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 $1,349 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $1,334 in Salwa, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,216 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $2,230 in Salwa, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,082 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $3,126 in Salwa, rent included.

Sabah Al Salem costs about 1% more than Salwa, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Sabah Al Salem sits 0% above the global median, while Salwa is 1% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.87 KWD 2.42

$9.55 KWD 2.93

-17.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$58.6 KWD 17.99

$65.9 KWD 20.25

-11.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.73 KWD 2.68

$6.50 KWD 2.00

34.31%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 KWD 0.74

$2.47 KWD 0.76

-2.43%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 KWD 1.05

$3.67 KWD 1.13

-7.08%

Cappuccino

$5.31 KWD 1.63

$5.97 KWD 1.83

-11.06%

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

$0.62 KWD 0.19

$0.48 KWD 0.15

29.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

$0.31 KWD 0.10

9.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 KWD 0.44

$1.58 KWD 0.49

-8.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 KWD 0.32

$0.75 KWD 0.23

38.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$0.85 KWD 0.26

94.12%

Eggs

$2.07 KWD 0.64

$1.98 KWD 0.61

4.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.55 KWD 1.40

$5.22 KWD 1.60

-12.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.64 KWD 2.04

$6.53 KWD 2.01

1.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.68 KWD 2.97

$10.19 KWD 3.13

-5.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 KWD 0.70

$2.37 KWD 0.73

-4.22%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 KWD 0.51

$1.89 KWD 0.58

-12.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.57 KWD 0.48

$1.72 KWD 0.53

-8.72%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 KWD 0.42

$0.79 KWD 0.24

74.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 KWD 0.39

$0.62 KWD 0.19

106.45%

Onion (1kg)

$1.11 KWD 0.34

$1.33 KWD 0.41

-16.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 KWD 0.51

$1.63 KWD 0.50

3.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 KWD 0.14

$0.48 KWD 0.15

-6.25%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.22 KWD 0.99

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 KWD 0.32

$1.06 KWD 0.32

-1.89%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 KWD 0.42

$1.38 KWD 0.43

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.91 KWD 0.89

$2.86 KWD 0.88

1.75%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.88 KWD 0.27

$0.84 KWD 0.26

4.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.47 KWD 13.66

$44.56 KWD 13.69

-0.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 KWD 0.98

$3.29 KWD 1.01

-3.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.32 KWD 1.02

$3.23 KWD 0.99

2.79%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.55 KWD 5.09

$16.58 KWD 5.09

-0.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

$0.37 KWD 0.11

-2.70%

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

$20.3K KWD 6,226

$21.2K KWD 6,505

-4.28%

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

$18.8K KWD 5,768

$17.9K KWD 5,486

5.15%

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

$61.9 KWD 19.02

$61.5 KWD 18.89

0.65%

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

$18.50 KWD 5.68

$18.68 KWD 5.74

-0.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.45 KWD 7.82

$26.15 KWD 8.03

-2.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$92.2 KWD 28.33

$93.7 KWD 28.77

-1.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.73 KWD 14.35

$45.41 KWD 13.95

2.91%

Cinema Ticket

$11.41 KWD 3.51

$11.32 KWD 3.48

0.80%

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

$283 KWD 87.0

$404 KWD 124

-29.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,184 KWD 1,900

$6,673 KWD 2,050

-7.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.71 KWD 13.12

$39.04 KWD 11.99

9.40%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.25 KWD 13.29

$42.38 KWD 13.02

2.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.8 KWD 27.28

$82.8 KWD 25.44

7.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.0 KWD 25.20

$64.5 KWD 19.83

27.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$800 KWD 246

$797 KWD 245

0.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$615 KWD 189

$621 KWD 191

-1.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,549 KWD 476

$1,580 KWD 485

-1.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,269 KWD 390

$1,313 KWD 403

-3.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,019 KWD 927

$3,495 KWD 1,074

-13.61%

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 9, 2026

Last update for Salwa: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $800 in Sabah Al Salem versus $797 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 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 $66.0 in Salwa. Groceries tell a different story – $168 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 – Sabah Al Salem 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 $2,024 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $2,001 in Salwa. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Salwa, 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 $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 $1,349 in Sabah Al Salem and $1,334 in Salwa. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Salwa, where all-in costs run around $1,334, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,349. In Salwa it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sabah Al Salem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Salwa – 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 Salwa. 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.