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: $1,024 in Sanaa versus $871 in Ibb.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,597 in Sanaa versus $1,442 in Ibb.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,171 in Sanaa versus $2,013 in Ibb.

Living in Sanaa is roughly 18% more expensive than in Ibb, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Sanaa 26% lower, Ibb 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.18 YER 1,462

$6.22 YER 1,473

-0.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.63 YER 6,068

$24.96 YER 5,909

2.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.77 YER 2,312

$12.65 YER 2,994

-22.77%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 YER 480

$2.05 YER 486

-0.98%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 YER 582

$2.55 YER 604

-3.53%

Cappuccino

$3.79 YER 897

$2.07 YER 491

83.09%

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

$1.18 YER 280

$1.13 YER 269

4.42%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.65 YER 153

$0.54 YER 127

20.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 YER 472

$2.08 YER 492

-4.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.70 YER 403

$1.02 YER 242

66.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.05 YER 486

$2.00 YER 473

2.50%

Eggs

$3.53 YER 836

$3.57 YER 844

-1.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.06 YER 4,038

$13.97 YER 3,307

22.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.45 YER 2,001

$8.16 YER 1,931

3.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.55 YER 4,391

$19.18 YER 4,541

-3.28%

Apples (1kg)

$3.42 YER 809

$3.32 YER 785

3.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 YER 241

$1.01 YER 240

0.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 YER 523

$2.17 YER 513

1.84%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 YER 369

$1.56 YER 368

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 YER 347

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 YER 312

$1.36 YER 321

-2.94%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 YER 283

$0.81 YER 191

48.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 YER 150

$0.63 YER 149

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.32 YER 786

$3.40 YER 805

-2.35%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 YER 422

$1.86 YER 441

-4.30%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 YER 812

$3.45 YER 816

-0.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.53 YER 1,309

$3.96 YER 936

39.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 YER 103

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$83.5 YER 19.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.26 YER 1,009

$2.09 YER 494

103.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 YER 505

$2.58 YER 610

-17.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.47 YER 1,769

$7.11 YER 1,683

5.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$2.02 YER 479

$2.10 YER 498

-3.81%

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

$17.1K YER 4.0M

0.08%

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

$35.4K YER 8.4M

$34.6K YER 8.2M

2.26%

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

$109 YER 25.9K

$64.4 YER 15.3K

69.87%

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

$23.95 YER 5,669

$16.07 YER 3,804

49.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$101 YER 23.8K

$28.95 YER 6,854

247.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.9 YER 15.6K

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.92 YER 3,768

Cinema Ticket

$5.85 YER 1,384

$6.07 YER 1,436

-3.62%

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

$114 YER 27.0K

$24.22 YER 5,734

370.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,204 YER 521.7K

$2,128 YER 503.8K

3.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.00 YER 9,943

$29.82 YER 7,060

40.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$122 YER 28.9K

$125 YER 29.5K

-2.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$47.26 YER 11.2K

$48.60 YER 11.5K

-2.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.14 YER 9,501

$40.97 YER 9,699

-2.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$218 YER 51.5K

$312 YER 73.8K

-30.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$96.3 YER 22.8K

$251 YER 59.5K

-61.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$408 YER 96.5K

$757 YER 179.2K

-46.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$269 YER 63.7K

$624 YER 147.7K

-56.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,221 YER 999.2K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$797 YER 188.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$191 YER 45.2K

$352 YER 83.3K

-45.78%

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 29, 2026

Last update for Ibb: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $218 in Sanaa and $312 in Ibb. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ibb pays 84% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $26.00 in Sanaa vs $25.00 in Ibb for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $268 vs $250 per month, with Ibb 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

Ibb is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 18% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 84% 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: $218 in Sanaa versus $312 in Ibb. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Sanaa. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,024 per month in Sanaa versus $871 in Ibb – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $871 in Ibb versus $1,024 in Sanaa, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Ibb but tight or insufficient in Sanaa. The gap between the two cities makes Ibb 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 Ibb gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Sanaa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.