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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,440 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $1,251 in Fahaheel, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,466 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $2,157 in Fahaheel, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,492 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $3,063 in Fahaheel, rent included.

Sabah Al Salem costs about 15% more than Fahaheel, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Sabah Al Salem sits 5% above the global median, while Fahaheel is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.27 KWD 2.55

$7.94 KWD 2.45

4.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.1 KWD 22.24

$58.3 KWD 17.98

23.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.32 KWD 2.88

$8.16 KWD 2.52

14.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 KWD 0.99

$3.13 KWD 0.97

2.56%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 KWD 0.98

$2.92 KWD 0.90

8.90%

Cappuccino

$6.67 KWD 2.06

$4.83 KWD 1.49

38.10%

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

$0.47 KWD 0.14

$0.60 KWD 0.18

-21.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 KWD 0.16

$0.34 KWD 0.11

47.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 KWD 0.59

$1.23 KWD 0.38

54.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 KWD 0.39

$0.73 KWD 0.23

72.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 KWD 0.64

$1.97 KWD 0.61

6.09%

Eggs

$3.13 KWD 0.96

$2.07 KWD 0.64

51.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.37 KWD 2.27

$3.77 KWD 1.16

95.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.67 KWD 1.75

$5.31 KWD 1.64

6.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.26 KWD 3.16

$8.85 KWD 2.73

15.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 KWD 0.74

$2.27 KWD 0.70

5.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 KWD 0.60

$1.86 KWD 0.57

3.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 KWD 0.39

$1.14 KWD 0.35

12.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 KWD 0.48

$1.49 KWD 0.46

4.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 KWD 0.41

$1.47 KWD 0.45

-9.52%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 KWD 0.29

$0.92 KWD 0.28

1.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.66 KWD 0.51

$1.43 KWD 0.44

16.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 KWD 0.15

$0.56 KWD 0.17

-14.29%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.59 KWD 1.11

$2.95 KWD 0.91

21.69%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 KWD 0.29

$0.99 KWD 0.31

-4.04%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 KWD 0.42

$1.61 KWD 0.50

-15.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.04 KWD 0.94

$2.73 KWD 0.84

11.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 KWD 0.25

$0.83 KWD 0.25

-1.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 KWD 35.19

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.43 KWD 1.06

$3.32 KWD 1.02

3.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.44 KWD 1.06

$3.41 KWD 1.05

0.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.73 KWD 5.47

$18.57 KWD 5.73

-4.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 KWD 0.11

$0.34 KWD 0.10

2.94%

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

$23.1K KWD 7,136

$20.3K KWD 6,264

13.92%

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

$20.0K KWD 6,159

$22.9K KWD 7,069

-12.88%

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

$39.56 KWD 12.20

$72.1 KWD 22.25

-45.15%

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

$24.37 KWD 7.52

$22.67 KWD 6.99

7.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.96 KWD 12.02

$32.51 KWD 10.03

19.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$129 KWD 39.74

$82.5 KWD 25.43

56.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.23 KWD 11.79

Cinema Ticket

$11.48 KWD 3.54

$11.53 KWD 3.56

-0.43%

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

$282 KWD 87.0

$291 KWD 89.7

-3.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,641 KWD 2,357

$8,613 KWD 2,657

-11.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.10 KWD 11.44

$33.24 KWD 10.25

11.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.17 KWD 12.08

$34.44 KWD 10.63

13.73%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.4 KWD 30.34

$108 KWD 33.41

-9.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 KWD 27.86

$78.9 KWD 24.33

14.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$729 KWD 225

$737 KWD 227

-1.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 KWD 173

$626 KWD 193

-10.67%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,789 KWD 552

$1,974 KWD 609

-9.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,337 KWD 412

$1,449 KWD 447

-7.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,964 KWD 914

$4,230 KWD 1,305

-29.94%

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: August 31, 2026

Last update for Fahaheel: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $729 in Sabah Al Salem versus $737 in Fahaheel. 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 43% higher in Fahaheel, 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 $72.0 in Sabah Al Salem versus $58.0 in Fahaheel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $153 – making Fahaheel 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 Fahaheel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,440 in Sabah Al Salem, $1,251 in Fahaheel – roughly 15% apart. Sabah Al Salem costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,160 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $1,876 in Fahaheel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Fahaheel, 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 $1,440 in Sabah Al Salem and $1,251 in Fahaheel. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $282 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $291 in Fahaheel. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fahaheel, where all-in costs run around $1,251, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,440. In Fahaheel it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sabah Al Salem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Fahaheel – 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 Fahaheel. 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.