Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahboula and Fahaheel Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahboula and Fahaheel

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,240 per month in Mahboula vs $1,277 in Fahaheel, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,021 per month in Mahboula vs $2,128 in Fahaheel, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,802 per month in Mahboula vs $2,980 in Fahaheel, rent included.

Mahboula is about 3% cheaper than Fahaheel, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Mahboula and Fahaheel are more affordable than the global median – Mahboula 10% lower, Fahaheel 7% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.58 KWD 2.02

$8.18 KWD 2.51

-19.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.57 KWD 7.84

$59.4 KWD 18.21

-56.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.87 KWD 2.72

$7.90 KWD 2.42

12.28%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.57 KWD 0.48

$3.22 KWD 0.99

-51.24%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.29 KWD 1.01

$3.16 KWD 0.97

4.11%

Cappuccino

$5.57 KWD 1.71

$5.01 KWD 1.54

11.18%

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

$0.47 KWD 0.14

$0.59 KWD 0.18

-20.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 KWD 0.06

$0.37 KWD 0.11

-51.35%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 KWD 0.49

$1.33 KWD 0.41

19.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 KWD 0.29

$0.79 KWD 0.24

18.99%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 KWD 0.59

$1.90 KWD 0.58

1.05%

Eggs

$1.33 KWD 0.41

$2.09 KWD 0.64

-36.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.36 KWD 1.34

$4.33 KWD 1.33

0.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.57 KWD 2.02

$5.44 KWD 1.67

20.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.21 KWD 3.13

$10.10 KWD 3.10

1.09%

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 KWD 0.74

$2.40 KWD 0.74

0.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 KWD 0.57

$1.87 KWD 0.57

-1.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 KWD 0.55

$1.27 KWD 0.39

41.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.11 KWD 0.34

$1.56 KWD 0.48

-28.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 KWD 0.42

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 KWD 0.35

$0.92 KWD 0.28

26.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 KWD 0.73

$1.66 KWD 0.51

43.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 KWD 0.16

$0.47 KWD 0.14

8.51%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.29 KWD 1.01

$3.33 KWD 1.02

-1.20%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 KWD 0.31

$1.05 KWD 0.32

-3.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 KWD 0.42

$1.41 KWD 0.43

-2.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.58 KWD 0.48

$2.83 KWD 0.87

-44.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 KWD 0.26

$0.77 KWD 0.24

9.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.80 KWD 14.96

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 KWD 0.49

$3.16 KWD 0.97

-49.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 KWD 0.49

$3.31 KWD 1.01

-52.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 KWD 1.72

$15.97 KWD 4.90

-64.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.18 KWD 0.06

$0.35 KWD 0.11

-48.57%

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

$19.1K KWD 5,859

$20.8K KWD 6,369

-8.02%

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

$17.8K KWD 5,450

$20.1K KWD 6,162

-11.56%

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

$65.7 KWD 20.16

$66.2 KWD 20.31

-0.75%

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

$16.24 KWD 4.98

$21.16 KWD 6.49

-23.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.40 KWD 9.32

$29.86 KWD 9.15

1.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 KWD 29.57

$82.4 KWD 25.26

17.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$48.77 KWD 14.95

Cinema Ticket

$11.30 KWD 3.46

$11.17 KWD 3.42

1.16%

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

$307 KWD 94.0

$275 KWD 84.4

11.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,687 KWD 2,050

$7,487 KWD 2,296

-10.69%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.86 KWD 11.61

$37.83 KWD 11.60

0.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.59 KWD 12.14

$39.89 KWD 12.23

-0.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 KWD 30.05

$99.1 KWD 30.37

-1.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 KWD 27.60

$88.5 KWD 27.12

1.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$720 KWD 221

$716 KWD 220

0.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 KWD 154

$587 KWD 180

-14.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,790 KWD 549

$1,760 KWD 540

1.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,128 KWD 346

$1,350 KWD 414

-16.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,284 KWD 394

$4,191 KWD 1,285

-69.36%

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 Mahboula: September 6, 2026

Last update for Fahaheel: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $720 in Mahboula versus $716 in Fahaheel. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 226% higher in Fahaheel, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Mahboula versus $59.0 in Fahaheel. Groceries tell a different story – $173 in Mahboula vs $162 in Fahaheel – so Fahaheel wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Mahboula vs Fahaheel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,240 in Mahboula, $1,277 in Fahaheel – roughly 3% apart. Fahaheel costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,860 per month in Mahboula and $1,915 in Fahaheel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mahboula, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,240 in Mahboula and $1,277 in Fahaheel. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $307 per month in Mahboula and $275 in Fahaheel. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mahboula, where all-in costs run around $1,240, than in Fahaheel at $1,277. In Mahboula it covers expenses comfortably, while in Fahaheel it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mahboula – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Mahboula. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Fahaheel makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.