Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahboula and Sabah Al Salem Cost of Living Comparison Between Mahboula and Sabah Al Salem

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,240 in Mahboula versus $1,400 in Sabah Al Salem.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,021 in Mahboula versus $2,495 in Sabah Al Salem.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,802 in Mahboula versus $3,589 in Sabah Al Salem.

Living in Mahboula costs roughly 11% less than in Sabah Al Salem, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mahboula is 10% below, Sabah Al Salem is 2% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.58 KWD 2.02

$7.93 KWD 2.43

-17.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.57 KWD 7.84

$72.6 KWD 22.26

-64.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.87 KWD 2.72

$9.17 KWD 2.81

-3.27%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.57 KWD 0.48

$3.26 KWD 1.00

-51.84%

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

$6.44 KWD 1.97

-13.51%

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

$0.47 KWD 0.14

$0.47 KWD 0.15

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 KWD 0.06

$0.51 KWD 0.16

-64.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.59 KWD 0.49

$1.97 KWD 0.60

-19.29%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 KWD 0.29

$1.26 KWD 0.39

-25.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 KWD 0.59

$2.06 KWD 0.63

-6.80%

Eggs

$1.33 KWD 0.41

$3.16 KWD 0.97

-57.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.36 KWD 1.34

$7.26 KWD 2.23

-39.94%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.57 KWD 2.02

$5.43 KWD 1.67

20.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.21 KWD 3.13

$10.33 KWD 3.17

-1.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 KWD 0.74

$2.46 KWD 0.75

-1.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 KWD 0.57

$1.85 KWD 0.57

-0.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 KWD 0.55

$1.31 KWD 0.40

37.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.11 KWD 0.34

$1.54 KWD 0.47

-27.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 KWD 0.42

$1.32 KWD 0.41

4.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 KWD 0.35

$0.96 KWD 0.29

20.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.38 KWD 0.73

$1.60 KWD 0.49

48.75%

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

$3.12 KWD 0.96

5.45%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 KWD 0.31

$1.03 KWD 0.32

-1.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 KWD 0.42

$1.63 KWD 0.50

-15.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.58 KWD 0.48

$2.91 KWD 0.89

-45.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 KWD 0.26

$0.81 KWD 0.25

3.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.80 KWD 14.96

$114 KWD 34.94

-57.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.60 KWD 0.49

$3.37 KWD 1.03

-52.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.58 KWD 0.49

$3.70 KWD 1.13

-57.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.60 KWD 1.72

$17.45 KWD 5.35

-67.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.18 KWD 0.06

$0.33 KWD 0.10

-45.45%

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

$19.1K KWD 5,859

$20.0K KWD 6,121

-4.29%

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

$17.8K KWD 5,450

$20.5K KWD 6,295

-13.42%

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

$65.7 KWD 20.16

$38.32 KWD 11.75

71.56%

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

$16.24 KWD 4.98

$23.88 KWD 7.32

-31.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.40 KWD 9.32

$39.34 KWD 12.06

-22.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.5 KWD 29.57

$131 KWD 40.27

-26.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$48.77 KWD 14.95

$38.26 KWD 11.73

27.47%

Cinema Ticket

$11.30 KWD 3.46

$11.13 KWD 3.41

1.53%

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

$307 KWD 94.0

$273 KWD 83.8

12.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,687 KWD 2,050

$7,488 KWD 2,296

-10.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.86 KWD 11.61

$37.51 KWD 11.50

0.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.59 KWD 12.14

$39.45 KWD 12.10

0.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.0 KWD 30.05

$98.2 KWD 30.11

-0.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 KWD 27.60

$88.8 KWD 27.21

1.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$720 KWD 221

$731 KWD 224

-1.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 KWD 154

$552 KWD 169

-9.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,790 KWD 549

$1,811 KWD 555

-1.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,128 KWD 346

$1,319 KWD 404

-14.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,284 KWD 394

$2,911 KWD 893

-55.89%

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 Sabah Al Salem: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $720 in Mahboula and $731 in Sabah Al Salem. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sabah Al Salem pays 127% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $26.00 in Mahboula vs $73.0 in Sabah Al Salem for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $187 per month, with Mahboula 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

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

Mahboula is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 127% 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: $720 in Mahboula versus $731 in Sabah Al Salem. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Mahboula – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $73.0 in Sabah Al Salem. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,240 per month in Mahboula versus $1,400 in Sabah Al Salem – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,240 in Mahboula versus $1,400 in Sabah Al Salem, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mahboula but tight or insufficient in Sabah Al Salem. The gap between the two cities makes Mahboula 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, Mahboula 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 Mahboula 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.