Cost of Living Comparison Between Sabah Al Salem and Kuwait City Cost of Living Comparison Between Sabah Al Salem and Kuwait City

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,312 in Sabah Al Salem versus $1,427 in Kuwait City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,228 in Sabah Al Salem versus $2,375 in Kuwait City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,143 in Sabah Al Salem versus $3,322 in Kuwait City.

Living in Sabah Al Salem costs roughly 8% less than in Kuwait City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sabah Al Salem is 2% below, Kuwait City is 6% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.56 KWD 2.32

$10.06 KWD 3.09

-24.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.7 KWD 18.00

$83.0 KWD 25.46

-29.30%

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

$2.44 KWD 0.75

1.64%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 KWD 1.09

$3.76 KWD 1.15

-5.32%

Cappuccino

$5.34 KWD 1.64

$5.95 KWD 1.83

-10.25%

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

$0.62 KWD 0.19

$0.69 KWD 0.21

-10.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

$0.35 KWD 0.11

-2.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

$1.56 KWD 0.48

-8.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

$1.29 KWD 0.39

-18.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.72 KWD 0.53

-4.07%

Eggs

$2.04 KWD 0.62

$2.03 KWD 0.62

0.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 KWD 1.40

$5.16 KWD 1.58

-11.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.68 KWD 2.05

$6.64 KWD 2.04

0.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.91 KWD 3.04

$10.28 KWD 3.15

-3.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 KWD 0.72

$2.38 KWD 0.73

-1.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.95 KWD 0.60

-15.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 KWD 0.48

$1.75 KWD 0.54

-10.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 KWD 0.38

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 KWD 0.34

$1.27 KWD 0.39

-13.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 KWD 0.52

$1.62 KWD 0.50

4.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 KWD 0.14

$0.48 KWD 0.15

-4.17%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.31 KWD 1.02

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 KWD 0.31

$1.05 KWD 0.32

-4.76%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 KWD 0.41

$1.38 KWD 0.42

-3.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.86 KWD 0.88

$2.97 KWD 0.91

-3.70%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 KWD 0.28

$0.86 KWD 0.26

4.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.87 KWD 13.76

$38.87 KWD 11.92

15.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 KWD 0.97

$3.23 KWD 0.99

-1.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 KWD 0.97

$3.19 KWD 0.98

-0.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.57 KWD 5.08

$16.27 KWD 4.99

1.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

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

$20.5K KWD 6,280

$20.8K KWD 6,390

-1.71%

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

$18.9K KWD 5,794

$19.6K KWD 6,013

-3.65%

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

$63.6 KWD 19.50

$62.4 KWD 19.14

1.91%

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

$18.43 KWD 5.65

$18.33 KWD 5.62

0.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.24 KWD 8.05

$25.30 KWD 7.76

3.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.5 KWD 29.30

$109 KWD 33.32

-12.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.83 KWD 14.36

$20.90 KWD 6.41

124.07%

Cinema Ticket

$11.29 KWD 3.46

$11.33 KWD 3.47

-0.35%

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

$278 KWD 85.4

$402 KWD 123

-30.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,070 KWD 1,862

$6,711 KWD 2,058

-9.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.73 KWD 13.11

$42.86 KWD 13.14

-0.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.21 KWD 12.95

$42.89 KWD 13.15

-1.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.9 KWD 26.96

$86.2 KWD 26.45

1.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.8 KWD 25.07

$82.2 KWD 25.20

-0.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$808 KWD 248

$890 KWD 273

-9.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$611 KWD 188

$666 KWD 204

-8.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,586 KWD 486

$1,765 KWD 541

-10.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,309 KWD 402

$1,373 KWD 421

-4.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,320 KWD 1,632

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,372 KWD 727

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,958 KWD 907

$2,052 KWD 629

44.14%

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 Kuwait City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $808 in Sabah Al Salem and $890 in Kuwait City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sabah Al Salem pays 44% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $59.0 in Sabah Al Salem vs $83.0 in Kuwait City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $170 vs $179 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 Kuwait City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sabah Al Salem wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Kuwait City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sabah Al Salem the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Sabah Al Salem pays 44% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $808 in Sabah Al Salem versus $890 in Kuwait City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,312 per month in Sabah Al Salem versus $1,427 in Kuwait City – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sabah Al Salem runs roughly 15% less than in Kuwait City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,312 in Sabah Al Salem versus $1,427 in Kuwait City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sabah Al Salem but tight or insufficient in Kuwait City. The gap between the two cities makes Sabah Al Salem 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 Kuwait City 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 Sabah Al Salem gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Kuwait City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.