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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,312 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $1,201 in Mangaf, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,228 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $2,104 in Mangaf, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,143 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $3,008 in Mangaf, rent included.

Sabah Al Salem costs about 9% more than Mangaf, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sabah Al Salem and Mangaf are more affordable than the global median – Sabah Al Salem 2% lower, Mangaf 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.56 KWD 2.34

$6.36 KWD 1.96

18.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.7 KWD 18.12

$39.12 KWD 12.08

50.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.59 KWD 2.65

$9.15 KWD 2.83

-6.12%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 KWD 0.77

$2.46 KWD 0.76

0.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 KWD 1.10

$3.57 KWD 1.10

-0.28%

Cappuccino

$5.34 KWD 1.65

$5.32 KWD 1.64

0.38%

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

$0.62 KWD 0.19

$0.31 KWD 0.10

100.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

$0.34 KWD 0.11

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

$1.60 KWD 0.49

-10.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

$1.28 KWD 0.40

-17.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.72 KWD 0.53

-4.07%

Eggs

$2.04 KWD 0.63

$2.10 KWD 0.65

-2.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 KWD 1.41

$5.08 KWD 1.57

-9.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.68 KWD 2.06

$6.39 KWD 1.97

4.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.91 KWD 3.06

$10.42 KWD 3.22

-4.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 KWD 0.73

$2.42 KWD 0.75

-2.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.96 KWD 0.61

-15.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 KWD 0.48

$1.75 KWD 0.54

-10.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

$1.45 KWD 0.45

-1.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 KWD 0.38

$1.26 KWD 0.39

-2.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 KWD 0.34

$1.27 KWD 0.39

-13.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 KWD 0.52

$1.60 KWD 0.49

5.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 KWD 0.14

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.28 KWD 1.01

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 KWD 0.31

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 KWD 0.41

$1.34 KWD 0.41

-0.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.86 KWD 0.88

$3.02 KWD 0.93

-5.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 KWD 0.28

$0.85 KWD 0.26

5.88%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.87 KWD 13.86

$44.85 KWD 13.85

0.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 KWD 0.98

$3.36 KWD 1.04

-5.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 KWD 0.97

$2.46 KWD 0.76

28.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.57 KWD 5.12

$11.45 KWD 3.54

44.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

$0.35 KWD 0.11

2.86%

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

$20.5K KWD 6,323

$21.4K KWD 6,616

-4.42%

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

$18.9K KWD 5,833

$19.9K KWD 6,147

-5.10%

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

$63.6 KWD 19.64

$62.6 KWD 19.34

1.52%

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

$18.43 KWD 5.69

$18.77 KWD 5.80

-1.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.24 KWD 8.10

$26.04 KWD 8.04

0.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.5 KWD 29.50

$93.2 KWD 28.77

2.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.83 KWD 14.46

$46.99 KWD 14.51

-0.34%

Cinema Ticket

$11.29 KWD 3.49

$11.28 KWD 3.48

0.09%

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

$278 KWD 86.0

$397 KWD 123

-29.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,070 KWD 1,874

$6,707 KWD 2,071

-9.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.73 KWD 13.20

$41.99 KWD 12.97

1.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.21 KWD 13.03

$42.72 KWD 13.19

-1.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.9 KWD 27.14

$88.9 KWD 27.44

-1.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.8 KWD 25.25

$80.3 KWD 24.79

1.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$808 KWD 250

$590 KWD 182

36.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$611 KWD 189

$470 KWD 145

30.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,586 KWD 490

$1,549 KWD 478

2.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,309 KWD 404

$1,281 KWD 396

2.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,958 KWD 913

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.14

4.5

58.67%

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 Mangaf: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $808 in Sabah Al Salem versus $590 in Mangaf. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Sabah Al Salem versus $39.00 in Mangaf. Groceries tell a different story – $170 in Sabah Al Salem vs $179 in Mangaf – so Sabah Al Salem wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Mangaf: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sabah Al Salem is pricier by about 9%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,968 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $1,801 in Mangaf. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mangaf, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Sabah Al Salem and $39.00 in Mangaf. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,312 in Sabah Al Salem and $1,201 in Mangaf. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Mangaf, where all-in costs run around $1,201, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,312. In Mangaf it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sabah Al Salem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mangaf – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Mangaf. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sabah Al Salem makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.