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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,312 in Sabah Al Salem versus $1,342 in Al Wafrah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,228 in Sabah Al Salem versus $2,233 in Al Wafrah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,143 in Sabah Al Salem versus $3,125 in Al Wafrah.

Living in Sabah Al Salem costs roughly 2% less than in Al Wafrah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sabah Al Salem is 2% below, Al Wafrah is 0% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.56 KWD 2.32

$7.65 KWD 2.35

-1.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.7 KWD 18.00

$59.8 KWD 18.33

-1.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.59 KWD 2.63

$8.44 KWD 2.59

1.78%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 KWD 0.76

$2.44 KWD 0.75

1.64%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 KWD 1.09

$3.57 KWD 1.10

-0.28%

Cappuccino

$5.34 KWD 1.64

$5.47 KWD 1.68

-2.38%

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

$0.62 KWD 0.19

$0.58 KWD 0.18

6.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

$0.36 KWD 0.11

-5.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

$1.42 KWD 0.43

0.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

$1.09 KWD 0.34

-3.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.67 KWD 0.51

-1.20%

Eggs

$2.04 KWD 0.62

$2.06 KWD 0.63

-0.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 KWD 1.40

$4.45 KWD 1.37

2.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.68 KWD 2.05

$6.38 KWD 1.96

4.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.91 KWD 3.04

$9.57 KWD 2.93

3.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 KWD 0.72

$2.27 KWD 0.70

3.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.61 KWD 0.49

2.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 KWD 0.48

$1.57 KWD 0.48

-0.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 KWD 0.38

$1.27 KWD 0.39

-3.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 KWD 0.34

$1.11 KWD 0.34

-0.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 KWD 0.52

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 KWD 0.14

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 KWD 0.31

$1.02 KWD 0.31

-1.96%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 KWD 0.41

$1.34 KWD 0.41

-0.75%

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

$0.88 KWD 0.27

2.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.87 KWD 13.76

$44.99 KWD 13.80

-0.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 KWD 0.97

$3.32 KWD 1.02

-4.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 KWD 0.97

$3.33 KWD 1.02

-5.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.57 KWD 5.08

$16.44 KWD 5.04

0.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

$0.37 KWD 0.11

-2.70%

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

$20.5K KWD 6,280

$20.5K KWD 6,293

-0.20%

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

$18.9K KWD 5,794

$18.8K KWD 5,761

0.57%

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

$63.6 KWD 19.50

$63.0 KWD 19.31

1.02%

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

$18.43 KWD 5.65

$18.44 KWD 5.65

-0.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.24 KWD 8.05

$25.80 KWD 7.91

1.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.5 KWD 29.30

$95.8 KWD 29.37

-0.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.83 KWD 14.36

$46.96 KWD 14.40

-0.28%

Cinema Ticket

$11.29 KWD 3.46

$11.62 KWD 3.56

-2.84%

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

$278 KWD 85.4

$281 KWD 86.3

-1.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,070 KWD 1,862

$6,147 KWD 1,885

-1.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.73 KWD 13.11

$42.75 KWD 13.11

-0.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.21 KWD 12.95

$41.67 KWD 12.78

1.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.9 KWD 26.96

$86.3 KWD 26.48

1.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.8 KWD 25.07

$83.1 KWD 25.48

-1.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$808 KWD 248

$807 KWD 247

0.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$611 KWD 188

$605 KWD 186

1.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,586 KWD 486

$1,549 KWD 475

2.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,309 KWD 402

$1,308 KWD 401

0.07%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,958 KWD 907

$4,388 KWD 1,346

-32.59%

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 Wafrah: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $808 in Sabah Al Salem and $807 in Al Wafrah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Wafrah pays 48% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $59.0 in Sabah Al Salem vs $60.0 in Al Wafrah. Groceries flip the comparison at $170 vs $167, with Al Wafrah cheaper for home cooking.

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 Wafrah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sabah Al Salem and Al Wafrah differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($1,312 vs $1,342 including rent). Sabah Al Salem is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Al Wafrah earns 48% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $808 in Sabah Al Salem versus $807 in Al Wafrah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $278 in Sabah Al Salem versus $281 in Al Wafrah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Shoppers in Al Wafrah pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

At $1,312 in Sabah Al Salem versus $1,342 in Al Wafrah, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sabah Al Salem but tight or insufficient in Al Wafrah. 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 Wafrah 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 2% less than in Al Wafrah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.