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: $1,358 in Sabah Al Salem versus $1,228 in Mahboula.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,245 in Sabah Al Salem versus $1,997 in Mahboula.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,132 in Sabah Al Salem versus $2,767 in Mahboula.

Living in Sabah Al Salem is roughly 11% 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 8% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.70 KWD 2.39

$6.67 KWD 2.07

15.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.1 KWD 17.99

$25.91 KWD 8.03

124.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.41 KWD 2.61

$8.76 KWD 2.72

-4.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 KWD 0.77

$1.67 KWD 0.52

48.50%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 KWD 1.06

$3.20 KWD 0.99

7.19%

Cappuccino

$5.28 KWD 1.63

$5.99 KWD 1.86

-11.85%

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

$0.60 KWD 0.19

$0.51 KWD 0.16

17.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

$0.18 KWD 0.06

100.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 KWD 0.46

$1.56 KWD 0.48

-4.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 KWD 0.33

$1.01 KWD 0.31

4.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 KWD 0.53

$1.73 KWD 0.53

-0.58%

Eggs

$2.05 KWD 0.64

$1.28 KWD 0.40

60.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.37 KWD 1.35

$5.15 KWD 1.60

-15.15%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.41 KWD 1.99

$6.45 KWD 2.00

-0.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.76 KWD 3.03

$10.51 KWD 3.26

-7.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 KWD 0.72

$2.35 KWD 0.73

-1.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 KWD 0.50

$1.99 KWD 0.62

-19.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 KWD 0.47

$1.73 KWD 0.54

-12.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 KWD 0.42

$1.13 KWD 0.35

19.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 KWD 0.38

$1.23 KWD 0.38

-0.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 KWD 0.36

$1.12 KWD 0.35

2.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.63 KWD 0.50

$1.69 KWD 0.52

-3.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 KWD 0.13

$0.45 KWD 0.14

-6.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.85 KWD 0.88

$3.28 KWD 1.02

-13.11%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

$1.05 KWD 0.33

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 KWD 0.43

$1.37 KWD 0.43

2.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 KWD 0.93

$1.65 KWD 0.51

81.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 KWD 0.27

$0.86 KWD 0.27

2.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.89 KWD 13.60

$49.21 KWD 15.25

-10.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 KWD 1.01

$1.61 KWD 0.50

101.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.33 KWD 1.03

$1.60 KWD 0.50

108.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.23 KWD 5.03

$5.80 KWD 1.80

179.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

$0.20 KWD 0.06

80.00%

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

$20.7K KWD 6,425

$19.6K KWD 6,082

5.64%

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

$19.3K KWD 5,995

$17.9K KWD 5,543

8.15%

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

$62.2 KWD 19.26

$62.1 KWD 19.25

0.05%

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

$18.37 KWD 5.69

$16.54 KWD 5.13

11.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.42 KWD 7.88

$26.13 KWD 8.10

-2.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$92.2 KWD 28.58

$93.4 KWD 28.96

-1.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.49 KWD 14.41

$46.15 KWD 14.30

0.74%

Cinema Ticket

$11.23 KWD 3.48

$11.37 KWD 3.52

-1.23%

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

$282 KWD 87.5

$392 KWD 122

-27.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,129 KWD 1,899

$6,467 KWD 2,004

-5.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.43 KWD 12.84

$41.82 KWD 12.96

-0.93%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.70 KWD 12.92

$42.84 KWD 13.27

-2.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 KWD 27.00

$87.1 KWD 26.99

0.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.5 KWD 24.95

$81.3 KWD 25.20

-1.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$808 KWD 251

$723 KWD 224

11.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$619 KWD 192

$497 KWD 154

24.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,591 KWD 493

$1,824 KWD 565

-12.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,289 KWD 399

$1,148 KWD 356

12.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,998 KWD 929

$1,278 KWD 396

134.68%

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 Mahboula: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $808 in Sabah Al Salem and $723 in Mahboula. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Sabah Al Salem pays 135% 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: $58.0 in Sabah Al Salem vs $26.00 in Mahboula. Groceries flip the comparison at $167 vs $171, with Sabah Al Salem cheaper for home cooking.

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 Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 135% 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: $808 in Sabah Al Salem versus $723 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 $58.0 in Sabah Al Salem. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,358 per month in Sabah Al Salem versus $1,228 in Mahboula – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,228 in Mahboula versus $1,358 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 11% less than in Sabah Al Salem. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.