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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,358 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $1,334 in Al-'udayliyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,245 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $2,226 in Al-'udayliyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,132 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $3,118 in Al-'udayliyah, rent included.

Sabah Al Salem costs about 2% more than Al-'udayliyah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Sabah Al Salem and Al-'udayliyah sit above the global median – Sabah Al Salem by 2%, Al-'udayliyah by 0%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.70 KWD 2.39

$7.71 KWD 2.39

-0.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.1 KWD 17.99

$59.3 KWD 18.37

-2.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.41 KWD 2.61

$8.34 KWD 2.59

0.84%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 KWD 0.77

$2.52 KWD 0.78

-1.59%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 KWD 1.06

$3.53 KWD 1.09

-2.83%

Cappuccino

$5.28 KWD 1.63

$5.38 KWD 1.67

-1.86%

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

$0.60 KWD 0.19

$0.63 KWD 0.20

-4.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 KWD 0.46

$1.43 KWD 0.44

4.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 KWD 0.33

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 KWD 0.53

$1.66 KWD 0.51

3.61%

Eggs

$2.05 KWD 0.64

$2.02 KWD 0.63

1.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.37 KWD 1.35

$4.38 KWD 1.36

-0.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.41 KWD 1.99

$6.46 KWD 2.00

-0.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.76 KWD 3.03

$9.41 KWD 2.92

3.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 KWD 0.72

$2.23 KWD 0.69

4.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 KWD 0.50

$1.69 KWD 0.52

-5.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 KWD 0.47

$1.51 KWD 0.47

0.66%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 KWD 0.42

$1.37 KWD 0.42

-1.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 KWD 0.38

$1.27 KWD 0.39

-3.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 KWD 0.36

$1.10 KWD 0.34

4.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.63 KWD 0.50

$1.62 KWD 0.50

0.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 KWD 0.13

$0.46 KWD 0.14

-8.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.85 KWD 0.88

$3.09 KWD 0.96

-7.77%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

$1.02 KWD 0.32

2.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 KWD 0.43

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 KWD 0.93

$2.98 KWD 0.92

0.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 KWD 0.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.89 KWD 13.60

$43.60 KWD 13.51

0.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 KWD 1.01

$3.32 KWD 1.03

-2.11%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.33 KWD 1.03

$3.30 KWD 1.02

0.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.23 KWD 5.03

$16.22 KWD 5.03

0.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

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

$20.7K KWD 6,425

$20.8K KWD 6,438

-0.20%

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

$19.3K KWD 5,995

$19.0K KWD 5,902

1.59%

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

$62.2 KWD 19.26

$61.5 KWD 19.04

1.14%

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

$18.37 KWD 5.69

$18.40 KWD 5.70

-0.16%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.42 KWD 7.88

$25.62 KWD 7.94

-0.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$92.2 KWD 28.58

$92.1 KWD 28.54

0.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.49 KWD 14.41

$45.57 KWD 14.12

2.02%

Cinema Ticket

$11.23 KWD 3.48

$11.39 KWD 3.53

-1.40%

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

$282 KWD 87.5

$288 KWD 89.3

-1.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,129 KWD 1,899

$6,174 KWD 1,913

-0.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.43 KWD 12.84

$42.09 KWD 13.04

-1.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.70 KWD 12.92

$43.05 KWD 13.34

-3.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 KWD 27.00

$88.2 KWD 27.32

-1.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.5 KWD 24.95

$82.9 KWD 25.69

-2.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$808 KWD 251

$782 KWD 242

3.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$619 KWD 192

$613 KWD 190

0.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,591 KWD 493

$1,595 KWD 494

-0.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,289 KWD 399

$1,295 KWD 401

-0.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.0K KWD 3,716

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,860 KWD 886

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,998 KWD 929

$5,515 KWD 1,709

-45.63%

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 14, 2026

Last update for Al-'udayliyah: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $808 in Sabah Al Salem versus $782 in Al-'udayliyah. 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 84% higher in Al-'udayliyah, 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 $59.0 in Al-'udayliyah. Groceries tell a different story – $167 in Sabah Al Salem vs $165 in Al-'udayliyah – so Al-'udayliyah 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 Al-'udayliyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sabah Al Salem costs about 2% more than Al-'udayliyah, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,037 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $2,002 in Al-'udayliyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,358 in Sabah Al Salem and $1,334 in Al-'udayliyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 1% less in Al-'udayliyah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Al-'udayliyah, where all-in costs run around $1,334, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,358. In Al-'udayliyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sabah Al Salem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al-'udayliyah – 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 Al-'udayliyah. 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.