Cinema Ticket

$11.53 KWD 3.55

$11.23 KWD 3.45

2.67%

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

$400 KWD 123

$282 KWD 86.8

41.49%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,575 KWD 2,021

$6,129 KWD 1,884

7.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.00 KWD 12.91

$41.43 KWD 12.74

1.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.82 KWD 12.86

$41.70 KWD 12.82

0.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.9 KWD 27.32

$87.1 KWD 26.78

2.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.7 KWD 25.42

$80.5 KWD 24.75

2.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$868 KWD 267

$808 KWD 248

7.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 KWD 201

$619 KWD 190

5.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,757 KWD 540

$1,591 KWD 489

10.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,371 KWD 422

$1,289 KWD 396

6.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,223 KWD 1,606

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,377 KWD 731

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,068 KWD 636

$2,998 KWD 922

-31.05%

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 Kuwait City: July 13, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $868 in Kuwait City and $808 in Sabah Al Salem. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sabah Al Salem pays 45% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $81.0 in Kuwait City vs $58.0 in Sabah Al Salem for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $180 vs $167 per month, with Sabah Al Salem 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

Kuwait City vs Sabah Al Salem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sabah Al Salem wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Kuwait City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sabah Al Salem the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 45% lower in Sabah Al Salem. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $868 in Kuwait City 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 $1,469 per month in Kuwait City versus $1,358 in Sabah Al Salem – a 8% 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 13% less than in Kuwait City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,358 in Sabah Al Salem versus $1,469 in Kuwait City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sabah Al Salem but tight or insufficient in Kuwait City. 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, Kuwait City 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 8% less than in Kuwait City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.