Cost of Living Comparison Between Salwa and Fahaheel Cost of Living Comparison Between Salwa and Fahaheel

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,351 per month in Salwa vs $1,309 in Fahaheel, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,232 per month in Salwa vs $2,184 in Fahaheel, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,113 per month in Salwa vs $3,060 in Fahaheel, rent included.

Salwa costs about 3% more than Fahaheel, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Salwa sits 1% above the global median, while Fahaheel is 2% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.62 KWD 2.95

$7.88 KWD 2.42

22.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.6 KWD 19.83

$58.9 KWD 18.06

9.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.56 KWD 2.01

$8.33 KWD 2.56

-21.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 KWD 0.77

$2.47 KWD 0.76

1.62%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 KWD 1.16

$3.46 KWD 1.06

9.25%

Cappuccino

$6.06 KWD 1.86

$5.43 KWD 1.66

11.60%

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

$0.50 KWD 0.15

$0.64 KWD 0.19

-21.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

$0.33 KWD 0.10

3.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 KWD 0.49

$1.43 KWD 0.44

11.89%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 KWD 0.22

$1.05 KWD 0.32

-32.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 KWD 0.26

$1.66 KWD 0.51

-48.80%

Eggs

$1.97 KWD 0.61

$2.05 KWD 0.63

-3.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.30 KWD 1.63

$4.56 KWD 1.40

16.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.65 KWD 2.04

$6.54 KWD 2.01

1.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.51 KWD 3.22

$9.53 KWD 2.92

10.28%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 KWD 0.72

$2.27 KWD 0.70

3.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 KWD 0.61

$1.69 KWD 0.52

17.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.74 KWD 0.53

$1.55 KWD 0.48

12.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.84 KWD 0.26

$1.36 KWD 0.42

-38.24%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 KWD 0.21

$1.24 KWD 0.38

-45.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 KWD 0.40

$1.15 KWD 0.35

13.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 KWD 0.49

$1.67 KWD 0.51

-4.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 KWD 0.14

$0.46 KWD 0.14

-2.17%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.25 KWD 1.00

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 KWD 0.31

$1.01 KWD 0.31

-0.99%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 KWD 0.41

$1.37 KWD 0.42

-2.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 KWD 0.86

$3.02 KWD 0.93

-6.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 KWD 0.27

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.86 KWD 13.45

$43.47 KWD 13.33

0.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.36 KWD 1.03

$3.35 KWD 1.03

0.30%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.23 KWD 0.99

$3.25 KWD 1.00

-0.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.42 KWD 5.04

$16.07 KWD 4.93

2.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

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

$21.0K KWD 6,446

$20.2K KWD 6,197

4.02%

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

$18.2K KWD 5,582

$19.3K KWD 5,929

-5.85%

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

$62.7 KWD 19.22

$62.2 KWD 19.06

0.79%

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

$18.55 KWD 5.69

$18.44 KWD 5.66

0.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.34 KWD 7.77

$25.61 KWD 7.85

-1.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.9 KWD 29.11

$82.5 KWD 25.32

14.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.21 KWD 14.17

$46.84 KWD 14.37

-1.35%

Cinema Ticket

$11.32 KWD 3.47

$11.29 KWD 3.46

0.27%

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

$407 KWD 125

$280 KWD 86.0

45.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,713 KWD 2,059

$6,002 KWD 1,841

11.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.69 KWD 11.86

$41.74 KWD 12.80

-7.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.71 KWD 13.10

$41.96 KWD 12.87

1.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 KWD 25.09

$88.8 KWD 27.22

-7.83%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.1 KWD 19.97

$82.9 KWD 25.42

-21.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$796 KWD 244

$783 KWD 240

1.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$618 KWD 190

$608 KWD 186

1.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,594 KWD 489

$1,577 KWD 484

1.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,309 KWD 401

$1,284 KWD 394

1.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,606 KWD 1,106

$4,170 KWD 1,279

-13.53%

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 Salwa: June 2, 2026

Last update for Fahaheel: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $796 in Salwa 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 16% 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 $65.0 in Salwa versus $59.0 in Fahaheel. Groceries tell a different story – $166 in Salwa vs $167 in Fahaheel – so Salwa 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

Salwa vs Fahaheel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,351 in Salwa, $1,309 in Fahaheel – roughly 3% apart. Salwa costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,026 per month in Salwa 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 $1,351 in Salwa 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 1% 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 Salwa at $1,351. In Fahaheel it covers expenses comfortably, while in Salwa 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, Salwa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.