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: $900 in Sanaa versus $987 in Ibb.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,466 in Sanaa versus $1,658 in Ibb.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,032 in Sanaa versus $2,329 in Ibb.

Living in Sanaa costs roughly 9% less than in Ibb, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sanaa 33% lower, Ibb 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.11 YER 1,455

$6.85 YER 1,633

-10.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$22.83 YER 5,440

$40.65 YER 9,687

-43.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.15 YER 2,418

$12.50 YER 2,978

-18.80%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.81 YER 432

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 YER 430

Cappuccino

$3.72 YER 888

$2.08 YER 495

78.85%

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

$1.14 YER 273

$1.60 YER 382

-28.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.46 YER 110

$0.50 YER 119

-8.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 YER 455

$3.26 YER 778

-41.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 YER 287

$1.16 YER 276

3.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.47 YER 589

$4.74 YER 1,131

-47.89%

Eggs

$4.03 YER 959

$6.43 YER 1,531

-37.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.86 YER 2,350

$9.11 YER 2,172

8.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.82 YER 1,625

$12.60 YER 3,002

-45.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$19.15 YER 4,563

$27.63 YER 6,585

-30.69%

Apples (1kg)

$3.92 YER 933

$5.80 YER 1,382

-32.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 YER 344

$2.17 YER 517

-33.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.41 YER 574

$6.45 YER 1,537

-62.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 YER 391

$3.67 YER 876

-55.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.70 YER 405

$2.32 YER 554

-26.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.57 YER 374

$2.02 YER 481

-22.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 YER 151

$0.78 YER 186

-17.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.74 YER 176

$1.40 YER 334

-47.14%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.28 YER 782

$3.34 YER 795

-1.80%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 YER 394

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 YER 772

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.91 YER 932

$4.04 YER 963

-3.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 YER 101

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$82.1 YER 19.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.21 YER 1,004

$2.08 YER 496

102.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.99 YER 952

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.32 YER 1,745

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.68 YER 640

$3.99 YER 952

-32.83%

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

$16.4K YER 3.9M

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

$33.5K YER 8.0M

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

$72.3 YER 17.2K

$90.8 YER 21.6K

-20.36%

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

$13.70 YER 3,266

$15.33 YER 3,652

-10.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$38.45 YER 9,163

$77.6 YER 18.5K

-50.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.6 YER 15.9K

$80.6 YER 19.2K

-17.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$16.68 YER 3,975

Cinema Ticket

$5.90 YER 1,405

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

$116 YER 27.5K

$28.67 YER 6,833

302.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,808 YER 430.7K

$3,323 YER 791.9K

-45.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.29 YER 9,363

$29.35 YER 6,993

33.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$148 YER 35.2K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$41.65 YER 9,924

$48.95 YER 11.7K

-14.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$42.36 YER 10.1K

$57.5 YER 13.7K

-26.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 YER 39.8K

$216 YER 51.5K

-22.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$95.3 YER 22.7K

$160 YER 38.2K

-40.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$410 YER 97.8K

$571 YER 136.1K

-28.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$265 YER 63.2K

$395 YER 94.1K

-32.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,123 YER 982.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$819 YER 195.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$191 YER 45.5K

$352 YER 83.9K

-45.70%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ibb: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $167 in Sanaa and $216 in Ibb. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ibb pays 84% 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 $244 vs $379 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 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Ibb earns 84% less. 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: $167 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 55% higher in Ibb. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $900 per month in Sanaa versus $987 in Ibb – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Sanaa gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 10% less than in Ibb. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.