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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,400 in Sabah Al Salem versus $1,240 in Mahboula.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,495 in Sabah Al Salem versus $2,021 in Mahboula.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,589 in Sabah Al Salem versus $2,802 in Mahboula.

Living in Sabah Al Salem is roughly 13% more expensive than in Mahboula, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Sabah Al Salem is 2% above, Mahboula is 10% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.93 KWD 2.43

$6.58 KWD 2.02

20.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.6 KWD 22.26

$25.57 KWD 7.84

183.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.17 KWD 2.81

$8.87 KWD 2.72

3.38%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 KWD 1.00

$1.57 KWD 0.48

107.64%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 KWD 0.97

$3.29 KWD 1.01

-3.95%

Cappuccino

$6.44 KWD 1.97

$5.57 KWD 1.71

15.62%

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

$0.47 KWD 0.15

$0.47 KWD 0.14

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 KWD 0.16

$0.18 KWD 0.06

183.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 KWD 0.60

$1.59 KWD 0.49

23.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 KWD 0.39

$0.94 KWD 0.29

34.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 KWD 0.63

$1.92 KWD 0.59

7.29%

Eggs

$3.16 KWD 0.97

$1.33 KWD 0.41

137.59%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 KWD 2.23

$4.36 KWD 1.34

66.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.43 KWD 1.67

$6.57 KWD 2.02

-17.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.33 KWD 3.17

$10.21 KWD 3.13

1.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.46 KWD 0.75

$2.42 KWD 0.74

1.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 KWD 0.57

$1.84 KWD 0.57

0.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 KWD 0.40

$1.80 KWD 0.55

-27.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 KWD 0.47

$1.11 KWD 0.34

38.74%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 KWD 0.41

$1.38 KWD 0.42

-4.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 KWD 0.29

$1.16 KWD 0.35

-17.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 KWD 0.49

$2.38 KWD 0.73

-32.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 KWD 0.14

$0.51 KWD 0.16

-7.84%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.12 KWD 0.96

$3.29 KWD 1.01

-5.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 KWD 0.32

$1.01 KWD 0.31

1.98%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 KWD 0.50

$1.38 KWD 0.42

18.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.91 KWD 0.89

$1.58 KWD 0.48

84.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 KWD 0.25

$0.84 KWD 0.26

-3.57%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 KWD 34.94

$48.80 KWD 14.96

133.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.37 KWD 1.03

$1.60 KWD 0.49

110.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.70 KWD 1.13

$1.58 KWD 0.49

134.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.45 KWD 5.35

$5.60 KWD 1.72

211.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 KWD 0.10

$0.18 KWD 0.06

83.33%

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

$20.0K KWD 6,121

$19.1K KWD 5,859

4.49%

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

$20.5K KWD 6,295

$17.8K KWD 5,450

15.50%

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

$38.32 KWD 11.75

$65.7 KWD 20.16

-41.71%

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

$23.88 KWD 7.32

$16.24 KWD 4.98

47.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.34 KWD 12.06

$30.40 KWD 9.32

29.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$131 KWD 40.27

$96.5 KWD 29.57

36.17%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.26 KWD 11.73

$48.77 KWD 14.95

-21.55%

Cinema Ticket

$11.13 KWD 3.41

$11.30 KWD 3.46

-1.50%

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

$273 KWD 83.8

$307 KWD 94.0

-10.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,488 KWD 2,296

$6,687 KWD 2,050

11.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.51 KWD 11.50

$37.86 KWD 11.61

-0.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.45 KWD 12.10

$39.59 KWD 12.14

-0.35%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.2 KWD 30.11

$98.0 KWD 30.05

0.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 KWD 27.21

$90.0 KWD 27.60

-1.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$731 KWD 224

$720 KWD 221

1.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 KWD 169

$501 KWD 154

10.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,811 KWD 555

$1,790 KWD 549

1.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,319 KWD 404

$1,128 KWD 346

16.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,911 KWD 893

$1,284 KWD 394

126.71%

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: September 7, 2026

Last update for Mahboula: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $731 in Sabah Al Salem and $720 in Mahboula. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sabah Al Salem pays 127% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $73.0 in Sabah Al Salem vs $26.00 in Mahboula for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $187 vs $173 per month, with Mahboula 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 Mahboula: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mahboula is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 127% 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: $731 in Sabah Al Salem versus $720 in Mahboula. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Mahboula – a meal for two runs $26.00 versus $73.0 in Sabah Al Salem. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,400 per month in Sabah Al Salem versus $1,240 in Mahboula – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,240 in Mahboula versus $1,400 in Sabah Al Salem, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mahboula but tight or insufficient in Sabah Al Salem. The gap between the two cities makes Mahboula 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 Mahboula 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 Mahboula gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Sabah Al Salem. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.