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 $1,318 per month in Qairawan vs $1,358 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,238 per month in Qairawan vs $2,245 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,157 per month in Qairawan vs $3,132 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

Qairawan is about 3% cheaper than Sabah Al Salem, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Qairawan sits 1% below the global median, while Sabah Al Salem is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.72 KWD 2.37

$7.70 KWD 2.37

0.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.5 KWD 17.99

$58.1 KWD 17.84

0.84%

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)

$2.40 KWD 0.74

$2.48 KWD 0.76

-3.23%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.40 KWD 1.04

$3.43 KWD 1.05

-0.87%

Cappuccino

$5.34 KWD 1.64

$5.28 KWD 1.62

1.14%

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

$0.58 KWD 0.18

$0.60 KWD 0.18

-3.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

Milk (1 liter)

$1.47 KWD 0.45

$1.49 KWD 0.46

-1.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 KWD 0.34

$1.06 KWD 0.33

3.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.72 KWD 0.53

-4.07%

Eggs

$2.04 KWD 0.63

$2.05 KWD 0.63

-0.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.38 KWD 1.34

$4.37 KWD 1.34

0.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.41 KWD 1.97

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.52 KWD 2.93

$9.76 KWD 3.00

-2.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.30 KWD 0.71

$2.32 KWD 0.71

-0.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 KWD 0.49

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 KWD 0.47

$1.52 KWD 0.47

0.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

$1.35 KWD 0.42

5.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 KWD 0.39

$1.22 KWD 0.38

4.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 KWD 0.34

$1.15 KWD 0.35

-3.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 KWD 0.49

$1.63 KWD 0.50

-1.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 KWD 0.14

$0.42 KWD 0.13

7.14%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.31 KWD 1.02

$2.85 KWD 0.88

16.14%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 KWD 0.31

$1.05 KWD 0.32

-2.86%

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)

$2.92 KWD 0.90

$3.00 KWD 0.92

-2.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 KWD 0.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.22 KWD 13.59

$43.89 KWD 13.49

0.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 KWD 1.00

$3.25 KWD 1.00

-0.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.20 KWD 0.98

$3.33 KWD 1.02

-3.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.54 KWD 5.08

$16.23 KWD 4.99

1.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

$0.36 KWD 0.11

-5.56%

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

$20.1K KWD 6,165

$20.7K KWD 6,373

-3.26%

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

$19.4K KWD 5,972

$19.3K KWD 5,947

0.41%

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

$62.1 KWD 19.09

$62.2 KWD 19.10

-0.05%

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

$18.09 KWD 5.56

$18.37 KWD 5.65

-1.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.13 KWD 8.03

$25.42 KWD 7.81

2.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.3 KWD 29.30

$92.2 KWD 28.35

3.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.20 KWD 14.20

$46.49 KWD 14.29

-0.62%

Cinema Ticket

$11.65 KWD 3.58

$11.23 KWD 3.45

3.74%

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

$279 KWD 85.8

$282 KWD 86.8

-1.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,047 KWD 1,859

$6,129 KWD 1,884

-1.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.38 KWD 12.72

$41.43 KWD 12.74

-0.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.79 KWD 13.15

$41.70 KWD 12.82

2.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.4 KWD 26.55

$87.1 KWD 26.78

-0.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.2 KWD 25.58

$80.5 KWD 24.75

3.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$796 KWD 245

$808 KWD 248

-1.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$608 KWD 187

$619 KWD 190

-1.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,582 KWD 486

$1,591 KWD 489

-0.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,285 KWD 395

$1,289 KWD 396

-0.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,998 KWD 922

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 Qairawan: July 12, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $796 in Qairawan 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 $59.0 in Qairawan versus $58.0 in Sabah Al Salem. Groceries tell a different story – $167 in Qairawan vs $167 in Sabah Al Salem – so Qairawan 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

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

Yes – Sabah Al Salem is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,978 per month in Qairawan and $2,037 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Qairawan and $58.0 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 $1,318 in Qairawan and $1,358 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 Qairawan, where all-in costs run around $1,318, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,358. 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.