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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,400 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $1,333 in Shuwaikh, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,495 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $2,305 in Shuwaikh, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,589 per month in Sabah Al Salem vs $3,278 in Shuwaikh, rent included.

Sabah Al Salem costs about 5% more than Shuwaikh, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Sabah Al Salem sits 2% above the global median, while Shuwaikh is 3% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.93 KWD 2.43

$12.84 KWD 3.94

-38.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$72.6 KWD 22.26

$64.6 KWD 19.79

12.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.17 KWD 2.81

$9.02 KWD 2.77

1.66%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.26 KWD 1.00

$3.30 KWD 1.01

-1.21%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 KWD 0.97

$4.83 KWD 1.48

-34.58%

Cappuccino

$6.44 KWD 1.97

$5.30 KWD 1.63

21.51%

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

$0.47 KWD 0.15

$0.71 KWD 0.22

-33.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 KWD 0.16

$0.37 KWD 0.11

37.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 KWD 0.60

$1.60 KWD 0.49

23.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 KWD 0.39

$1.48 KWD 0.45

-14.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.06 KWD 0.63

$1.96 KWD 0.60

5.10%

Eggs

$3.16 KWD 0.97

$2.13 KWD 0.65

48.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 KWD 2.23

$4.42 KWD 1.36

64.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.43 KWD 1.67

$6.72 KWD 2.06

-19.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.33 KWD 3.17

$10.38 KWD 3.18

-0.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.46 KWD 0.75

$2.54 KWD 0.78

-3.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 KWD 0.57

Oranges (1kg)

$1.31 KWD 0.40

$1.82 KWD 0.56

-28.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 KWD 0.47

$1.56 KWD 0.48

-1.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 KWD 0.41

$1.38 KWD 0.42

-4.35%

Onion (1kg)

$0.96 KWD 0.29

$1.45 KWD 0.44

-33.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 KWD 0.49

$2.30 KWD 0.71

-30.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 KWD 0.14

$0.54 KWD 0.17

-12.96%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.12 KWD 0.96

$3.29 KWD 1.01

-5.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 KWD 0.32

$1.05 KWD 0.32

-1.90%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 KWD 0.50

$1.45 KWD 0.44

12.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.91 KWD 0.89

$2.80 KWD 0.86

3.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.81 KWD 0.25

$0.79 KWD 0.24

2.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 KWD 34.94

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.37 KWD 1.03

$4.82 KWD 1.48

-30.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.70 KWD 1.13

$3.23 KWD 0.99

14.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$17.45 KWD 5.35

$15.94 KWD 4.89

9.47%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 KWD 0.10

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

$20.0K KWD 6,121

$21.4K KWD 6,558

-6.66%

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

$20.5K KWD 6,295

$20.3K KWD 6,211

1.35%

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

$38.32 KWD 11.75

$65.5 KWD 20.09

-41.52%

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

$23.88 KWD 7.32

$22.72 KWD 6.97

5.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$39.34 KWD 12.06

$30.56 KWD 9.37

28.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$131 KWD 40.27

$98.2 KWD 30.09

33.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.26 KWD 11.73

Cinema Ticket

$11.13 KWD 3.41

$11.22 KWD 3.44

-0.80%

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

$273 KWD 83.8

$297 KWD 91.1

-8.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,488 KWD 2,296

$9,312 KWD 2,855

-19.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.51 KWD 11.50

$37.63 KWD 11.54

-0.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.45 KWD 12.10

$40.08 KWD 12.29

-1.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.2 KWD 30.11

$98.0 KWD 30.04

0.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 KWD 27.21

$87.4 KWD 26.80

1.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$731 KWD 224

$724 KWD 222

1.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$552 KWD 169

$587 KWD 180

-6.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,811 KWD 555

$1,813 KWD 556

-0.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,319 KWD 404

$1,345 KWD 412

-1.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,911 KWD 893

$4,173 KWD 1,279

-30.22%

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: September 7, 2026

Last update for Shuwaikh: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $731 in Sabah Al Salem versus $724 in Shuwaikh. 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 43% higher in Shuwaikh, 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 $73.0 in Sabah Al Salem versus $65.0 in Shuwaikh. Groceries tell a different story – $187 in Sabah Al Salem vs $187 in Shuwaikh – 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 Shuwaikh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sabah Al Salem is pricier by about 5%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,100 per month in Sabah Al Salem and $2,000 in Shuwaikh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Shuwaikh, 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 $73.0 in Sabah Al Salem and $65.0 in Shuwaikh. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 0% more in Sabah Al Salem, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Shuwaikh, where all-in costs run around $1,333, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,400. In Shuwaikh it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sabah Al Salem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Shuwaikh – 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 Shuwaikh. 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.