Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanaa and Ibb Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanaa and Ibb

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $914 in Sanaa versus $987 in Ibb.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,460 in Sanaa versus $1,625 in Ibb.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,006 in Sanaa versus $2,263 in Ibb.

Living in Sanaa costs roughly 7% less than in Ibb, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sanaa 32% lower, Ibb 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.33 YER 1,499

$6.79 YER 1,606

-6.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.96 YER 5,433

$41.32 YER 9,781

-44.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.47 YER 2,479

$12.77 YER 3,023

-18.01%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 YER 417

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 YER 431

Cappuccino

$3.69 YER 873

$2.03 YER 480

81.77%

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

$1.16 YER 274

$1.67 YER 395

-30.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 YER 111

$0.53 YER 126

-11.32%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 YER 446

$3.29 YER 778

-42.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.22 YER 289

$1.17 YER 277

4.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.48 YER 588

$4.82 YER 1,140

-48.55%

Eggs

$4.03 YER 953

$6.53 YER 1,545

-38.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.87 YER 2,337

$9.58 YER 2,268

3.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.69 YER 1,582

$12.30 YER 2,912

-45.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.58 YER 4,397

$27.51 YER 6,512

-32.46%

Apples (1kg)

$3.85 YER 912

$5.71 YER 1,352

-32.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.39 YER 329

$2.14 YER 507

-35.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 YER 566

$6.26 YER 1,482

-61.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 YER 389

$3.73 YER 883

-56.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 YER 424

$2.30 YER 545

-22.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.62 YER 384

$2.10 YER 496

-22.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 YER 149

$0.77 YER 182

-18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.73 YER 172

$1.46 YER 346

-50.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.38 YER 800

$3.43 YER 813

-1.46%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.67 YER 395

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 YER 775

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.05 YER 958

$4.18 YER 988

-3.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 YER 101

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$81.8 YER 19.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.15 YER 982

$2.06 YER 488

101.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$4.03 YER 953

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.02 YER 1,661

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.74 YER 648

$4.06 YER 961

-32.51%

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

$16.7K YER 3.9M

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

$33.9K YER 8.0M

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

$71.5 YER 16.9K

$91.3 YER 21.6K

-21.70%

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

$13.56 YER 3,209

$15.57 YER 3,685

-12.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.21 YER 9,042

$76.6 YER 18.1K

-50.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.4 YER 16.0K

$82.2 YER 19.4K

-17.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.43 YER 3,889

Cinema Ticket

$5.89 YER 1,394

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

$112 YER 26.6K

$29.42 YER 6,963

281.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,809 YER 428.2K

$3,391 YER 802.6K

-46.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.44 YER 9,336

$28.45 YER 6,735

38.63%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$147 YER 34.8K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$40.85 YER 9,668

$48.93 YER 11.6K

-16.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.77 YER 9,885

$58.1 YER 13.7K

-28.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$166 YER 39.4K

$216 YER 51.2K

-23.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.4 YER 22.6K

$161 YER 38.2K

-40.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$403 YER 95.4K

$586 YER 138.7K

-31.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$261 YER 61.7K

$396 YER 93.7K

-34.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,070 YER 963.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$808 YER 191.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$190 YER 45.0K

$354 YER 83.8K

-46.25%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ibb: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $166 in Sanaa and $216 in Ibb. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ibb pays 86% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $23.00 in Sanaa vs $41.00 in Ibb for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $241 vs $380 per month, with Sanaa cheaper across the board.

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 Ibb: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sanaa is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 86% lower in Ibb. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $166 in Sanaa versus $216 in Ibb. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 57% higher in Ibb. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $914 per month in Sanaa versus $987 in Ibb – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $914 in Sanaa versus $987 in Ibb, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Sanaa but tight or insufficient in Ibb. The gap between the two cities makes Sanaa the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Sanaa gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Ibb. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.