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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,353 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $1,353 in Ahmadi, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,248 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $2,082 in Ahmadi, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,144 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $2,810 in Ahmadi, rent included.

Sabah Al Salem and Ahmadi have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Sabah Al Salem and Ahmadi sit above the global median – Sabah Al Salem by 1%, Ahmadi by 1%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.84 KWD 2.41

$4.96 KWD 1.52

58.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.0 KWD 18.14

$24.79 KWD 7.61

138.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 KWD 2.60

$8.27 KWD 2.54

2.42%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 KWD 0.74

$2.47 KWD 0.76

-2.02%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 KWD 1.07

$1.67 KWD 0.51

108.98%

Cappuccino

$5.52 KWD 1.70

$5.57 KWD 1.71

-0.90%

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

$0.63 KWD 0.19

$0.50 KWD 0.15

26.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

$0.31 KWD 0.10

9.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 KWD 0.44

$1.34 KWD 0.41

5.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 KWD 0.34

$0.85 KWD 0.26

29.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.60 KWD 0.49

3.12%

Eggs

$2.06 KWD 0.63

$1.38 KWD 0.42

49.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 KWD 1.35

$3.32 KWD 1.02

32.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.64 KWD 2.04

$5.05 KWD 1.55

31.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.61 KWD 2.95

$10.30 KWD 3.17

-6.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 KWD 0.69

$1.45 KWD 0.45

55.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 KWD 0.51

$1.51 KWD 0.46

10.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 KWD 0.46

$1.16 KWD 0.36

30.17%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 KWD 0.42

$0.81 KWD 0.25

70.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 KWD 0.39

$0.48 KWD 0.15

166.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 KWD 0.35

$0.51 KWD 0.16

121.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.67 KWD 0.51

$1.33 KWD 0.41

25.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 KWD 0.14

$0.49 KWD 0.15

-8.16%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.16 KWD 0.97

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 KWD 0.31

$1.04 KWD 0.32

-2.88%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 KWD 0.41

$1.40 KWD 0.43

-3.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 KWD 0.91

$2.98 KWD 0.92

-0.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 KWD 0.26

$0.95 KWD 0.29

-11.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.88 KWD 13.48

$29.95 KWD 9.20

46.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 KWD 0.98

$3.18 KWD 0.98

0.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.28 KWD 1.01

$3.18 KWD 0.98

3.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.27 KWD 5.00

$16.14 KWD 4.96

0.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

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

$20.8K KWD 6,381

$21.5K KWD 6,595

-3.25%

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

$19.0K KWD 5,839

$18.3K KWD 5,635

3.61%

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

$62.1 KWD 19.08

$62.1 KWD 19.09

-0.03%

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

$18.31 KWD 5.63

$16.62 KWD 5.11

10.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.13 KWD 8.03

$25.91 KWD 7.96

0.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$92.3 KWD 28.34

$134 KWD 41.12

-31.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.63 KWD 14.32

$49.44 KWD 15.19

-5.68%

Cinema Ticket

$11.58 KWD 3.56

$11.56 KWD 3.55

0.17%

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

$284 KWD 87.2

$97.1 KWD 29.81

192.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,984 KWD 1,838

$6,674 KWD 2,050

-10.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.77 KWD 12.83

$41.94 KWD 12.89

-0.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.78 KWD 12.83

$43.33 KWD 13.31

-3.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.6 KWD 26.91

$86.3 KWD 26.50

1.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.1 KWD 24.62

$83.0 KWD 25.50

-3.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$791 KWD 243

$824 KWD 253

-3.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$602 KWD 185

$630 KWD 193

-4.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,556 KWD 478

$1,874 KWD 576

-16.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,264 KWD 388

$1,259 KWD 387

0.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,113 KWD 956

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,564 KWD 788

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,030 KWD 931

$3,551 KWD 1,091

-14.67%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.14

4.5

58.67%

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

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: June 14, 2026

Last update for Ahmadi: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $791 in Sabah Al Salem versus $824 in Ahmadi. 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 17% higher in Ahmadi. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Sabah Al Salem versus $25.00 in Ahmadi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $168 vs $139 – making Ahmadi 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 Ahmadi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,029 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $2,029 in Ahmadi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 21% cheaper in Ahmadi – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

Kindergarten costs $284 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $97.1 in Ahmadi. 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 Sabah Al Salem, where all-in costs run around $1,353, than in Ahmadi at $1,353. In Sabah Al Salem it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ahmadi it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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