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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,312 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $1,426 in Salmiya, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,228 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $2,291 in Salmiya, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,143 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $3,156 in Salmiya, rent included.

Sabah Al Salem is about 8% cheaper than Salmiya, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Sabah Al Salem sits 2% below the global median, while Salmiya is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.56 KWD 2.32

$8.72 KWD 2.68

-13.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.7 KWD 18.00

$49.94 KWD 15.32

17.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.59 KWD 2.63

$7.62 KWD 2.34

12.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 KWD 0.76

$1.68 KWD 0.51

47.62%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 KWD 1.09

$1.61 KWD 0.49

121.12%

Cappuccino

$5.34 KWD 1.64

$4.92 KWD 1.51

8.54%

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

$0.62 KWD 0.19

$0.45 KWD 0.14

37.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

$0.34 KWD 0.11

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

$1.56 KWD 0.48

-8.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

$0.88 KWD 0.27

19.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.72 KWD 0.53

-4.07%

Eggs

$2.04 KWD 0.62

$1.89 KWD 0.58

7.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.58 KWD 1.40

$5.19 KWD 1.59

-11.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.68 KWD 2.05

$6.35 KWD 1.95

5.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.91 KWD 3.04

$9.02 KWD 2.77

9.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 KWD 0.72

$2.26 KWD 0.69

3.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$1.68 KWD 0.52

-1.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 KWD 0.48

$1.80 KWD 0.55

-13.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

$1.46 KWD 0.45

-2.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 KWD 0.38

$1.24 KWD 0.38

-0.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 KWD 0.34

$1.32 KWD 0.40

-16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 KWD 0.52

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 KWD 0.14

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.01 KWD 0.31

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 KWD 0.31

$1.05 KWD 0.32

-4.76%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 KWD 0.41

$1.38 KWD 0.42

-3.62%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.86 KWD 0.88

$3.00 KWD 0.92

-4.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 KWD 0.28

$1.04 KWD 0.32

-13.46%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.87 KWD 13.76

$49.89 KWD 15.30

-10.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.18 KWD 0.97

$3.24 KWD 0.99

-1.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.16 KWD 0.97

$3.23 KWD 0.99

-2.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.57 KWD 5.08

$12.97 KWD 3.98

27.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

$0.33 KWD 0.10

9.09%

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

$20.5K KWD 6,280

$19.3K KWD 5,921

6.08%

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

$18.9K KWD 5,794

$19.8K KWD 6,078

-4.67%

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

$63.6 KWD 19.50

$54.8 KWD 16.81

16.02%

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

$18.43 KWD 5.65

$18.77 KWD 5.76

-1.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.24 KWD 8.05

$25.43 KWD 7.80

3.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.5 KWD 29.30

$108 KWD 33.07

-11.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.83 KWD 14.36

$33.02 KWD 10.13

41.82%

Cinema Ticket

$11.29 KWD 3.46

$11.50 KWD 3.53

-1.83%

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

$278 KWD 85.4

$397 KWD 122

-29.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,070 KWD 1,862

$5,493 KWD 1,685

10.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.73 KWD 13.11

$42.72 KWD 13.10

0.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.21 KWD 12.95

$42.28 KWD 12.97

-0.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.9 KWD 26.96

$87.0 KWD 26.67

1.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.8 KWD 25.07

$82.8 KWD 25.38

-1.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$808 KWD 248

$879 KWD 270

-8.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$611 KWD 188

$670 KWD 205

-8.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,586 KWD 486

$2,716 KWD 833

-41.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,309 KWD 402

$1,340 KWD 411

-2.26%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,958 KWD 907

$1,428 KWD 438

107.08%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Salmiya: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $808 in Sabah Al Salem versus $879 in Salmiya. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 107% higher in Sabah Al Salem, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $59.0 in Sabah Al Salem versus $50.0 in Salmiya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $168 – making Salmiya 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 Salmiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Salmiya is pricier by about 9%, 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 $1,968 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $2,139 in Salmiya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Sabah Al Salem, 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 $50.0 in Salmiya. 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 $1,426 in Salmiya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sabah Al Salem, where all-in costs run around $1,312, than in Salmiya at $1,426. In Sabah Al Salem it covers expenses comfortably, while in Salmiya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sabah Al Salem – 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 Sabah Al Salem. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Salmiya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.