Cost of Living Comparison Between Sabah Al Salem and Al-jahra' Cost of Living Comparison Between Sabah Al Salem and Al-jahra'

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,317 in Sabah Al Salem versus $1,421 in Al-jahra'.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,234 in Sabah Al Salem versus $2,427 in Al-jahra'.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,151 in Sabah Al Salem versus $3,433 in Al-jahra'.

Living in Sabah Al Salem costs roughly 7% less than in Al-jahra', driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sabah Al Salem is 1% below, Al-jahra' is 7% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.78 KWD 2.41

$9.56 KWD 2.97

-18.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$59.8 KWD 18.56

$82.1 KWD 25.48

-27.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.41 KWD 2.61

$9.05 KWD 2.81

-7.07%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.47 KWD 0.77

$2.40 KWD 0.75

2.92%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 KWD 1.05

$3.78 KWD 1.17

-10.32%

Cappuccino

$5.54 KWD 1.72

$5.84 KWD 1.81

-5.14%

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

$0.60 KWD 0.19

$0.64 KWD 0.20

-6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

$0.35 KWD 0.11

2.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 KWD 0.44

$1.55 KWD 0.48

-8.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 KWD 0.34

$1.30 KWD 0.40

-16.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.72 KWD 0.53

-4.07%

Eggs

$1.97 KWD 0.61

$2.01 KWD 0.62

-1.99%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.63 KWD 1.44

$5.14 KWD 1.59

-9.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.49 KWD 2.01

$6.31 KWD 1.96

2.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.72 KWD 3.02

$10.50 KWD 3.26

-7.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 KWD 0.70

$2.42 KWD 0.75

-7.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 KWD 0.52

$1.92 KWD 0.59

-12.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 KWD 0.47

$1.74 KWD 0.54

-12.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.41 KWD 0.44

$1.50 KWD 0.47

-6.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 KWD 0.40

$1.22 KWD 0.38

4.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 KWD 0.34

$1.25 KWD 0.39

-11.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 KWD 0.50

$1.67 KWD 0.52

-2.99%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.43 KWD 0.13

$0.49 KWD 0.15

-12.24%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.64 KWD 1.13

$3.18 KWD 0.99

14.47%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 KWD 0.33

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 KWD 0.43

$1.40 KWD 0.43

-1.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.01 KWD 0.94

$3.03 KWD 0.94

-0.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 KWD 0.27

$0.89 KWD 0.28

-1.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.78 KWD 13.59

$44.79 KWD 13.90

-2.25%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 KWD 1.01

$3.21 KWD 1.00

1.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.32 KWD 1.03

$3.29 KWD 1.02

0.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.13 KWD 5.00

$16.07 KWD 4.99

0.37%

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)

$20.8K KWD 6,439

$21.6K KWD 6,699

-3.88%

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

$18.9K KWD 5,867

$19.8K KWD 6,130

-4.28%

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

$62.7 KWD 19.45

$20.26 KWD 6.29

209.33%

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

$18.64 KWD 5.78

$18.72 KWD 5.81

-0.43%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.37 KWD 7.87

$26.17 KWD 8.12

-3.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.0 KWD 29.18

$199 KWD 61.6

-52.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.82 KWD 14.22

$46.59 KWD 14.46

-1.65%

Cinema Ticket

$11.47 KWD 3.56

$11.37 KWD 3.53

0.88%

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

$285 KWD 88.5

$399 KWD 124

-28.59%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,128 KWD 1,901

$6,597 KWD 2,047

-7.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.99 KWD 13.34

$42.96 KWD 13.33

0.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.97 KWD 13.33

$43.11 KWD 13.38

-0.32%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.7 KWD 27.20

$86.6 KWD 26.86

1.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 KWD 25.85

$80.7 KWD 25.04

3.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$794 KWD 246

$784 KWD 243

1.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$603 KWD 187

0.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,581 KWD 490

$1,589 KWD 493

-0.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,309 KWD 406

$1,273 KWD 395

2.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,008 KWD 933

$2,915 KWD 904

3.20%

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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Al-jahra': July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $794 in Sabah Al Salem and $784 in Al-jahra'. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sabah Al Salem pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $60.0 in Sabah Al Salem vs $82.0 in Al-jahra' for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $167 vs $179 per month, with Sabah Al Salem cheaper across the board.

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 Al-jahra': Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sabah Al Salem is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 3% higher in Sabah Al Salem, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $794 in Sabah Al Salem versus $784 in Al-jahra'. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $285 in Sabah Al Salem versus $399 in Al-jahra'. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Al-jahra'. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

At $1,317 in Sabah Al Salem versus $1,421 in Al-jahra', a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sabah Al Salem but tight or insufficient in Al-jahra'. The gap between the two cities makes Sabah Al Salem the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Sabah Al Salem and Al-jahra' are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Sabah Al Salem gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Al-jahra'. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.