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: $1,497 in Kuwait City versus $1,440 in Sabah Al Salem.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,433 in Kuwait City versus $2,466 in Sabah Al Salem.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,369 in Kuwait City versus $3,492 in Sabah Al Salem.

Living in Kuwait City is roughly 4% more expensive than in Sabah Al Salem, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kuwait City 9% above, Sabah Al Salem 5% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.93 KWD 3.99

$8.27 KWD 2.56

56.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.6 KWD 19.63

$72.1 KWD 22.27

-11.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.72 KWD 2.69

$9.32 KWD 2.88

-6.44%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.33 KWD 1.03

$3.21 KWD 0.99

3.74%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 KWD 1.53

$3.18 KWD 0.98

55.35%

Cappuccino

$5.30 KWD 1.64

$6.67 KWD 2.06

-20.54%

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

$0.74 KWD 0.23

$0.47 KWD 0.14

57.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.11

$0.50 KWD 0.16

-32.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 KWD 0.49

$1.90 KWD 0.59

-17.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 KWD 0.47

$1.26 KWD 0.39

22.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 KWD 0.59

$2.09 KWD 0.64

-9.09%

Eggs

$2.16 KWD 0.67

$3.13 KWD 0.97

-30.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.44 KWD 1.37

$7.37 KWD 2.28

-39.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.63 KWD 2.05

$5.67 KWD 1.75

16.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.25 KWD 3.17

$10.26 KWD 3.17

-0.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.46 KWD 0.76

$2.40 KWD 0.74

2.50%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 KWD 0.60

$1.93 KWD 0.60

0.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 KWD 0.55

$1.28 KWD 0.39

39.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 KWD 0.47

$1.55 KWD 0.48

-0.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 KWD 0.42

$1.33 KWD 0.41

3.01%

Onion (1kg)

$1.49 KWD 0.46

$0.93 KWD 0.29

60.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.39 KWD 0.74

$1.66 KWD 0.51

43.98%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 KWD 0.17

$0.48 KWD 0.15

12.50%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.19 KWD 0.99

$3.59 KWD 1.11

-11.14%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 KWD 0.31

$0.95 KWD 0.29

6.32%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 KWD 0.43

$1.36 KWD 0.42

2.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.67 KWD 0.82

$3.04 KWD 0.94

-12.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 KWD 0.25

$0.82 KWD 0.25

-2.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.22 KWD 14.90

$114 KWD 35.24

-57.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.74 KWD 1.46

$3.43 KWD 1.06

38.19%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.26 KWD 1.01

$3.44 KWD 1.06

-5.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.34 KWD 5.05

$17.73 KWD 5.48

-7.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 KWD 0.11

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

$20.7K KWD 6,390

$23.1K KWD 7,146

-10.58%

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

$20.2K KWD 6,239

$20.0K KWD 6,166

1.17%

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

$64.9 KWD 20.06

$39.56 KWD 12.22

64.16%

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

$22.24 KWD 6.87

$24.37 KWD 7.53

-8.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.52 KWD 9.12

$38.96 KWD 12.03

-24.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$123 KWD 38.08

$129 KWD 39.79

-4.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.45 KWD 10.02

$38.23 KWD 11.81

-15.12%

Cinema Ticket

$11.52 KWD 3.56

$11.48 KWD 3.55

0.35%

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

$303 KWD 93.5

$282 KWD 87.1

7.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,492 KWD 2,932

$7,641 KWD 2,360

24.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.42 KWD 11.87

$37.10 KWD 11.46

3.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.37 KWD 12.16

$39.17 KWD 12.10

0.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.3 KWD 30.38

$98.4 KWD 30.38

-0.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.3 KWD 27.60

$90.3 KWD 27.89

-1.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$925 KWD 286

$729 KWD 225

27.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$637 KWD 197

$559 KWD 173

13.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,994 KWD 616

$1,789 KWD 553

11.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,341 KWD 414

$1,337 KWD 413

0.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,368 KWD 1,658

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,407 KWD 744

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,080 KWD 643

$2,964 KWD 915

-29.81%

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 Kuwait City: August 30, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $925 in Kuwait City and $729 in Sabah Al Salem. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sabah Al Salem pays 42% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $64.0 in Kuwait City vs $72.0 in Sabah Al Salem for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $188 per month, with Kuwait City 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 4% 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 42% 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: $925 in Kuwait City versus $729 in Sabah Al Salem. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,497 per month in Kuwait City versus $1,440 in Sabah Al Salem – a 4% 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 137% less than in Kuwait City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,440 in Sabah Al Salem versus $1,497 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 4% less than in Kuwait City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.