Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanaa and Sa'dah Cost of Living Comparison Between Sanaa and Sa'dah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,035 per month in Sanaa vs $766 in Sa'dah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,625 per month in Sanaa vs $1,189 in Sa'dah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,215 per month in Sanaa vs $1,611 in Sa'dah, rent included.

Sanaa costs about 35% more than Sa'dah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Sanaa and Sa'dah are more affordable than the global median – Sanaa 24% lower, Sa'dah 44% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sanaa
Sa'dah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.27 YER 1,485
$6.16 YER 1,459
1.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$25.28 YER 5,988
$25.34 YER 6,001
-0.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.63 YER 2,281
$9.36 YER 2,217
2.88%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 YER 461
$1.97 YER 467
-1.02%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56 YER 605
$2.45 YER 580
4.49%
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
$0.63 YER 149
-6.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sanaa
Sa'dah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.98 YER 468
$2.07 YER 491
-4.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.64 YER 388
$1.71 YER 404
-4.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.04 YER 484
$1.99 YER 472
2.51%
Eggs
$3.56 YER 844
$3.57 YER 845
-0.28%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.45 YER 4,133
$17.43 YER 4,128
0.11%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.03 YER 1,902
$8.26 YER 1,955
-2.78%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.84 YER 4,462
$18.81 YER 4,456
0.16%
Apples (1kg)
$3.29 YER 780
$3.35 YER 794
-1.79%
Banana (1kg)
$0.99 YER 235
$1.00 YER 237
-1.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 YER 509
$2.19 YER 519
-1.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.63 YER 385
$1.62 YER 384
0.62%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 YER 345
$1.48 YER 350
-2.03%
Onion (1kg)
$1.35 YER 321
$1.37 YER 324
-1.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 YER 294
$1.21 YER 287
2.48%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64 YER 151
$0.69 YER 164
-7.25%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$3.39 YER 803
$3.26 YER 773
3.99%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 YER 420
$1.86 YER 440
-4.84%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.39 YER 803
$3.41 YER 807
-0.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.50 YER 1,303
$5.52 YER 1,307
-0.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Sanaa
Sa'dah
Difference
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
$4.22 YER 1,000
-3.32%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.12 YER 501
$2.15 YER 510
-1.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.09 YER 1,678
$7.03 YER 1,666
0.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.09 YER 496
$2.10 YER 497
-0.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.0K YER 4.0M
$16.8K YER 4.0M
1.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.6K YER 8.4M
$35.1K YER 8.3M
1.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sanaa
Sa'dah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$105 YER 25.0K
$108 YER 25.6K
-2.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.70 YER 5,613
$23.19 YER 5,491
2.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$101 YER 23.9K
$103 YER 24.4K
-2.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sanaa
Sa'dah
Difference
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
$6.05 YER 1,432
-4.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sanaa
Sa'dah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$117 YER 27.7K
$115 YER 27.2K
1.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,153 YER 509.8K
$2,150 YER 509.1K
0.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sanaa
Sa'dah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.20 YER 9,994
$42.74 YER 10.1K
-1.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$123 YER 29.1K
$121 YER 28.7K
1.47%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$47.15 YER 11.2K
$48.10 YER 11.4K
-1.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.77 YER 9,419
$40.30 YER 9,545
-1.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sanaa
Sa'dah
Difference
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
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sanaa
Sa'dah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$192 YER 45.4K
$314 YER 74.4K
-39.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.25
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 Sa'dah: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Salaries run about 64% higher in Sa'dah, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Sanaa versus $25.00 in Sa'dah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $266 vs $270 – making Sanaa the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Sa'dah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sa'dah cheaper than Sanaa?
Yes – Sanaa is pricier by about 35%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,553 per month in Sanaa and $1,150 in Sa'dah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What are total monthly expenses in Sanaa and in Sa'dah?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,035 in Sanaa and $766 in Sa'dah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $117 per month in Sanaa and $115 in Sa'dah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Sanaa or in Sa'dah?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sa'dah, where all-in costs run around $766, than in Sanaa at $1,035. In Sa'dah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sanaa it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Sanaa or Sa'dah more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Sa'dah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Sa'dah. 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.

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