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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,259 per month in Qairawan vs $1,400 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,146 per month in Qairawan vs $2,495 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,033 per month in Qairawan vs $3,589 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

Qairawan is about 10% cheaper than Sabah Al Salem, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Qairawan sits 9% below the global median, while Sabah Al Salem is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.97 KWD 2.44

$7.93 KWD 2.43

0.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.1 KWD 18.12

$72.6 KWD 22.26

-18.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.29 KWD 2.54

$9.17 KWD 2.81

-9.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 KWD 0.96

$3.26 KWD 1.00

-3.37%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 KWD 1.02

$3.16 KWD 0.97

5.38%

Cappuccino

$5.07 KWD 1.55

$6.44 KWD 1.97

-21.27%

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

$0.56 KWD 0.17

$0.47 KWD 0.15

19.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 KWD 0.12

$0.51 KWD 0.16

-25.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 KWD 0.41

$1.97 KWD 0.60

-32.99%

White Bread (500g)

$0.85 KWD 0.26

$1.26 KWD 0.39

-32.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 KWD 0.58

$2.06 KWD 0.63

-7.77%

Eggs

$2.06 KWD 0.63

$3.16 KWD 0.97

-34.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.41 KWD 1.35

$7.26 KWD 2.23

-39.26%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 KWD 1.73

$5.43 KWD 1.67

3.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.40 KWD 3.19

$10.33 KWD 3.17

0.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.44 KWD 0.75

$2.46 KWD 0.75

-0.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 KWD 0.59

$1.85 KWD 0.57

3.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 KWD 0.41

$1.31 KWD 0.40

0.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 KWD 0.47

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 KWD 0.43

$1.32 KWD 0.41

5.30%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 KWD 0.29

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 KWD 0.49

$1.60 KWD 0.49

0.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 KWD 0.14

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.31 KWD 1.02

$3.12 KWD 0.96

6.09%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 KWD 0.31

$1.03 KWD 0.32

-0.97%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 KWD 0.44

$1.63 KWD 0.50

-11.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.69 KWD 0.82

$2.91 KWD 0.89

-7.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 KWD 0.24

$0.81 KWD 0.25

-3.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 KWD 34.94

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 KWD 1.01

$3.37 KWD 1.03

-2.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.32 KWD 1.02

$3.70 KWD 1.13

-10.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.45 KWD 5.04

$17.45 KWD 5.35

-5.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 KWD 0.11

$0.33 KWD 0.10

6.06%

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

$21.3K KWD 6,524

$20.0K KWD 6,121

6.58%

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

$20.4K KWD 6,259

$20.5K KWD 6,295

-0.58%

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

$65.0 KWD 19.93

$38.32 KWD 11.75

69.65%

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

$21.21 KWD 6.50

$23.88 KWD 7.32

-11.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.58 KWD 9.07

$39.34 KWD 12.06

-24.81%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.0 KWD 29.43

$131 KWD 40.27

-26.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.26 KWD 11.73

Cinema Ticket

$11.12 KWD 3.41

$11.13 KWD 3.41

-0.09%

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

$275 KWD 84.3

$273 KWD 83.8

0.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,505 KWD 2,301

$7,488 KWD 2,296

0.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.86 KWD 11.61

$37.51 KWD 11.50

0.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.21 KWD 12.02

$39.45 KWD 12.10

-0.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.7 KWD 29.96

$98.2 KWD 30.11

-0.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.5 KWD 26.84

$88.8 KWD 27.21

-1.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$720 KWD 221

$731 KWD 224

-1.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$586 KWD 180

$552 KWD 169

6.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,771 KWD 543

$1,811 KWD 555

-2.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,369 KWD 420

$1,319 KWD 404

3.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,911 KWD 893

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 Qairawan: September 8, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $720 in Qairawan versus $731 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 $59.0 in Qairawan versus $73.0 in Sabah Al Salem. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $165 vs $187 – making Qairawan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

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

Yes – Sabah Al Salem is pricier by about 11%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,888 per month in Qairawan and $2,100 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 Qairawan, 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 $1,259 in Qairawan and $1,400 in Sabah Al Salem. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $275 per month in Qairawan and $273 in Sabah Al Salem. 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 Qairawan, where all-in costs run around $1,259, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,400. In Qairawan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sabah Al Salem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Qairawan – 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 Qairawan. 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.