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 $1,358 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $1,350 in Fahaheel, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,245 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $2,198 in Fahaheel, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,132 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $3,046 in Fahaheel, rent included.

Sabah Al Salem costs about 1% more than Fahaheel, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Sabah Al Salem and Fahaheel sit above the global median – Sabah Al Salem by 2%, Fahaheel by 1%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.70 KWD 2.37

$7.91 KWD 2.43

-2.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.1 KWD 17.84

$58.0 KWD 17.81

0.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.41 KWD 2.59

$8.33 KWD 2.56

0.96%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 KWD 0.76

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 KWD 1.05

$3.41 KWD 1.05

0.59%

Cappuccino

$5.28 KWD 1.62

$5.52 KWD 1.70

-4.35%

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

$0.60 KWD 0.18

$0.59 KWD 0.18

1.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

$0.34 KWD 0.10

5.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 KWD 0.46

$1.48 KWD 0.45

0.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 KWD 0.33

$1.10 KWD 0.34

-3.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 KWD 0.53

$1.68 KWD 0.52

2.38%

Eggs

$2.05 KWD 0.63

$2.02 KWD 0.62

1.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.37 KWD 1.34

$4.55 KWD 1.40

-3.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.41 KWD 1.97

$6.31 KWD 1.94

1.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.76 KWD 3.00

$9.64 KWD 2.96

1.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 KWD 0.71

$2.34 KWD 0.72

-0.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 KWD 0.49

$1.66 KWD 0.51

-3.61%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 KWD 0.47

$1.53 KWD 0.47

-0.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 KWD 0.42

$1.40 KWD 0.43

-3.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 KWD 0.38

$1.27 KWD 0.39

-3.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 KWD 0.35

$1.10 KWD 0.34

4.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.63 KWD 0.50

$1.62 KWD 0.50

0.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 KWD 0.13

$0.46 KWD 0.14

-8.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.85 KWD 0.88

$3.63 KWD 1.12

-21.49%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 KWD 0.43

$1.35 KWD 0.41

3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 KWD 0.92

$2.85 KWD 0.88

5.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 KWD 0.27

$0.84 KWD 0.26

4.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.89 KWD 13.49

$43.93 KWD 13.50

-0.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 KWD 1.00

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.33 KWD 1.02

$3.25 KWD 1.00

2.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.23 KWD 4.99

$16.46 KWD 5.06

-1.40%

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)

$20.7K KWD 6,373

$20.4K KWD 6,273

1.60%

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

$19.3K KWD 5,947

$19.3K KWD 5,932

0.26%

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

$62.2 KWD 19.10

$62.7 KWD 19.29

-0.94%

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

$18.37 KWD 5.65

$18.33 KWD 5.64

0.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.42 KWD 7.81

$25.87 KWD 7.95

-1.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$92.2 KWD 28.35

$82.3 KWD 25.31

11.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.49 KWD 14.29

$45.53 KWD 14.00

2.11%

Cinema Ticket

$11.23 KWD 3.45

$11.46 KWD 3.52

-2.01%

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

$282 KWD 86.8

$278 KWD 85.3

1.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,129 KWD 1,884

$6,174 KWD 1,898

-0.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.43 KWD 12.74

$42.42 KWD 13.04

-2.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.70 KWD 12.82

$42.18 KWD 12.97

-1.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 KWD 26.78

$86.3 KWD 26.54

0.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.5 KWD 24.75

$83.3 KWD 25.61

-3.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$808 KWD 248

$785 KWD 241

3.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$619 KWD 190

$612 KWD 188

1.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,591 KWD 489

$1,569 KWD 482

1.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,289 KWD 396

$1,315 KWD 404

-2.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,998 KWD 922

$4,144 KWD 1,274

-27.65%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Fahaheel: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $808 in Sabah Al Salem versus $785 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 38% 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 $58.0 in Sabah Al Salem versus $58.0 in Fahaheel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $167 vs $168 – making Sabah Al Salem 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: $1,358 in Sabah Al Salem, $1,350 in Fahaheel – roughly 1% apart. Sabah Al Salem costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,037 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $2,025 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 $1,358 in Sabah Al Salem and $1,350 in Fahaheel. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 0% less in Fahaheel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fahaheel, where all-in costs run around $1,350, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,358. 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.