Cost of Living Comparison Between Sabah Al Salem and Janub-as-surrah Cost of Living Comparison Between Sabah Al Salem and Janub-as-surrah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,358 in Sabah Al Salem versus $1,315 in Janub-as-surrah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,245 in Sabah Al Salem versus $2,207 in Janub-as-surrah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,132 in Sabah Al Salem versus $3,099 in Janub-as-surrah.

Living in Sabah Al Salem is roughly 3% more expensive than in Janub-as-surrah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sabah Al Salem is 2% above, Janub-as-surrah is 2% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.70 KWD 2.37

$7.64 KWD 2.35

0.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.1 KWD 17.84

$57.9 KWD 17.81

0.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.41 KWD 2.59

$8.76 KWD 2.69

-4.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 KWD 0.76

$2.49 KWD 0.77

-0.40%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 KWD 1.05

$3.57 KWD 1.10

-3.92%

Cappuccino

$5.28 KWD 1.62

$5.55 KWD 1.71

-4.86%

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

$0.60 KWD 0.18

$0.64 KWD 0.20

-6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

$0.37 KWD 0.11

-2.70%

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

$1.67 KWD 0.51

2.99%

Eggs

$2.05 KWD 0.63

$1.97 KWD 0.60

4.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.37 KWD 1.34

$4.46 KWD 1.37

-2.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.41 KWD 1.97

$6.33 KWD 1.95

1.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.76 KWD 3.00

$9.90 KWD 3.04

-1.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 KWD 0.71

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 KWD 0.49

$1.61 KWD 0.49

-0.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 KWD 0.47

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 KWD 0.42

$1.42 KWD 0.44

-4.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 KWD 0.38

$1.28 KWD 0.39

-4.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 KWD 0.35

$1.14 KWD 0.35

0.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.63 KWD 0.50

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 KWD 0.13

$0.43 KWD 0.13

-2.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.85 KWD 0.88

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

$1.01 KWD 0.31

3.96%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 KWD 0.43

$1.34 KWD 0.41

4.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 KWD 0.92

$2.87 KWD 0.88

4.53%

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

$44.11 KWD 13.56

-0.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 KWD 1.00

$3.28 KWD 1.01

-0.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.33 KWD 1.02

$3.27 KWD 1.01

1.83%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.23 KWD 4.99

$16.39 KWD 5.04

-0.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

$0.34 KWD 0.10

5.88%

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

$20.7K KWD 6,373

$20.5K KWD 6,294

1.26%

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

$19.3K KWD 5,947

$19.0K KWD 5,827

2.05%

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

$62.2 KWD 19.10

$62.6 KWD 19.24

-0.69%

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

$18.37 KWD 5.65

$18.52 KWD 5.69

-0.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.42 KWD 7.81

$25.60 KWD 7.87

-0.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$92.2 KWD 28.35

$95.2 KWD 29.25

-3.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.49 KWD 14.29

$46.77 KWD 14.38

-0.60%

Cinema Ticket

$11.23 KWD 3.45

$11.60 KWD 3.57

-3.19%

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

$282 KWD 86.8

$286 KWD 87.9

-1.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,129 KWD 1,884

$6,180 KWD 1,900

-0.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.43 KWD 12.74

$42.13 KWD 12.95

-1.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.70 KWD 12.82

$42.17 KWD 12.96

-1.11%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 KWD 26.78

$88.4 KWD 27.17

-1.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.5 KWD 24.75

$81.2 KWD 24.95

-0.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$808 KWD 248

$802 KWD 246

0.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$619 KWD 190

$614 KWD 189

0.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,591 KWD 489

$1,602 KWD 492

-0.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,289 KWD 396

$1,284 KWD 395

0.36%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,998 KWD 922

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 Janub-as-surrah: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $808 in Sabah Al Salem and $802 in Janub-as-surrah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $58.0 in Sabah Al Salem vs $58.0 in Janub-as-surrah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $167 vs $167 per month, with Sabah Al Salem cheaper across the board.

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 Janub-as-surrah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Janub-as-surrah wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Sabah Al Salem. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Janub-as-surrah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,037 in Sabah Al Salem and $1,972 in Janub-as-surrah 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: $808 in Sabah Al Salem versus $802 in Janub-as-surrah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,358 per month in Sabah Al Salem versus $1,315 in Janub-as-surrah – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Janub-as-surrah runs roughly 1% less than in Sabah Al Salem. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,315 in Janub-as-surrah versus $1,358 in Sabah Al Salem, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Janub-as-surrah but tight or insufficient in Sabah Al Salem. The gap between the two cities makes Janub-as-surrah 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 Janub-as-surrah 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 Janub-as-surrah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Sabah Al Salem. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.