Cost of Living Comparison Between Salmiya and Fahaheel Cost of Living Comparison Between Salmiya and Fahaheel

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,621 per month in Salmiya vs $1,251 in Fahaheel, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,442 per month in Salmiya vs $2,157 in Fahaheel, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,264 per month in Salmiya vs $3,063 in Fahaheel, rent included.

Salmiya costs about 30% more than Fahaheel, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Salmiya sits 18% above the global median, while Fahaheel is 9% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.51 KWD 2.93

$7.94 KWD 2.45

19.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$48.29 KWD 14.90

$58.3 KWD 17.98

-17.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.34 KWD 2.57

$8.16 KWD 2.52

2.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.46 KWD 0.76

$3.13 KWD 0.97

-21.41%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.62 KWD 0.81

$2.92 KWD 0.90

-10.27%

Cappuccino

$5.08 KWD 1.57

$4.83 KWD 1.49

5.18%

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

$0.45 KWD 0.14

$0.60 KWD 0.18

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

$0.34 KWD 0.11

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 KWD 0.51

$1.23 KWD 0.38

33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.72 KWD 0.22

$0.73 KWD 0.23

-1.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.90 KWD 0.59

$1.97 KWD 0.61

-3.55%

Eggs

$2.06 KWD 0.64

$2.07 KWD 0.64

-0.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.29 KWD 1.32

$3.77 KWD 1.16

13.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.84 KWD 2.11

$5.31 KWD 1.64

28.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.14 KWD 3.13

$8.85 KWD 2.73

14.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.49 KWD 0.77

$2.27 KWD 0.70

9.69%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 KWD 0.59

$1.86 KWD 0.57

3.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 KWD 0.56

$1.14 KWD 0.35

60.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 KWD 0.48

$1.49 KWD 0.46

4.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.31 KWD 0.41

$1.47 KWD 0.45

-10.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.49 KWD 0.46

$0.92 KWD 0.28

61.96%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 KWD 0.71

$1.43 KWD 0.44

60.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.47 KWD 0.14

$0.56 KWD 0.17

-16.07%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$0.93 KWD 0.29

$2.95 KWD 0.91

-68.47%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.03 KWD 0.32

$0.99 KWD 0.31

4.04%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 KWD 0.43

$1.61 KWD 0.50

-13.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.82 KWD 0.87

$2.73 KWD 0.84

3.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.15 KWD 0.35

$0.83 KWD 0.25

38.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$47.77 KWD 14.74

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.27 KWD 1.01

$3.32 KWD 1.02

-1.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.30 KWD 1.02

$3.41 KWD 1.05

-3.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.49 KWD 3.24

$18.57 KWD 5.73

-43.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 KWD 0.10

$0.34 KWD 0.10

-2.94%

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

$19.4K KWD 6,000

$20.3K KWD 6,264

-4.23%

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

$20.5K KWD 6,340

$22.9K KWD 7,069

-10.32%

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

$49.47 KWD 15.26

$72.1 KWD 22.25

-31.41%

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

$22.42 KWD 6.92

$22.67 KWD 6.99

-1.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.69 KWD 9.16

$32.51 KWD 10.03

-8.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$155 KWD 47.83

$82.5 KWD 25.43

88.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.08 KWD 4.96

Cinema Ticket

$11.52 KWD 3.55

$11.53 KWD 3.56

-0.09%

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

$299 KWD 92.2

$291 KWD 89.7

2.74%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,556 KWD 2,331

$8,613 KWD 2,657

-12.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.25 KWD 11.80

$33.24 KWD 10.25

15.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.73 KWD 12.26

$34.44 KWD 10.63

15.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 KWD 30.89

$108 KWD 33.41

-7.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.4 KWD 27.28

$78.9 KWD 24.33

12.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,069 KWD 330

$737 KWD 227

45.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$830 KWD 256

$626 KWD 193

32.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,474 KWD 763

$1,974 KWD 609

25.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,330 KWD 410

$1,449 KWD 447

-8.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,114 KWD 652

$4,230 KWD 1,305

-50.01%

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 Salmiya: September 1, 2026

Last update for Fahaheel: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,069 in Salmiya versus $737 in Fahaheel. 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 100% higher in Fahaheel, 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 $48.00 in Salmiya versus $58.0 in Fahaheel. Groceries tell a different story – $178 in Salmiya vs $153 in Fahaheel – so Fahaheel 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

Salmiya vs Fahaheel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,621 in Salmiya, $1,251 in Fahaheel – roughly 30% apart. Salmiya costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,431 per month in Salmiya and $1,876 in Fahaheel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Fahaheel, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,621 in Salmiya and $1,251 in Fahaheel. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $299 per month in Salmiya and $291 in Fahaheel. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fahaheel, where all-in costs run around $1,251, than in Salmiya at $1,621. In Fahaheel it covers expenses comfortably, while in Salmiya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Fahaheel – 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 Fahaheel. 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.