Cost of Living Comparison Between Salwa and Hadiya Cost of Living Comparison Between Salwa and Hadiya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,351 per month in Salwa vs $1,342 in Hadiya, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,232 per month in Salwa vs $2,240 in Hadiya, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,113 per month in Salwa vs $3,138 in Hadiya, rent included.

Salwa costs about 1% more than Hadiya, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Salwa and Hadiya sit above the global median – Salwa by 1%, Hadiya by 0%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.62 KWD 2.97

$7.62 KWD 2.35

26.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.6 KWD 19.96

$57.8 KWD 17.84

11.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.56 KWD 2.03

$8.49 KWD 2.62

-22.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 KWD 0.78

$2.40 KWD 0.74

4.58%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 KWD 1.17

$3.43 KWD 1.06

10.20%

Cappuccino

$6.06 KWD 1.87

$5.27 KWD 1.63

14.99%

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

$0.50 KWD 0.15

$0.62 KWD 0.19

-19.35%

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

$1.42 KWD 0.44

12.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.71 KWD 0.22

$1.09 KWD 0.34

-34.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 KWD 0.26

$1.74 KWD 0.54

-51.15%

Eggs

$1.97 KWD 0.61

$2.05 KWD 0.63

-3.90%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.30 KWD 1.64

$4.58 KWD 1.41

15.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.65 KWD 2.05

$6.38 KWD 1.97

4.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.51 KWD 3.25

$9.78 KWD 3.02

7.46%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 KWD 0.73

$2.35 KWD 0.73

0.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.98 KWD 0.61

$1.66 KWD 0.51

19.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.74 KWD 0.54

$1.55 KWD 0.48

12.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.84 KWD 0.26

$1.37 KWD 0.42

-38.69%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 KWD 0.21

$1.23 KWD 0.38

-45.53%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 KWD 0.40

$1.15 KWD 0.36

13.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 KWD 0.49

$1.67 KWD 0.52

-4.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 KWD 0.14

$0.43 KWD 0.13

4.65%

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

$1.34 KWD 0.41

-0.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.81 KWD 0.87

$2.88 KWD 0.89

-2.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 KWD 0.28

$0.88 KWD 0.27

1.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$43.86 KWD 13.54

$44.39 KWD 13.71

-1.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.36 KWD 1.04

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.23 KWD 1.00

$3.31 KWD 1.02

-2.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.42 KWD 5.07

$16.47 KWD 5.09

-0.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

$0.33 KWD 0.10

9.09%

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

$21.0K KWD 6,490

$20.5K KWD 6,317

2.74%

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

$18.2K KWD 5,620

$19.4K KWD 5,994

-6.24%

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

$62.7 KWD 19.35

$61.8 KWD 19.09

1.34%

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

$18.55 KWD 5.73

$17.92 KWD 5.53

3.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.34 KWD 7.83

$26.19 KWD 8.09

-3.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.9 KWD 29.31

$94.3 KWD 29.13

0.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.21 KWD 14.27

$46.40 KWD 14.33

-0.41%

Cinema Ticket

$11.32 KWD 3.50

$11.35 KWD 3.51

-0.26%

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

$407 KWD 126

$287 KWD 88.6

41.91%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,713 KWD 2,073

$6,095 KWD 1,882

10.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.69 KWD 11.95

$42.07 KWD 12.99

-8.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.71 KWD 13.19

$42.34 KWD 13.08

0.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.8 KWD 25.26

$86.4 KWD 26.67

-5.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.1 KWD 20.10

$83.1 KWD 25.65

-21.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$796 KWD 246

$789 KWD 244

0.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$618 KWD 191

$610 KWD 188

1.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,594 KWD 492

$1,589 KWD 491

0.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,309 KWD 404

$1,312 KWD 405

-0.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,606 KWD 1,114

$4,454 KWD 1,375

-19.04%

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 Hadiya: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $796 in Salwa 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 24% 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 $65.0 in Salwa versus $58.0 in Hadiya. Groceries tell a different story – $166 in Salwa vs $168 in Hadiya – 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 Hadiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Salwa is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,026 per month in Salwa 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 1% less in Hadiya. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $407 per month in Salwa 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 Salwa at $1,351. In Hadiya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Salwa 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, Salwa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.