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: $1,228 in Mahboula versus $1,358 in Sabah Al Salem.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,997 in Mahboula versus $2,245 in Sabah Al Salem.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,767 in Mahboula versus $3,132 in Sabah Al Salem.

Living in Mahboula costs roughly 10% less than in Sabah Al Salem, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Mahboula is 8% below, Sabah Al Salem is 2% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.67 KWD 2.05

$7.70 KWD 2.37

-13.38%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.91 KWD 7.96

$58.1 KWD 17.84

-55.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 KWD 2.69

$8.41 KWD 2.59

4.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 KWD 0.51

$2.48 KWD 0.76

-32.66%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 KWD 0.98

$3.43 KWD 1.05

-6.71%

Cappuccino

$5.99 KWD 1.84

$5.28 KWD 1.62

13.45%

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

$0.51 KWD 0.16

$0.60 KWD 0.18

-15.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 KWD 0.06

$0.36 KWD 0.11

-50.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 KWD 0.48

$1.49 KWD 0.46

4.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 KWD 0.31

$1.06 KWD 0.33

-4.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 KWD 0.53

$1.72 KWD 0.53

0.58%

Eggs

$1.28 KWD 0.39

$2.05 KWD 0.63

-37.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.15 KWD 1.58

$4.37 KWD 1.34

17.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 KWD 1.98

$6.41 KWD 1.97

0.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.51 KWD 3.23

$9.76 KWD 3.00

7.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 KWD 0.72

$2.32 KWD 0.71

1.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 KWD 0.61

$1.60 KWD 0.49

24.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 KWD 0.53

$1.52 KWD 0.47

13.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 KWD 0.35

$1.35 KWD 0.42

-16.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 KWD 0.38

$1.22 KWD 0.38

0.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 KWD 0.35

$1.15 KWD 0.35

-2.61%

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)

$3.28 KWD 1.01

$2.85 KWD 0.88

15.09%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 KWD 0.42

$1.40 KWD 0.43

-2.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$3.00 KWD 0.92

-45.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 KWD 0.26

$0.88 KWD 0.27

-2.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.21 KWD 15.13

$43.89 KWD 13.49

12.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 KWD 0.49

$3.25 KWD 1.00

-50.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 KWD 0.49

$3.33 KWD 1.02

-51.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.80 KWD 1.78

$16.23 KWD 4.99

-64.26%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.20 KWD 0.06

$0.36 KWD 0.11

-44.44%

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

$19.6K KWD 6,033

$20.7K KWD 6,373

-5.34%

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

$17.9K KWD 5,499

$19.3K KWD 5,947

-7.54%

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

$62.1 KWD 19.10

$62.2 KWD 19.10

-0.05%

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

$16.54 KWD 5.09

$18.37 KWD 5.65

-9.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.13 KWD 8.03

$25.42 KWD 7.81

2.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$93.4 KWD 28.72

$92.2 KWD 28.35

1.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.15 KWD 14.19

$46.49 KWD 14.29

-0.73%

Cinema Ticket

$11.37 KWD 3.50

$11.23 KWD 3.45

1.25%

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

$392 KWD 121

$282 KWD 86.8

38.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,467 KWD 1,988

$6,129 KWD 1,884

5.52%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.82 KWD 12.86

$41.43 KWD 12.74

0.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.84 KWD 13.17

$41.70 KWD 12.82

2.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 KWD 26.77

$87.1 KWD 26.78

-0.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.3 KWD 25.00

$80.5 KWD 24.75

1.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$723 KWD 222

$808 KWD 248

-10.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$497 KWD 153

$619 KWD 190

-19.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,824 KWD 561

$1,591 KWD 489

14.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 KWD 353

$1,289 KWD 396

-10.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,278 KWD 393

$2,998 KWD 922

-57.39%

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 Mahboula: July 11, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $723 in Mahboula and $808 in Sabah Al Salem. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sabah Al Salem pays 135% 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 $58.0 in Sabah Al Salem. Groceries flip the comparison at $171 vs $167, with Sabah Al Salem cheaper for home cooking.

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 Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 135% 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: $723 in Mahboula versus $808 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 $58.0 in Sabah Al Salem. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,228 per month in Mahboula versus $1,358 in Sabah Al Salem – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,228 in Mahboula versus $1,358 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 11% less than in Sabah Al Salem. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.