Cost of Living Comparison Between Sabah Al Salem and Ar-rawdah Cost of Living Comparison Between Sabah Al Salem and Ar-rawdah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,432 in Sabah Al Salem versus $1,333 in Ar-rawdah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,446 in Sabah Al Salem versus $2,249 in Ar-rawdah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,460 in Sabah Al Salem versus $3,165 in Ar-rawdah.

Living in Sabah Al Salem is roughly 7% more expensive than in Ar-rawdah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sabah Al Salem is 5% above, Ar-rawdah is 3% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.32 KWD 2.56

$11.29 KWD 3.47

-26.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.6 KWD 22.00

$63.7 KWD 19.58

12.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.25 KWD 2.84

$9.04 KWD 2.78

2.32%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.28 KWD 1.01

$3.30 KWD 1.01

-0.61%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 KWD 0.97

$4.89 KWD 1.50

-35.58%

Cappuccino

$6.62 KWD 2.04

$5.30 KWD 1.63

24.91%

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

$0.48 KWD 0.15

$0.71 KWD 0.22

-32.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 KWD 0.15

$0.31 KWD 0.10

54.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 KWD 0.61

$1.60 KWD 0.49

23.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 KWD 0.41

$1.53 KWD 0.47

-13.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 KWD 0.65

$2.00 KWD 0.61

6.50%

Eggs

$3.02 KWD 0.93

$2.07 KWD 0.64

45.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.32 KWD 2.25

$4.35 KWD 1.34

68.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.38 KWD 1.65

$6.83 KWD 2.10

-21.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.15 KWD 3.12

$10.45 KWD 3.21

-2.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.51 KWD 0.77

$2.44 KWD 0.75

2.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 KWD 0.57

$1.94 KWD 0.59

-4.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 KWD 0.41

$1.81 KWD 0.56

-27.07%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 KWD 0.47

$1.50 KWD 0.46

2.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.31 KWD 0.40

$1.39 KWD 0.43

-5.76%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 KWD 0.29

$1.48 KWD 0.45

-35.81%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$2.38 KWD 0.73

-30.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 KWD 0.15

$0.60 KWD 0.18

-20.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.01 KWD 0.93

$3.32 KWD 1.02

-9.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 KWD 0.29

$1.02 KWD 0.31

-6.86%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

$1.38 KWD 0.42

3.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.79 KWD 0.86

$2.80 KWD 0.86

-0.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.75 KWD 0.23

$0.82 KWD 0.25

-8.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$115 KWD 35.27

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 KWD 0.94

$4.82 KWD 1.48

-36.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.50 KWD 1.07

$3.19 KWD 0.98

9.72%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.39 KWD 4.42

$16.00 KWD 4.92

-10.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 KWD 0.10

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

$21.8K KWD 6,702

$21.1K KWD 6,487

3.32%

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

$21.9K KWD 6,726

$20.4K KWD 6,255

7.52%

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

$39.29 KWD 12.07

$66.2 KWD 20.33

-40.62%

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

$24.66 KWD 7.58

$22.53 KWD 6.92

9.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.81 KWD 11.93

$29.99 KWD 9.21

29.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$128 KWD 39.40

$102 KWD 31.20

26.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$39.17 KWD 12.04

Cinema Ticket

$11.39 KWD 3.50

$11.47 KWD 3.52

-0.70%

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

$277 KWD 85.2

$300 KWD 92.2

-7.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,546 KWD 2,319

$9,436 KWD 2,900

-20.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.94 KWD 11.66

$37.81 KWD 11.62

0.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.10 KWD 12.32

$39.84 KWD 12.24

0.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.3 KWD 29.59

$99.8 KWD 30.66

-3.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 KWD 27.74

$88.9 KWD 27.32

1.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$725 KWD 223

$737 KWD 226

-1.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$555 KWD 171

$545 KWD 167

1.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,811 KWD 557

$1,847 KWD 567

-1.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,352 KWD 415

$1,320 KWD 406

2.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,642 KWD 505

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,022 KWD 929

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: September 15, 2026

Last update for Ar-rawdah: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $725 in Sabah Al Salem and $737 in Ar-rawdah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $72.0 in Sabah Al Salem vs $64.0 in Ar-rawdah. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 vs $189, with Sabah Al Salem 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 Ar-rawdah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ar-rawdah wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Sabah Al Salem. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ar-rawdah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,148 in Sabah Al Salem and $2,000 in Ar-rawdah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $725 in Sabah Al Salem versus $737 in Ar-rawdah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Sabah Al Salem pay roughly 0% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,432 per month in Sabah Al Salem versus $1,333 in Ar-rawdah – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,333 in Ar-rawdah versus $1,432 in Sabah Al Salem, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ar-rawdah but tight or insufficient in Sabah Al Salem. The gap between the two cities makes Ar-rawdah 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 Ar-rawdah 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 Ar-rawdah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Sabah Al Salem. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.