Cost of Living Comparison Between Salwa and Sabah Al Salem Cost of Living Comparison Between Salwa and Sabah Al Salem

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,346 per month in Salwa vs $1,336 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,259 per month in Salwa vs $2,229 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,173 per month in Salwa vs $3,121 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

Salwa costs about 1% more than Sabah Al Salem, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Salwa and Sabah Al Salem sit above the global median – Salwa by 0%, Sabah Al Salem by 0%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.64 KWD 2.96

$7.62 KWD 2.34

26.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.9 KWD 20.24

$57.8 KWD 17.74

14.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.70 KWD 2.06

$8.43 KWD 2.59

-20.52%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.52 KWD 0.77

$2.42 KWD 0.74

4.13%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 KWD 1.15

$3.44 KWD 1.05

9.01%

Cappuccino

$5.90 KWD 1.81

$5.29 KWD 1.63

11.53%

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

$0.51 KWD 0.16

$0.63 KWD 0.19

-19.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.11

$0.36 KWD 0.11

-5.56%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.57 KWD 0.48

$1.44 KWD 0.44

9.03%

White Bread (500g)

$0.74 KWD 0.23

$1.10 KWD 0.34

-32.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 KWD 0.26

$1.71 KWD 0.52

-49.71%

Eggs

$2.06 KWD 0.63

$2.00 KWD 0.61

3.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.14 KWD 1.58

$4.47 KWD 1.37

14.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.68 KWD 2.05

$6.32 KWD 1.94

5.70%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.16 KWD 3.12

$9.48 KWD 2.91

7.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 KWD 0.73

$2.33 KWD 0.72

1.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 KWD 0.58

$1.69 KWD 0.52

10.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.74 KWD 0.53

$1.52 KWD 0.47

14.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.79 KWD 0.24

$1.35 KWD 0.42

-41.48%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 KWD 0.21

$1.22 KWD 0.38

-45.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 KWD 0.39

$1.15 KWD 0.35

10.43%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 KWD 0.50

$1.67 KWD 0.51

-3.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 KWD 0.14

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.23 KWD 0.99

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 KWD 0.31

$1.05 KWD 0.32

-2.86%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 KWD 0.41

$1.32 KWD 0.41

0.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.82 KWD 0.87

$3.00 KWD 0.92

-6.00%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 KWD 0.25

$0.88 KWD 0.27

-5.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.06 KWD 13.53

$44.04 KWD 13.52

0.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.19 KWD 0.98

$3.34 KWD 1.03

-4.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.17 KWD 0.97

$3.28 KWD 1.01

-3.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.21 KWD 4.98

$16.13 KWD 4.95

0.50%

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)

$21.2K KWD 6,522

$20.7K KWD 6,348

2.73%

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

$18.2K KWD 5,581

$19.5K KWD 5,979

-6.67%

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

$63.7 KWD 19.54

$61.6 KWD 18.90

3.40%

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

$18.54 KWD 5.69

$18.01 KWD 5.53

2.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.57 KWD 7.85

$25.94 KWD 7.96

-1.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$92.9 KWD 28.51

$94.2 KWD 28.92

-1.43%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.94 KWD 14.41

$45.54 KWD 13.98

3.07%

Cinema Ticket

$11.66 KWD 3.58

$11.33 KWD 3.48

2.91%

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

$399 KWD 123

$285 KWD 87.4

40.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,542 KWD 2,008

$6,161 KWD 1,892

6.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.45 KWD 11.80

$41.83 KWD 12.84

-8.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.14 KWD 13.24

$43.06 KWD 13.22

0.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.4 KWD 24.99

$88.2 KWD 27.06

-7.67%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.2 KWD 20.00

$81.6 KWD 25.04

-20.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$781 KWD 240

$779 KWD 239

0.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$606 KWD 186

$609 KWD 187

-0.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,555 KWD 477

$1,558 KWD 478

-0.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,265 KWD 388

$1,306 KWD 401

-3.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,537 KWD 1,086

$3,037 KWD 932

16.46%

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: April 26, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $781 in Salwa versus $779 in Sabah Al Salem. 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 Salwa, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Salwa versus $58.0 in Sabah Al Salem. Groceries tell a different story – $165 in Salwa vs $167 in Sabah Al Salem – 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 Sabah Al Salem: 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 $2,018 per month in Salwa and $2,005 in Sabah Al Salem. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Salwa and $58.0 in Sabah Al Salem. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,346 in Salwa and $1,336 in Sabah Al Salem. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sabah Al Salem, where all-in costs run around $1,336, than in Salwa at $1,346. In Sabah Al Salem it covers expenses comfortably, while in Salwa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sabah Al Salem – 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 Sabah Al Salem. 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.