Cost of Living Comparison Between Sabah Al Salem and Al-Qurain Cost of Living Comparison Between Sabah Al Salem and Al-Qurain

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,312 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $1,375 in Al-Qurain, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,228 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $2,357 in Al-Qurain, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,143 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $3,340 in Al-Qurain, rent included.

Sabah Al Salem is about 5% cheaper than Al-Qurain, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Sabah Al Salem sits 2% below the global median, while Al-Qurain is 3% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.56 KWD 2.32

$9.77 KWD 3.00

-22.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.7 KWD 18.00

$80.8 KWD 24.77

-27.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.59 KWD 2.63

$9.09 KWD 2.79

-5.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 KWD 0.76

$2.40 KWD 0.74

3.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 KWD 1.09

$3.72 KWD 1.14

-4.30%

Cappuccino

$5.34 KWD 1.64

$5.79 KWD 1.78

-7.77%

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

$0.62 KWD 0.19

$0.64 KWD 0.20

-3.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

$0.35 KWD 0.11

-2.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

$1.55 KWD 0.47

-7.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

$1.25 KWD 0.38

-16.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.76 KWD 0.54

-6.25%

Eggs

$2.04 KWD 0.62

$2.01 KWD 0.62

1.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 KWD 1.40

$5.10 KWD 1.56

-10.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.68 KWD 2.05

$6.43 KWD 1.97

3.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.91 KWD 3.04

$10.31 KWD 3.16

-3.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 KWD 0.72

$2.38 KWD 0.73

-1.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.87 KWD 0.57

-11.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 KWD 0.48

$1.81 KWD 0.56

-13.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

$1.45 KWD 0.44

-1.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 KWD 0.38

$1.21 KWD 0.37

1.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 KWD 0.34

$1.31 KWD 0.40

-16.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 KWD 0.52

$1.64 KWD 0.50

3.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 KWD 0.14

$0.45 KWD 0.14

2.22%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.31 KWD 1.01

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 KWD 0.31

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 KWD 0.41

$1.38 KWD 0.42

-3.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.86 KWD 0.88

$2.88 KWD 0.88

-0.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 KWD 0.28

$0.82 KWD 0.25

9.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.87 KWD 13.76

$44.16 KWD 13.54

1.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 KWD 0.97

$3.20 KWD 0.98

-0.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 KWD 0.97

$3.28 KWD 1.01

-3.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.57 KWD 5.08

$16.40 KWD 5.03

1.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

$0.33 KWD 0.10

9.09%

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

$20.5K KWD 6,280

$20.9K KWD 6,398

-1.84%

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

$18.9K KWD 5,794

$19.6K KWD 5,998

-3.40%

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

$63.6 KWD 19.50

$62.3 KWD 19.09

2.15%

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

$18.43 KWD 5.65

$18.27 KWD 5.60

0.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.24 KWD 8.05

$26.22 KWD 8.04

0.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.5 KWD 29.30

$93.1 KWD 28.56

2.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.83 KWD 14.36

$45.92 KWD 14.08

1.98%

Cinema Ticket

$11.29 KWD 3.46

$11.32 KWD 3.47

-0.27%

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

$278 KWD 85.4

$403 KWD 124

-31.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,070 KWD 1,862

$6,463 KWD 1,982

-6.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.73 KWD 13.11

$42.95 KWD 13.17

-0.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.21 KWD 12.95

$42.50 KWD 13.04

-0.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.9 KWD 26.96

$86.5 KWD 26.52

1.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.8 KWD 25.07

$83.2 KWD 25.52

-1.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$808 KWD 248

$795 KWD 244

1.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$611 KWD 188

$610 KWD 187

0.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,586 KWD 486

$1,563 KWD 480

1.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,309 KWD 402

$1,283 KWD 394

2.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,958 KWD 907

$5,657 KWD 1,735

-47.71%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Al-Qurain: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $808 in Sabah Al Salem versus $795 in Al-Qurain. 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 91% higher in Al-Qurain, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Sabah Al Salem versus $81.0 in Al-Qurain. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $177 – making Sabah Al Salem 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 Al-Qurain: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Al-Qurain is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,968 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $2,062 in Al-Qurain. 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.

Public transport costs about 2% less in Sabah Al Salem. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $278 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $403 in Al-Qurain. 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 $1,312, than in Al-Qurain at $1,375. In Sabah Al Salem it covers expenses comfortably, while in Al-Qurain 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, Al-Qurain makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.