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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,336 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $1,346 in Salwa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,229 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $2,259 in Salwa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,121 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $3,173 in Salwa, rent included.

Sabah Al Salem is about 1% cheaper than Salwa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Sabah Al Salem and Salwa sit above the global median – Sabah Al Salem by 0%, Salwa by 0%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.62 KWD 2.34

$9.64 KWD 2.96

-20.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$57.8 KWD 17.74

$65.9 KWD 20.24

-12.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.43 KWD 2.59

$6.70 KWD 2.06

25.82%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 KWD 0.74

$2.52 KWD 0.77

-3.97%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 KWD 1.05

$3.75 KWD 1.15

-8.27%

Cappuccino

$5.29 KWD 1.63

$5.90 KWD 1.81

-10.34%

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

$0.63 KWD 0.19

$0.51 KWD 0.16

23.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

$0.34 KWD 0.11

5.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 KWD 0.44

$1.57 KWD 0.48

-8.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 KWD 0.34

$0.74 KWD 0.23

48.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 KWD 0.52

$0.86 KWD 0.26

98.84%

Eggs

$2.00 KWD 0.61

$2.06 KWD 0.63

-2.91%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.47 KWD 1.37

$5.14 KWD 1.58

-13.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.32 KWD 1.94

$6.68 KWD 2.05

-5.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.48 KWD 2.91

$10.16 KWD 3.12

-6.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.33 KWD 0.72

$2.37 KWD 0.73

-1.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 KWD 0.52

$1.87 KWD 0.58

-9.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 KWD 0.47

$1.74 KWD 0.53

-12.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 KWD 0.42

$0.79 KWD 0.24

70.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 KWD 0.38

$0.67 KWD 0.21

82.09%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 KWD 0.35

$1.27 KWD 0.39

-9.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.67 KWD 0.51

$1.61 KWD 0.50

3.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 KWD 0.14

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.23 KWD 0.99

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)

$1.32 KWD 0.41

$1.33 KWD 0.41

-0.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 KWD 0.92

$2.82 KWD 0.87

6.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 KWD 0.27

$0.83 KWD 0.25

6.02%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.04 KWD 13.52

$44.06 KWD 13.53

-0.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 KWD 1.03

$3.19 KWD 0.98

4.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.28 KWD 1.01

$3.17 KWD 0.97

3.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.13 KWD 4.95

$16.21 KWD 4.98

-0.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 KWD 0.10

$0.36 KWD 0.11

-8.33%

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

$20.7K KWD 6,348

$21.2K KWD 6,522

-2.66%

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

$19.5K KWD 5,979

$18.2K KWD 5,581

7.14%

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

$61.6 KWD 18.90

$63.7 KWD 19.54

-3.28%

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

$18.01 KWD 5.53

$18.54 KWD 5.69

-2.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.94 KWD 7.96

$25.57 KWD 7.85

1.45%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.2 KWD 28.92

$92.9 KWD 28.51

1.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.54 KWD 13.98

$46.94 KWD 14.41

-2.98%

Cinema Ticket

$11.33 KWD 3.48

$11.66 KWD 3.58

-2.83%

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

$285 KWD 87.4

$399 KWD 123

-28.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,161 KWD 1,892

$6,542 KWD 2,008

-5.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.83 KWD 12.84

$38.45 KWD 11.80

8.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.06 KWD 13.22

$43.14 KWD 13.24

-0.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.2 KWD 27.06

$81.4 KWD 24.99

8.31%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.6 KWD 25.04

$65.2 KWD 20.00

25.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$779 KWD 239

$781 KWD 240

-0.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$609 KWD 187

$606 KWD 186

0.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,558 KWD 478

$1,555 KWD 477

0.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,306 KWD 401

$1,265 KWD 388

3.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,037 KWD 932

$3,537 KWD 1,086

-14.13%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Salwa: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $779 in Sabah Al Salem versus $781 in Salwa. 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 16% higher in Salwa, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $58.0 in Sabah Al Salem versus $66.0 in Salwa. Groceries tell a different story – $167 in Sabah Al Salem vs $165 in Salwa – so Salwa 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 Salwa: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Salwa is pricier by about 1%, 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 $2,005 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $2,018 in Salwa. 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 $58.0 in Sabah Al Salem and $66.0 in Salwa. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,336 in Sabah Al Salem and $1,346 in Salwa. 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 $1,336, than in Salwa at $1,346. In Sabah Al Salem it covers expenses comfortably, while in Salwa 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, Salwa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.