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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,312 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $1,101 in Hawalli, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,228 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $2,962 in Hawalli, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,143 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $4,824 in Hawalli, rent included.

Sabah Al Salem costs about 19% more than Hawalli, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Sabah Al Salem and Hawalli are more affordable than the global median – Sabah Al Salem 2% lower, Hawalli 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.56 KWD 2.32

$4.84 KWD 1.48

56.20%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.7 KWD 18.00

$68.0 KWD 20.85

-13.67%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.59 KWD 2.63

$8.77 KWD 2.69

-2.05%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 KWD 0.76

$2.50 KWD 0.77

-0.80%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 KWD 1.09

$3.28 KWD 1.01

8.54%

Cappuccino

$5.34 KWD 1.64

$4.54 KWD 1.39

17.62%

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

$0.62 KWD 0.19

$0.52 KWD 0.16

19.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

$0.34 KWD 0.11

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

$1.60 KWD 0.49

-10.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

$1.29 KWD 0.40

-18.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.80 KWD 0.55

-8.33%

Eggs

$2.04 KWD 0.62

$2.03 KWD 0.62

0.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 KWD 1.40

$3.37 KWD 1.03

35.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.68 KWD 2.05

$3.32 KWD 1.02

101.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.91 KWD 3.04

$5.64 KWD 1.73

75.71%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 KWD 0.72

$2.37 KWD 0.73

-0.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.96 KWD 0.60

-15.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 KWD 0.48

$1.80 KWD 0.55

-13.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

$1.44 KWD 0.44

-0.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 KWD 0.38

$1.21 KWD 0.37

1.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 KWD 0.34

$1.31 KWD 0.40

-16.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 KWD 0.52

$1.63 KWD 0.50

3.68%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 KWD 0.14

$0.32 KWD 0.10

43.75%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.17 KWD 0.97

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 KWD 0.31

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 KWD 0.41

$1.32 KWD 0.40

0.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.86 KWD 0.88

$2.98 KWD 0.92

-4.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 KWD 0.28

$0.79 KWD 0.24

13.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.87 KWD 13.76

$48.30 KWD 14.81

-7.10%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 KWD 0.97

$3.21 KWD 0.98

-0.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 KWD 0.97

$3.28 KWD 1.01

-3.66%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.57 KWD 5.08

$16.02 KWD 4.91

3.43%

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

$21.5K KWD 6,585

-4.63%

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

$18.9K KWD 5,794

$19.9K KWD 6,099

-5.01%

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

$63.6 KWD 19.50

$61.8 KWD 18.96

2.85%

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

$18.43 KWD 5.65

$18.89 KWD 5.79

-2.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.24 KWD 8.05

$25.93 KWD 7.95

1.20%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.5 KWD 29.30

$49.89 KWD 15.30

91.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.83 KWD 14.36

$46.54 KWD 14.27

0.62%

Cinema Ticket

$11.29 KWD 3.46

$9.79 KWD 3.00

15.32%

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

$278 KWD 85.4

$405 KWD 124

-31.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,070 KWD 1,862

$6,666 KWD 2,045

-8.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.73 KWD 13.11

$32.17 KWD 9.87

32.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.21 KWD 12.95

$42.57 KWD 13.06

-0.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.9 KWD 26.96

$89.3 KWD 27.39

-1.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.8 KWD 25.07

$81.3 KWD 24.92

0.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$808 KWD 248

$594 KWD 182

36.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$611 KWD 188

$492 KWD 151

24.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,586 KWD 486

$976 KWD 299

62.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,309 KWD 402

$3,313 KWD 1,016

-60.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,958 KWD 907

$1,854 KWD 569

59.53%

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 Hawalli: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $808 in Sabah Al Salem versus $594 in Hawalli. 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 60% higher in Sabah Al Salem, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Sabah Al Salem versus $68.0 in Hawalli. Groceries tell a different story – $170 in Sabah Al Salem vs $143 in Hawalli – so Hawalli 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 Hawalli: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,312 in Sabah Al Salem, $1,101 in Hawalli – roughly 19% apart. Sabah Al Salem costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,968 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $1,651 in Hawalli. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Hawalli, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Sabah Al Salem and $68.0 in Hawalli. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hawalli, where all-in costs run around $1,101, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,312. In Hawalli it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sabah Al Salem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Hawalli has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,101 in Hawalli to $1,312 in Sabah Al Salem. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Hawalli. 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.