Cost of Living Comparison Between Salmiya and Hadiya Cost of Living Comparison Between Salmiya and Hadiya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,426 per month in Salmiya vs $1,342 in Hadiya, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,291 per month in Salmiya vs $2,240 in Hadiya, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,156 per month in Salmiya vs $3,138 in Hadiya, rent included.

Salmiya costs about 6% more than Hadiya, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Salmiya and Hadiya sit above the global median – Salmiya by 6%, Hadiya by 0%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.72 KWD 2.68

$7.62 KWD 2.34

14.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$49.94 KWD 15.32

$57.8 KWD 17.72

-13.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.62 KWD 2.34

$8.49 KWD 2.60

-10.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 KWD 0.51

$2.40 KWD 0.74

-30.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 KWD 0.49

$3.43 KWD 1.05

-53.06%

Cappuccino

$4.92 KWD 1.51

$5.27 KWD 1.62

-6.64%

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

$0.45 KWD 0.14

$0.62 KWD 0.19

-27.42%

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

$1.42 KWD 0.44

9.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.88 KWD 0.27

$1.09 KWD 0.33

-19.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 KWD 0.53

$1.74 KWD 0.53

-1.15%

Eggs

$1.89 KWD 0.58

$2.05 KWD 0.63

-7.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.19 KWD 1.59

$4.58 KWD 1.40

13.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.35 KWD 1.95

$6.38 KWD 1.96

-0.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.02 KWD 2.77

$9.78 KWD 3.00

-7.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.26 KWD 0.69

$2.35 KWD 0.72

-3.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 KWD 0.52

$1.66 KWD 0.51

1.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 KWD 0.55

$1.55 KWD 0.48

16.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 KWD 0.45

$1.37 KWD 0.42

6.57%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 KWD 0.38

$1.23 KWD 0.38

0.81%

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

$0.43 KWD 0.13

6.98%

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

$1.34 KWD 0.41

2.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.00 KWD 0.92

$2.88 KWD 0.88

4.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 KWD 0.32

$0.88 KWD 0.27

18.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.89 KWD 15.30

$44.39 KWD 13.61

12.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.24 KWD 0.99

$3.36 KWD 1.03

-3.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.23 KWD 0.99

$3.31 KWD 1.02

-2.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.97 KWD 3.98

$16.47 KWD 5.05

-21.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 KWD 0.10

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

$19.3K KWD 5,921

$20.5K KWD 6,274

-5.63%

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

$19.8K KWD 6,078

$19.4K KWD 5,953

2.09%

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

$54.8 KWD 16.81

$61.8 KWD 18.96

-11.34%

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

$18.77 KWD 5.76

$17.92 KWD 5.50

4.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.43 KWD 7.80

$26.19 KWD 8.03

-2.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$108 KWD 33.07

$94.3 KWD 28.93

14.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.02 KWD 10.13

$46.40 KWD 14.23

-28.84%

Cinema Ticket

$11.50 KWD 3.53

$11.35 KWD 3.48

1.32%

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

$397 KWD 122

$287 KWD 88.0

38.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,493 KWD 1,685

$6,095 KWD 1,869

-9.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.72 KWD 13.10

$42.07 KWD 12.90

1.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.28 KWD 12.97

$42.34 KWD 12.99

-0.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.0 KWD 26.67

$86.4 KWD 26.49

0.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.8 KWD 25.38

$83.1 KWD 25.48

-0.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$879 KWD 270

$789 KWD 242

11.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$670 KWD 205

$610 KWD 187

9.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,716 KWD 833

$1,589 KWD 487

70.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,340 KWD 411

$1,312 KWD 402

2.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,428 KWD 438

$4,454 KWD 1,366

-67.93%

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 Hadiya: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $879 in Salmiya versus $789 in Hadiya. 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 212% higher in Hadiya, 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 $58.0 in Hadiya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $168 vs $168 – making Salmiya the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Hadiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Salmiya is pricier by about 6%, 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 $2,139 per month in Salmiya and $2,013 in Hadiya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 12% less in Hadiya. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $397 per month in Salmiya and $287 in Hadiya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Hadiya, where all-in costs run around $1,342, than in Salmiya at $1,426. In Hadiya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Salmiya it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Hadiya – 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 Hadiya. 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.