Cost of Living Comparison Between Sabah Al Salem and Abraq Khaitan Cost of Living Comparison Between Sabah Al Salem and Abraq Khaitan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,336 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $1,314 in Abraq Khaitan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,229 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $2,105 in Abraq Khaitan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,121 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $2,895 in Abraq Khaitan, rent included.

Sabah Al Salem costs about 2% more than Abraq Khaitan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Sabah Al Salem sits 0% above the global median, while Abraq Khaitan is 2% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.62 KWD 2.34

$9.87 KWD 3.03

-22.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.8 KWD 17.74

$81.1 KWD 24.89

-28.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 KWD 2.59

$9.05 KWD 2.78

-6.85%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 KWD 0.74

$2.43 KWD 0.74

-0.41%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 KWD 1.05

$3.58 KWD 1.10

-3.91%

Cappuccino

$5.29 KWD 1.63

$5.88 KWD 1.81

-10.03%

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

$0.63 KWD 0.19

$0.66 KWD 0.20

-4.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

$0.38 KWD 0.12

-5.26%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 KWD 0.44

$1.02 KWD 0.31

41.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 KWD 0.34

$0.66 KWD 0.20

66.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 KWD 0.52

$1.34 KWD 0.41

27.61%

Eggs

$2.00 KWD 0.61

$2.11 KWD 0.65

-5.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.47 KWD 1.37

$4.84 KWD 1.49

-7.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.32 KWD 1.94

$6.54 KWD 2.01

-3.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.48 KWD 2.91

$8.07 KWD 2.48

17.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.33 KWD 0.72

$2.27 KWD 0.70

2.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 KWD 0.52

$1.67 KWD 0.51

1.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 KWD 0.47

$1.30 KWD 0.40

16.92%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 KWD 0.42

$1.34 KWD 0.41

0.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 KWD 0.38

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 KWD 0.35

$0.66 KWD 0.20

74.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.67 KWD 0.51

$0.94 KWD 0.29

77.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 KWD 0.14

$0.34 KWD 0.10

35.29%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.95 KWD 0.29

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

$1.03 KWD 0.31

1.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 KWD 0.41

$1.34 KWD 0.41

-1.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 KWD 0.92

$2.92 KWD 0.90

2.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 KWD 0.27

$0.86 KWD 0.26

2.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.04 KWD 13.52

$49.12 KWD 15.08

-10.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 KWD 1.03

$3.29 KWD 1.01

1.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.28 KWD 1.01

$3.27 KWD 1.00

0.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.13 KWD 4.95

$16.66 KWD 5.12

-3.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 KWD 0.10

$0.37 KWD 0.11

-10.81%

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

$20.7K KWD 6,348

$16.5K KWD 5,064

25.36%

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

$19.5K KWD 5,979

$16.4K KWD 5,025

18.99%

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

$61.6 KWD 18.90

$62.4 KWD 19.16

-1.38%

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

$18.01 KWD 5.53

$17.91 KWD 5.50

0.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.94 KWD 7.96

$25.70 KWD 7.89

0.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.2 KWD 28.92

$81.0 KWD 24.87

16.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.54 KWD 13.98

$42.74 KWD 13.12

6.55%

Cinema Ticket

$11.33 KWD 3.48

$9.73 KWD 2.99

16.44%

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

$285 KWD 87.4

$165 KWD 50.6

72.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,161 KWD 1,892

$3,211 KWD 986

91.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.83 KWD 12.84

$41.40 KWD 12.71

1.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.06 KWD 13.22

$32.52 KWD 9.98

32.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.2 KWD 27.06

$82.7 KWD 25.38

6.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.6 KWD 25.04

$65.5 KWD 20.10

24.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$779 KWD 239

$762 KWD 234

2.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$609 KWD 187

$593 KWD 182

2.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,558 KWD 478

$1,196 KWD 367

30.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,306 KWD 401

$1,021 KWD 313

27.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,037 KWD 932

$3,626 KWD 1,113

-16.24%

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 Sabah Al Salem: April 26, 2026

Last update for Abraq Khaitan: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $779 in Sabah Al Salem versus $762 in Abraq Khaitan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 19% higher in Abraq Khaitan, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Sabah Al Salem versus $81.0 in Abraq Khaitan. Groceries tell a different story – $167 in Sabah Al Salem vs $148 in Abraq Khaitan – so Abraq Khaitan 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

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

Sabah Al Salem costs about 2% more than Abraq Khaitan, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,005 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $1,971 in Abraq Khaitan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $285 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $165 in Abraq Khaitan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 12% more in Sabah Al Salem, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Abraq Khaitan, where all-in costs run around $1,314, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,336. In Abraq Khaitan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sabah Al Salem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Abraq Khaitan – 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 Abraq Khaitan. 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.