Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanaa and Al Mahwit Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanaa and Al Mahwit

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,035 per month in Sanaa vs $776 in Al Mahwit, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,625 per month in Sanaa vs $1,204 in Al Mahwit, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,215 per month in Sanaa vs $1,631 in Al Mahwit, rent included.

Sanaa costs about 33% more than Al Mahwit, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Sanaa and Al Mahwit are more affordable than the global median – Sanaa 24% lower, Al Mahwit 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.27 YER 1,485

$6.24 YER 1,478

0.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.28 YER 5,988

$25.11 YER 5,946

0.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.63 YER 2,281

$9.32 YER 2,207

3.33%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.95 YER 461

$2.05 YER 485

-4.88%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 YER 605

$2.46 YER 583

4.07%

Cappuccino

$3.77 YER 893

$3.75 YER 888

0.53%

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

$1.11 YER 263

$1.16 YER 274

-4.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.59 YER 139

$0.62 YER 147

-4.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 YER 468

White Bread (500g)

$1.64 YER 388

$1.62 YER 383

1.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.04 YER 484

$2.00 YER 475

2.00%

Eggs

$3.56 YER 844

$3.55 YER 842

0.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.45 YER 4,133

$17.01 YER 4,028

2.59%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.03 YER 1,902

$8.07 YER 1,911

-0.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.84 YER 4,462

$18.38 YER 4,353

2.50%

Apples (1kg)

$3.29 YER 780

$3.27 YER 774

0.61%

Banana (1kg)

$0.99 YER 235

$1.03 YER 245

-3.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 YER 509

$2.22 YER 525

-3.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 YER 385

$1.56 YER 370

4.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.45 YER 345

$1.53 YER 361

-5.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.35 YER 321

$1.31 YER 311

3.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.24 YER 294

$1.27 YER 300

-2.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 YER 151

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.39 YER 803

$3.45 YER 818

-1.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 YER 420

$1.85 YER 437

-4.32%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.39 YER 803

$3.31 YER 783

2.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.50 YER 1,303

$5.42 YER 1,283

1.48%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.43 YER 102

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$82.8 YER 19.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.08 YER 966

$4.17 YER 987

-2.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.12 YER 501

$2.15 YER 509

-1.40%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.09 YER 1,678

$7.43 YER 1,759

-4.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.09 YER 496

$2.04 YER 484

2.45%

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

$17.0K YER 4.0M

$16.7K YER 4.0M

1.75%

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

$35.6K YER 8.4M

$34.4K YER 8.1M

3.34%

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

$105 YER 25.0K

$106 YER 25.2K

-0.98%

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

$23.70 YER 5,613

$23.87 YER 5,654

-0.71%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$101 YER 23.9K

$102 YER 24.0K

-0.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.2 YER 15.9K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.29 YER 3,857

Cinema Ticket

$5.76 YER 1,365

$5.75 YER 1,362

0.17%

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

$117 YER 27.7K

$115 YER 27.2K

1.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,153 YER 509.8K

$2,168 YER 513.5K

-0.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.20 YER 9,994

$41.80 YER 9,900

0.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$123 YER 29.1K

$124 YER 29.3K

-0.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.15 YER 11.2K

$47.73 YER 11.3K

-1.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.77 YER 9,419

$41.00 YER 9,708

-3.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$219 YER 51.9K

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$94.2 YER 22.3K

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 YER 94.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$266 YER 62.9K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,060 YER 961.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$789 YER 186.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$192 YER 45.4K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.25

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Sanaa: August 16, 2026

Last update for Al Mahwit: August 16, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Sanaa versus $25.00 in Al Mahwit. Groceries tell a different story – $266 in Sanaa vs $264 in Al Mahwit – so Al Mahwit 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

Sanaa vs Al Mahwit: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sanaa is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,553 per month in Sanaa and $1,165 in Al Mahwit. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,035 in Sanaa and $776 in Al Mahwit. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $117 per month in Sanaa and $115 in Al Mahwit. 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 Al Mahwit, where all-in costs run around $776, than in Sanaa at $1,035. In Al Mahwit it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sanaa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al Mahwit – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Al Mahwit. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sanaa makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.