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 $1,312 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $1,309 in Fahaheel, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,228 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $2,184 in Fahaheel, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,143 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $3,060 in Fahaheel, rent included.

Sabah Al Salem and Fahaheel have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Sabah Al Salem and Fahaheel are more affordable than the global median – Sabah Al Salem 2% lower, Fahaheel 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.56 KWD 2.32

$7.88 KWD 2.42

-4.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.7 KWD 18.00

$58.9 KWD 18.06

-0.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.59 KWD 2.63

$8.33 KWD 2.56

3.12%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 KWD 0.76

$2.47 KWD 0.76

0.40%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 KWD 1.09

$3.46 KWD 1.06

2.89%

Cappuccino

$5.34 KWD 1.64

$5.43 KWD 1.66

-1.66%

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

$0.62 KWD 0.19

$0.64 KWD 0.19

-3.13%

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

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.66 KWD 0.51

-0.60%

Eggs

$2.04 KWD 0.62

$2.05 KWD 0.63

-0.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 KWD 1.40

$4.56 KWD 1.40

0.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.68 KWD 2.05

$6.54 KWD 2.01

2.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.91 KWD 3.04

$9.53 KWD 2.92

3.99%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 KWD 0.72

$2.27 KWD 0.70

3.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.69 KWD 0.52

-2.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 KWD 0.48

$1.55 KWD 0.48

0.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

$1.36 KWD 0.42

5.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 KWD 0.38

$1.24 KWD 0.38

-0.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 KWD 0.34

$1.15 KWD 0.35

-4.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 KWD 0.52

$1.67 KWD 0.51

1.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 KWD 0.14

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 KWD 0.31

$1.01 KWD 0.31

-0.99%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 KWD 0.41

$1.37 KWD 0.42

-2.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.86 KWD 0.88

$3.02 KWD 0.93

-5.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 KWD 0.28

$0.89 KWD 0.27

1.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.87 KWD 13.76

$43.47 KWD 13.33

3.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 KWD 0.97

$3.35 KWD 1.03

-5.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 KWD 0.97

$3.25 KWD 1.00

-2.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.57 KWD 5.08

$16.07 KWD 4.93

3.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

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

$20.5K KWD 6,280

$20.2K KWD 6,197

1.35%

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

$18.9K KWD 5,794

$19.3K KWD 5,929

-2.28%

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

$63.6 KWD 19.50

$62.2 KWD 19.06

2.30%

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

$18.43 KWD 5.65

$18.44 KWD 5.66

-0.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.24 KWD 8.05

$25.61 KWD 7.85

2.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.5 KWD 29.30

$82.5 KWD 25.32

15.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.83 KWD 14.36

$46.84 KWD 14.37

-0.02%

Cinema Ticket

$11.29 KWD 3.46

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

$278 KWD 85.4

$280 KWD 86.0

-0.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,070 KWD 1,862

$6,002 KWD 1,841

1.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.73 KWD 13.11

$41.74 KWD 12.80

2.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.21 KWD 12.95

$41.96 KWD 12.87

0.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.9 KWD 26.96

$88.8 KWD 27.22

-0.97%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.8 KWD 25.07

$82.9 KWD 25.42

-1.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$808 KWD 248

$783 KWD 240

3.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$611 KWD 188

$608 KWD 186

0.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,586 KWD 486

$1,577 KWD 484

0.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,309 KWD 402

$1,284 KWD 394

1.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,958 KWD 907

$4,170 KWD 1,279

-29.08%

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 Fahaheel: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $808 in Sabah Al Salem versus $783 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 41% higher in Fahaheel. 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 Fahaheel. Groceries tell a different story – $170 in Sabah Al Salem vs $167 in Fahaheel – so Fahaheel 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 Fahaheel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,968 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $1,963 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.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Sabah Al Salem, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

Kindergarten costs $278 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $280 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 $1,309, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,312. 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.