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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,201 per month in Mangaf vs $1,312 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,104 per month in Mangaf vs $2,228 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,008 per month in Mangaf vs $3,143 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

Mangaf is about 8% cheaper than Sabah Al Salem, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Mangaf and Sabah Al Salem are more affordable than the global median – Mangaf 10% lower, Sabah Al Salem 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.36 KWD 1.95

$7.56 KWD 2.32

-15.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.12 KWD 12.00

$58.7 KWD 18.00

-33.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.15 KWD 2.81

$8.59 KWD 2.63

6.52%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.46 KWD 0.76

$2.48 KWD 0.76

-0.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.57 KWD 1.10

$3.56 KWD 1.09

0.28%

Cappuccino

$5.32 KWD 1.63

$5.34 KWD 1.64

-0.37%

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

$0.31 KWD 0.09

$0.62 KWD 0.19

-50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 KWD 0.49

$1.43 KWD 0.44

11.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 KWD 0.39

$1.05 KWD 0.32

21.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 KWD 0.53

$1.65 KWD 0.51

4.24%

Eggs

$2.10 KWD 0.64

$2.04 KWD 0.62

2.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.08 KWD 1.56

$4.58 KWD 1.40

10.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.39 KWD 1.96

$6.68 KWD 2.05

-4.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.42 KWD 3.19

$9.91 KWD 3.04

5.15%

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 KWD 0.74

$2.35 KWD 0.72

2.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 KWD 0.60

$1.65 KWD 0.51

18.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 KWD 0.54

$1.56 KWD 0.48

12.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 KWD 0.45

$1.43 KWD 0.44

1.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 KWD 0.39

$1.23 KWD 0.38

2.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 KWD 0.39

$1.10 KWD 0.34

15.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 KWD 0.49

$1.69 KWD 0.52

-5.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 KWD 0.14

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.28 KWD 1.01

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 KWD 0.31

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 KWD 0.41

$1.33 KWD 0.41

0.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.02 KWD 0.93

$2.86 KWD 0.88

5.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 KWD 0.26

$0.90 KWD 0.28

-5.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.85 KWD 13.76

$44.87 KWD 13.76

-0.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.36 KWD 1.03

$3.18 KWD 0.97

5.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.46 KWD 0.75

$3.16 KWD 0.97

-22.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$11.45 KWD 3.51

$16.57 KWD 5.08

-30.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 KWD 0.11

$0.36 KWD 0.11

-2.78%

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

$21.4K KWD 6,571

$20.5K KWD 6,280

4.63%

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

$19.9K KWD 6,105

$18.9K KWD 5,794

5.38%

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

$62.6 KWD 19.21

$63.6 KWD 19.50

-1.49%

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

$18.77 KWD 5.76

$18.43 KWD 5.65

1.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.04 KWD 7.99

$26.24 KWD 8.05

-0.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$93.2 KWD 28.57

$95.5 KWD 29.30

-2.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.99 KWD 14.41

$46.83 KWD 14.36

0.34%

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 KWD 3.46

$11.29 KWD 3.46

-0.09%

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

$397 KWD 122

$278 KWD 85.4

42.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,707 KWD 2,057

$6,070 KWD 1,862

10.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.99 KWD 12.88

$42.73 KWD 13.11

-1.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.72 KWD 13.10

$42.21 KWD 12.95

1.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.9 KWD 27.25

$87.9 KWD 26.96

1.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.3 KWD 24.62

$81.8 KWD 25.07

-1.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 KWD 181

$808 KWD 248

-26.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$470 KWD 144

$611 KWD 188

-23.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,549 KWD 475

$1,586 KWD 486

-2.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,281 KWD 393

$1,309 KWD 402

-2.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,958 KWD 907

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

7.14

-36.97%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Mangaf: May 31, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $590 in Mangaf versus $808 in Sabah Al Salem. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Mangaf versus $59.0 in Sabah Al Salem. Groceries tell a different story – $179 in Mangaf vs $170 in Sabah Al Salem – so Sabah Al Salem 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

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

Yes – Sabah Al Salem is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,801 per month in Mangaf and $1,968 in Sabah Al Salem. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Mangaf and $59.0 in Sabah Al Salem. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,201 in Mangaf and $1,312 in Sabah Al Salem. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mangaf, where all-in costs run around $1,201, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,312. In Mangaf it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sabah Al Salem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mangaf – 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 Mangaf. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sabah Al Salem makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.