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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,358 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $1,318 in Qairawan, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,245 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $2,238 in Qairawan, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,132 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $3,157 in Qairawan, rent included.

Sabah Al Salem costs about 3% more than Qairawan, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Sabah Al Salem sits 2% above the global median, while Qairawan is 1% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.70 KWD 2.39

$7.72 KWD 2.39

-0.26%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.1 KWD 17.99

$58.5 KWD 18.14

-0.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.41 KWD 2.61

$8.76 KWD 2.71

-4.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 KWD 0.77

$2.40 KWD 0.74

3.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 KWD 1.06

$3.40 KWD 1.05

0.88%

Cappuccino

$5.28 KWD 1.63

$5.34 KWD 1.65

-1.12%

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

$0.60 KWD 0.19

$0.58 KWD 0.18

3.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 KWD 0.46

$1.47 KWD 0.46

1.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 KWD 0.33

$1.10 KWD 0.34

-3.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 KWD 0.53

$1.65 KWD 0.51

4.24%

Eggs

$2.05 KWD 0.64

$2.04 KWD 0.63

0.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.37 KWD 1.35

$4.38 KWD 1.36

-0.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.41 KWD 1.99

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.76 KWD 3.03

$9.52 KWD 2.95

2.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 KWD 0.72

$2.30 KWD 0.71

0.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 KWD 0.50

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 KWD 0.47

$1.53 KWD 0.47

-0.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 KWD 0.42

$1.43 KWD 0.44

-5.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 KWD 0.38

$1.27 KWD 0.39

-3.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 KWD 0.36

$1.11 KWD 0.34

3.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.63 KWD 0.50

$1.61 KWD 0.50

1.24%

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

$3.31 KWD 1.02

-13.90%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

$1.02 KWD 0.31

2.94%

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

$2.92 KWD 0.90

2.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 KWD 0.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.89 KWD 13.60

$44.22 KWD 13.70

-0.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 KWD 1.01

$3.24 KWD 1.00

0.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.33 KWD 1.03

$3.20 KWD 0.99

4.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.23 KWD 5.03

$16.54 KWD 5.12

-1.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

$0.34 KWD 0.11

5.88%

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

$20.7K KWD 6,425

$20.1K KWD 6,216

3.37%

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

$19.3K KWD 5,995

$19.4K KWD 6,020

-0.41%

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

$18.09 KWD 5.61

1.55%

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

$95.3 KWD 29.54

-3.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.49 KWD 14.41

$46.20 KWD 14.32

0.63%

Cinema Ticket

$11.23 KWD 3.48

$11.65 KWD 3.61

-3.61%

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

$282 KWD 87.5

$279 KWD 86.5

1.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,129 KWD 1,899

$6,047 KWD 1,874

1.35%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.43 KWD 12.84

$41.38 KWD 12.82

0.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.70 KWD 12.92

$42.79 KWD 13.26

-2.55%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 KWD 27.00

$86.4 KWD 26.77

0.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.5 KWD 24.95

$83.2 KWD 25.79

-3.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$808 KWD 251

$796 KWD 247

1.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$619 KWD 192

$608 KWD 188

1.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,591 KWD 493

$1,582 KWD 490

0.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,289 KWD 399

$1,285 KWD 398

0.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,998 KWD 929

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 Qairawan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $808 in Sabah Al Salem versus $796 in Qairawan. 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 $58.0 in Sabah Al Salem versus $59.0 in Qairawan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $167 vs $167 – making Sabah Al Salem the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Qairawan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sabah Al Salem is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Sport & Entertainment. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,037 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $1,978 in Qairawan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Qairawan, 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 $58.0 in Sabah Al Salem and $59.0 in Qairawan. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,358 in Sabah Al Salem and $1,318 in Qairawan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Qairawan, where all-in costs run around $1,318, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,358. In Qairawan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sabah Al Salem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Qairawan – 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 Qairawan. 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.