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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,334 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $1,376 in Shaab, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,362 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $2,363 in Shaab, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,390 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $3,350 in Shaab, rent included.

Sabah Al Salem is about 3% cheaper than Shaab, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Sabah Al Salem sits 3% below the global median, while Shaab is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.89 KWD 2.42

$12.89 KWD 3.95

-38.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$71.6 KWD 21.95

$65.7 KWD 20.16

8.92%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.33 KWD 2.86

$9.05 KWD 2.78

3.09%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.16 KWD 0.97

$3.31 KWD 1.01

-4.53%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 KWD 0.98

$4.96 KWD 1.52

-35.69%

Cappuccino

$6.55 KWD 2.01

$5.38 KWD 1.65

21.75%

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

$0.51 KWD 0.16

$0.71 KWD 0.22

-28.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 KWD 0.14

$0.34 KWD 0.11

38.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 KWD 0.58

$1.65 KWD 0.51

15.15%

White Bread (500g)

$1.28 KWD 0.39

$1.49 KWD 0.46

-14.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.13 KWD 0.65

$1.99 KWD 0.61

7.04%

Eggs

$3.09 KWD 0.95

$2.06 KWD 0.63

50.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.08 KWD 2.17

$4.52 KWD 1.38

56.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.64 KWD 1.73

$6.89 KWD 2.11

-18.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.62 KWD 2.95

$10.17 KWD 3.12

-5.41%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 KWD 0.70

$2.53 KWD 0.78

-9.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 KWD 0.51

$1.88 KWD 0.58

-11.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.27 KWD 0.39

$1.84 KWD 0.57

-30.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 KWD 0.48

$1.48 KWD 0.46

5.41%

Potato (1kg)

$1.31 KWD 0.40

$1.36 KWD 0.42

-3.68%

Onion (1kg)

$0.83 KWD 0.26

$1.43 KWD 0.44

-41.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.58 KWD 0.49

$2.39 KWD 0.73

-33.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 KWD 0.18

$0.55 KWD 0.17

9.09%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.15 KWD 0.97

$3.26 KWD 1.00

-3.37%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 KWD 0.30

$1.06 KWD 0.32

-7.55%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 KWD 0.48

$1.40 KWD 0.43

11.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 KWD 0.92

$2.80 KWD 0.86

6.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.99 KWD 0.30

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.91 KWD 15.00

$54.5 KWD 16.72

-10.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.53 KWD 1.08

$4.84 KWD 1.48

-27.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.76 KWD 0.85

$3.32 KWD 1.02

-16.87%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.62 KWD 4.79

$16.36 KWD 5.02

-4.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 KWD 0.10

$0.35 KWD 0.11

-5.71%

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

$21.3K KWD 6,528

$21.0K KWD 6,443

1.32%

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

$20.1K KWD 6,157

$20.7K KWD 6,356

-3.13%

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

$38.25 KWD 11.73

$64.8 KWD 19.88

-41.00%

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

$24.16 KWD 7.41

$22.39 KWD 6.87

7.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.84 KWD 11.91

$29.79 KWD 9.14

30.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$131 KWD 40.16

$95.8 KWD 29.37

36.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.26 KWD 11.12

$31.29 KWD 9.60

15.88%

Cinema Ticket

$11.48 KWD 3.52

$11.47 KWD 3.52

0.09%

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

$281 KWD 86.3

$296 KWD 90.9

-5.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,421 KWD 2,276

$9,481 KWD 2,908

-21.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.31 KWD 11.75

$38.35 KWD 11.76

-0.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.41 KWD 12.09

$39.58 KWD 12.14

-0.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.9 KWD 30.32

$99.0 KWD 30.36

-0.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.2 KWD 27.66

$89.9 KWD 27.56

0.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$727 KWD 223

$735 KWD 225

-0.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$550 KWD 169

$589 KWD 181

-6.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,643 KWD 504

$1,610 KWD 494

2.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,333 KWD 409

$1,347 KWD 413

-1.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,981 KWD 914

$3,285 KWD 1,008

-9.26%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: August 18, 2026

Last update for Shaab: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $727 in Sabah Al Salem versus $735 in Shaab. 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 10% higher in Shaab, 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 $72.0 in Sabah Al Salem versus $66.0 in Shaab. Groceries tell a different story – $184 in Sabah Al Salem vs $188 in Shaab – 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 Shaab: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Shaab 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 $2,001 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $2,063 in Shaab. 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 $72.0 in Sabah Al Salem and $66.0 in Shaab. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,334 in Sabah Al Salem and $1,376 in Shaab. 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 $1,334, than in Shaab at $1,376. In Sabah Al Salem it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shaab 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, Shaab makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.