Cost of Living Comparison Between Shaab and Fahaheel Cost of Living Comparison Between Shaab and Fahaheel

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,378 per month in Shaab vs $1,309 in Fahaheel, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,321 per month in Shaab vs $2,184 in Fahaheel, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,263 per month in Shaab vs $3,060 in Fahaheel, rent included.

Shaab costs about 5% more than Fahaheel, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Shaab sits 3% above the global median, while Fahaheel is 2% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.09 KWD 3.09

$7.88 KWD 2.42

28.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.4 KWD 24.97

$58.9 KWD 18.06

38.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 KWD 2.69

$8.33 KWD 2.56

5.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 KWD 0.77

$2.47 KWD 0.76

1.21%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 KWD 1.10

$3.46 KWD 1.06

3.76%

Cappuccino

$5.86 KWD 1.80

$5.43 KWD 1.66

7.92%

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

$0.68 KWD 0.21

$0.64 KWD 0.19

6.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 KWD 0.12

$0.33 KWD 0.10

15.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 KWD 0.49

$1.43 KWD 0.44

12.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.24 KWD 0.38

$1.05 KWD 0.32

18.10%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 KWD 0.53

$1.66 KWD 0.51

4.22%

Eggs

$2.09 KWD 0.64

$2.05 KWD 0.63

1.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.17 KWD 1.58

$4.56 KWD 1.40

13.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.59 KWD 2.02

$6.54 KWD 2.01

0.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.23 KWD 3.14

$9.53 KWD 2.92

7.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.46 KWD 0.76

$2.27 KWD 0.70

8.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 KWD 0.58

$1.69 KWD 0.52

11.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 KWD 0.55

$1.55 KWD 0.48

15.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 KWD 0.46

$1.36 KWD 0.42

10.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 KWD 0.38

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 KWD 0.39

$1.15 KWD 0.35

9.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 KWD 0.49

$1.67 KWD 0.51

-3.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 KWD 0.14

$0.46 KWD 0.14

-2.17%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.29 KWD 1.01

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 KWD 0.31

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 KWD 0.41

$1.37 KWD 0.42

-2.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 KWD 0.92

$3.02 KWD 0.93

-0.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 KWD 0.27

$0.89 KWD 0.27

1.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.00 KWD 13.80

$43.47 KWD 13.33

3.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 KWD 1.01

$3.35 KWD 1.03

-1.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.26 KWD 1.00

$3.25 KWD 1.00

0.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.30 KWD 5.00

$16.07 KWD 4.93

1.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

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

$21.3K KWD 6,525

$20.2K KWD 6,197

5.29%

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

$19.9K KWD 6,114

$19.3K KWD 5,929

3.12%

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

$62.6 KWD 19.20

$62.2 KWD 19.06

0.71%

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

$18.95 KWD 5.81

$18.44 KWD 5.66

2.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.89 KWD 7.94

$25.61 KWD 7.85

1.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.5 KWD 28.97

$82.5 KWD 25.32

14.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.50 KWD 13.95

$46.84 KWD 14.37

-2.86%

Cinema Ticket

$11.52 KWD 3.53

$11.29 KWD 3.46

2.04%

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

$407 KWD 125

$280 KWD 86.0

45.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,485 KWD 1,989

$6,002 KWD 1,841

8.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.61 KWD 13.07

$41.74 KWD 12.80

2.08%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.28 KWD 12.97

$41.96 KWD 12.87

0.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 KWD 26.41

$88.8 KWD 27.22

-2.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.1 KWD 24.86

$82.9 KWD 25.42

-2.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$779 KWD 239

$783 KWD 240

-0.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$605 KWD 185

$608 KWD 186

-0.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,547 KWD 474

$1,577 KWD 484

-1.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,269 KWD 389

$1,284 KWD 394

-1.19%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,219 KWD 987

$4,170 KWD 1,279

-22.82%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.14

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

Last update for Shaab: June 1, 2026

Last update for Fahaheel: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $779 in Shaab versus $783 in Fahaheel. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 30% higher in Fahaheel, 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 $81.0 in Shaab versus $59.0 in Fahaheel. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $167 – making Fahaheel 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

Shaab vs Fahaheel: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,378 in Shaab, $1,309 in Fahaheel – roughly 5% apart. Shaab costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,067 per month in Shaab and $1,963 in Fahaheel. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Fahaheel, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,378 in Shaab and $1,309 in Fahaheel. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 4% less in Fahaheel. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Fahaheel, where all-in costs run around $1,309, than in Shaab at $1,378. In Fahaheel it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shaab it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

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