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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,426 per month in Salmiya vs $1,309 in Fahaheel, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,291 per month in Salmiya vs $2,184 in Fahaheel, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,156 per month in Salmiya vs $3,060 in Fahaheel, rent included.

Salmiya costs about 9% more than Fahaheel, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Salmiya sits 6% above the global median, while Fahaheel is 2% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.72 KWD 2.68

$7.88 KWD 2.42

10.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.94 KWD 15.32

$58.9 KWD 18.06

-15.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.62 KWD 2.34

$8.33 KWD 2.56

-8.52%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 KWD 0.51

$2.47 KWD 0.76

-31.98%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 KWD 0.49

$3.46 KWD 1.06

-53.47%

Cappuccino

$4.92 KWD 1.51

$5.43 KWD 1.66

-9.39%

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

$0.45 KWD 0.14

$0.64 KWD 0.19

-29.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.11

$0.33 KWD 0.10

3.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 KWD 0.48

$1.43 KWD 0.44

9.09%

White Bread (500g)

$0.88 KWD 0.27

$1.05 KWD 0.32

-16.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 KWD 0.53

$1.66 KWD 0.51

3.61%

Eggs

$1.89 KWD 0.58

$2.05 KWD 0.63

-7.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.19 KWD 1.59

$4.56 KWD 1.40

13.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 KWD 1.95

$6.54 KWD 2.01

-2.91%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 KWD 2.77

$9.53 KWD 2.92

-5.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 KWD 0.69

$2.27 KWD 0.70

-0.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 KWD 0.52

$1.69 KWD 0.52

-0.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 KWD 0.55

$1.55 KWD 0.48

16.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 KWD 0.45

$1.36 KWD 0.42

7.35%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 KWD 0.38

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 KWD 0.40

$1.15 KWD 0.35

14.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 KWD 0.52

$1.67 KWD 0.51

1.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 KWD 0.14

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.01 KWD 0.31

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

$1.01 KWD 0.31

3.96%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 KWD 0.42

$1.37 KWD 0.42

0.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 KWD 0.92

$3.02 KWD 0.93

-0.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 KWD 0.32

$0.89 KWD 0.27

16.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.89 KWD 15.30

$43.47 KWD 13.33

14.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 KWD 0.99

$3.35 KWD 1.03

-3.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.23 KWD 0.99

$3.25 KWD 1.00

-0.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.97 KWD 3.98

$16.07 KWD 4.93

-19.29%

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)

$19.3K KWD 5,921

$20.2K KWD 6,197

-4.46%

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

$19.8K KWD 6,078

$19.3K KWD 5,929

2.51%

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

$54.8 KWD 16.81

$62.2 KWD 19.06

-11.82%

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

$18.77 KWD 5.76

$18.44 KWD 5.66

1.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.43 KWD 7.80

$25.61 KWD 7.85

-0.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$108 KWD 33.07

$82.5 KWD 25.32

30.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.02 KWD 10.13

$46.84 KWD 14.37

-29.50%

Cinema Ticket

$11.50 KWD 3.53

$11.29 KWD 3.46

1.86%

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

$397 KWD 122

$280 KWD 86.0

41.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,493 KWD 1,685

$6,002 KWD 1,841

-8.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.72 KWD 13.10

$41.74 KWD 12.80

2.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.28 KWD 12.97

$41.96 KWD 12.87

0.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.0 KWD 26.67

$88.8 KWD 27.22

-2.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.8 KWD 25.38

$82.9 KWD 25.42

-0.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$879 KWD 270

$783 KWD 240

12.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$670 KWD 205

$608 KWD 186

10.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 KWD 833

$1,577 KWD 484

72.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,340 KWD 411

$1,284 KWD 394

4.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,428 KWD 438

$4,170 KWD 1,279

-65.75%

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 Salmiya: June 1, 2026

Last update for Fahaheel: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $879 in Salmiya versus $783 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 192% 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 $50.0 in Salmiya versus $59.0 in Fahaheel. Groceries tell a different story – $168 in Salmiya vs $167 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: $1,426 in Salmiya, $1,309 in Fahaheel – roughly 9% apart. Salmiya costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,139 per month in Salmiya and $1,963 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 $1,426 in Salmiya and $1,309 in Fahaheel. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 15% less in Fahaheel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fahaheel, where all-in costs run around $1,309, than in Salmiya at $1,426. 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.