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 $1,312 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $1,345 in Al-'udayliyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,228 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $2,240 in Al-'udayliyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,143 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $3,136 in Al-'udayliyah, rent included.

Sabah Al Salem is about 2% cheaper than Al-'udayliyah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Sabah Al Salem sits 2% below the global median, while Al-'udayliyah is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.56 KWD 2.32

$7.55 KWD 2.32

0.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.7 KWD 18.00

$59.5 KWD 18.25

-1.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.59 KWD 2.63

$8.52 KWD 2.61

0.82%

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

$3.41 KWD 1.04

4.40%

Cappuccino

$5.34 KWD 1.64

$5.24 KWD 1.61

1.91%

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

$0.62 KWD 0.19

$0.63 KWD 0.19

-1.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

$0.33 KWD 0.10

3.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

$1.04 KWD 0.32

0.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.64 KWD 0.50

0.61%

Eggs

$2.04 KWD 0.62

$1.98 KWD 0.61

3.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 KWD 1.40

$4.42 KWD 1.35

3.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.68 KWD 2.05

$6.47 KWD 1.98

3.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.91 KWD 3.04

$9.61 KWD 2.95

3.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 KWD 0.72

$2.28 KWD 0.70

3.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.59 KWD 0.49

3.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 KWD 0.48

$1.50 KWD 0.46

4.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

$1.41 KWD 0.43

1.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 KWD 0.38

$1.22 KWD 0.37

0.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 KWD 0.34

$1.15 KWD 0.35

-4.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 KWD 0.52

$1.68 KWD 0.51

0.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 KWD 0.14

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

$1.39 KWD 0.43

-4.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.86 KWD 0.88

$2.92 KWD 0.89

-2.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 KWD 0.28

$0.83 KWD 0.25

8.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.87 KWD 13.76

$43.73 KWD 13.41

2.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 KWD 0.97

$3.29 KWD 1.01

-3.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 KWD 0.97

$3.34 KWD 1.02

-5.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.57 KWD 5.08

$16.33 KWD 5.01

1.47%

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

$20.4K KWD 6,252

0.46%

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

$18.9K KWD 5,794

$19.4K KWD 5,962

-2.82%

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

$63.6 KWD 19.50

$63.2 KWD 19.38

0.63%

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

$18.43 KWD 5.65

$18.10 KWD 5.55

1.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.24 KWD 8.05

$25.40 KWD 7.79

3.31%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.5 KWD 29.30

$94.4 KWD 28.94

1.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.83 KWD 14.36

$46.40 KWD 14.23

0.93%

Cinema Ticket

$11.29 KWD 3.46

$11.34 KWD 3.48

-0.44%

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

$278 KWD 85.4

$283 KWD 86.9

-1.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,070 KWD 1,862

$5,995 KWD 1,839

1.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.73 KWD 13.11

$42.92 KWD 13.16

-0.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.21 KWD 12.95

$42.56 KWD 13.05

-0.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.9 KWD 26.96

$88.2 KWD 27.05

-0.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.8 KWD 25.07

$83.3 KWD 25.56

-1.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$808 KWD 248

$785 KWD 241

2.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$611 KWD 188

$611 KWD 187

0.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,586 KWD 486

$1,545 KWD 474

2.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,309 KWD 402

$1,299 KWD 398

0.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$11.9K KWD 3,656

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,904 KWD 891

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,958 KWD 907

$5,479 KWD 1,681

-46.02%

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-'udayliyah: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $808 in Sabah Al Salem versus $785 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 85% higher in Al-'udayliyah, 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 $59.0 in Al-'udayliyah. Groceries tell a different story – $170 in Sabah Al Salem vs $166 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

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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,968 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $2,017 in Al-'udayliyah. 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,312 in Sabah Al Salem and $1,345 in Al-'udayliyah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 3% less in Sabah Al Salem. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sabah Al Salem, where all-in costs run around $1,312, than in Al-'udayliyah at $1,345. In Sabah Al Salem it covers expenses comfortably, while in Al-'udayliyah 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-'udayliyah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.