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: $1,440 in Sabah Al Salem versus $1,497 in Kuwait City.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,466 in Sabah Al Salem versus $2,433 in Kuwait City.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,492 in Sabah Al Salem versus $3,369 in Kuwait City.

Living in Sabah Al Salem costs roughly 4% less than in Kuwait City, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Sabah Al Salem 5% above, Kuwait City 9% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.27 KWD 2.55

$12.93 KWD 3.99

-36.04%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.1 KWD 22.25

$63.6 KWD 19.62

13.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.32 KWD 2.88

$8.72 KWD 2.69

6.88%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.21 KWD 0.99

$3.33 KWD 1.03

-3.60%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 KWD 0.98

$4.94 KWD 1.52

-35.63%

Cappuccino

$6.67 KWD 2.06

$5.30 KWD 1.64

25.85%

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

$0.47 KWD 0.14

$0.74 KWD 0.23

-36.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 KWD 0.16

$0.34 KWD 0.11

47.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 KWD 0.59

$1.57 KWD 0.49

21.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 KWD 0.39

$1.54 KWD 0.47

-18.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 KWD 0.64

$1.90 KWD 0.59

10.00%

Eggs

$3.13 KWD 0.96

$2.16 KWD 0.67

44.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.37 KWD 2.28

$4.44 KWD 1.37

65.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.67 KWD 1.75

$6.63 KWD 2.05

-14.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.26 KWD 3.17

$10.25 KWD 3.16

0.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 KWD 0.74

$2.46 KWD 0.76

-2.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 KWD 0.60

$1.94 KWD 0.60

-0.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.28 KWD 0.39

$1.79 KWD 0.55

-28.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 KWD 0.48

$1.54 KWD 0.47

0.65%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 KWD 0.41

$1.37 KWD 0.42

-2.92%

Onion (1kg)

$0.93 KWD 0.29

$1.49 KWD 0.46

-37.58%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.66 KWD 0.51

$2.39 KWD 0.74

-30.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 KWD 0.15

$0.54 KWD 0.17

-11.11%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.59 KWD 1.11

$3.19 KWD 0.99

12.54%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.95 KWD 0.29

$1.01 KWD 0.31

-5.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 KWD 0.42

$1.39 KWD 0.43

-2.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.04 KWD 0.94

$2.67 KWD 0.82

13.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 KWD 0.25

$0.80 KWD 0.25

2.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 KWD 35.22

$48.22 KWD 14.89

136.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.43 KWD 1.06

$4.74 KWD 1.46

-27.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.44 KWD 1.06

$3.26 KWD 1.01

5.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.73 KWD 5.47

$16.34 KWD 5.04

8.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.35 KWD 0.11

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

$23.1K KWD 7,141

$20.7K KWD 6,386

11.83%

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

$20.0K KWD 6,162

$20.2K KWD 6,235

-1.16%

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

$39.56 KWD 12.21

$64.9 KWD 20.05

-39.08%

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

$24.37 KWD 7.52

$22.24 KWD 6.86

9.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.96 KWD 12.03

$29.52 KWD 9.11

31.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$129 KWD 39.77

$123 KWD 38.05

4.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.23 KWD 11.80

$32.45 KWD 10.02

17.81%

Cinema Ticket

$11.48 KWD 3.54

$11.52 KWD 3.56

-0.35%

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

$282 KWD 87.1

$303 KWD 93.4

-6.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,641 KWD 2,359

$9,492 KWD 2,930

-19.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.10 KWD 11.45

$38.42 KWD 11.86

-3.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.17 KWD 12.09

$39.37 KWD 12.15

-0.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.4 KWD 30.36

$98.3 KWD 30.36

0.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.3 KWD 27.87

$89.3 KWD 27.58

1.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$729 KWD 225

$925 KWD 286

-21.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$559 KWD 173

$637 KWD 197

-12.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,789 KWD 552

$1,994 KWD 615

-10.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,337 KWD 413

$1,341 KWD 414

-0.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,368 KWD 1,657

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,407 KWD 743

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,964 KWD 915

$2,080 KWD 642

42.47%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: August 31, 2026

Last update for Kuwait City: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $729 in Sabah Al Salem and $925 in Kuwait City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sabah Al Salem pays 42% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $72.0 in Sabah Al Salem vs $64.0 in Kuwait City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $186 per month, with Kuwait City 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 4% 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.

Average pay runs 42% higher in Sabah Al Salem, 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: $729 in Sabah Al Salem versus $925 in Kuwait City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,440 per month in Sabah Al Salem versus $1,497 in Kuwait City – a 4% 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 137% less than in Kuwait City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,440 in Sabah Al Salem versus $1,497 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 4% less than in Kuwait City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.