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 $1,400 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $1,200 in Abraq Khaitan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,495 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $1,948 in Abraq Khaitan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,589 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $2,696 in Abraq Khaitan, rent included.

Sabah Al Salem costs about 17% more than Abraq Khaitan, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Sabah Al Salem sits 2% above the global median, while Abraq Khaitan is 13% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.93 KWD 2.43

$3.32 KWD 1.02

138.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.6 KWD 22.26

$65.8 KWD 20.17

10.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.17 KWD 2.81

$7.79 KWD 2.39

17.72%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 KWD 1.00

$1.29 KWD 0.40

152.71%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 KWD 0.97

$4.88 KWD 1.50

-35.25%

Cappuccino

$6.44 KWD 1.97

$4.13 KWD 1.27

55.93%

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

$0.47 KWD 0.15

$0.33 KWD 0.10

42.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 KWD 0.16

$0.18 KWD 0.05

183.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 KWD 0.60

$1.01 KWD 0.31

95.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 KWD 0.39

$0.68 KWD 0.21

85.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 KWD 0.63

$1.34 KWD 0.41

53.73%

Eggs

$3.16 KWD 0.97

$2.13 KWD 0.65

48.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 KWD 2.23

$4.37 KWD 1.34

66.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.43 KWD 1.67

$6.37 KWD 1.95

-14.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.33 KWD 3.17

$8.16 KWD 2.50

26.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.46 KWD 0.75

$2.33 KWD 0.71

5.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 KWD 0.57

$1.60 KWD 0.49

15.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 KWD 0.40

$1.27 KWD 0.39

3.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 KWD 0.47

$1.32 KWD 0.41

16.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 KWD 0.41

$1.33 KWD 0.41

-0.75%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 KWD 0.29

$0.64 KWD 0.19

50.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 KWD 0.49

$1.01 KWD 0.31

58.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 KWD 0.14

$0.33 KWD 0.10

42.42%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.12 KWD 0.96

$0.94 KWD 0.29

231.91%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 KWD 0.32

$0.93 KWD 0.28

10.75%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 KWD 0.50

$1.46 KWD 0.45

11.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.91 KWD 0.89

$2.79 KWD 0.85

4.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 KWD 0.25

$0.83 KWD 0.26

-2.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 KWD 34.94

$49.10 KWD 15.05

132.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.37 KWD 1.03

$4.92 KWD 1.51

-31.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.70 KWD 1.13

$3.22 KWD 0.99

14.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.45 KWD 5.35

$15.90 KWD 4.88

9.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 KWD 0.10

$0.30 KWD 0.09

10.00%

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

$20.0K KWD 6,121

$16.3K KWD 5,000

22.43%

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

$20.5K KWD 6,295

$16.2K KWD 4,961

26.89%

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

$38.32 KWD 11.75

$65.6 KWD 20.12

-41.60%

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

$23.88 KWD 7.32

$17.92 KWD 5.49

33.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.34 KWD 12.06

$29.81 KWD 9.14

31.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$131 KWD 40.27

$56.1 KWD 17.21

133.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.26 KWD 11.73

$16.08 KWD 4.93

137.94%

Cinema Ticket

$11.13 KWD 3.41

$9.54 KWD 2.93

16.67%

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

$273 KWD 83.8

$159 KWD 48.88

71.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,488 KWD 2,296

$3,291 KWD 1,009

127.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.51 KWD 11.50

$38.34 KWD 11.75

-2.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.45 KWD 12.10

$31.85 KWD 9.76

23.86%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.2 KWD 30.11

$82.0 KWD 25.13

19.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 KWD 27.21

$64.9 KWD 19.89

36.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$731 KWD 224

$723 KWD 222

1.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 KWD 169

$581 KWD 178

-5.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,811 KWD 555

$1,321 KWD 405

37.10%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,319 KWD 404

$1,146 KWD 351

15.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,911 KWD 893

$3,345 KWD 1,025

-12.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

30.60%

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

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: September 7, 2026

Last update for Abraq Khaitan: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $731 in Sabah Al Salem versus $723 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 15% 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 $73.0 in Sabah Al Salem versus $66.0 in Abraq Khaitan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $187 vs $146 – making Abraq Khaitan 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

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

Sabah Al Salem costs about 17% more than Abraq Khaitan, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,100 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $1,800 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 $273 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $159 in Abraq Khaitan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% 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 $1,200, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,400. 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.