Cost of Living Comparison Between Shaab and Hadiya Cost of Living Comparison Between Shaab and Hadiya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,375 per month in Shaab vs $1,325 in Hadiya, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,359 per month in Shaab vs $2,216 in Hadiya, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,344 per month in Shaab vs $3,106 in Hadiya, rent included.

Shaab costs about 4% more than Hadiya, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Shaab and Hadiya sit above the global median – Shaab by 3%, Hadiya by 0%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.63 KWD 2.96

$7.65 KWD 2.35

25.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$82.5 KWD 25.37

$58.0 KWD 17.84

42.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.98 KWD 2.76

$8.44 KWD 2.60

6.40%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 KWD 0.74

$2.49 KWD 0.77

-2.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.63 KWD 1.12

$3.57 KWD 1.10

1.68%

Cappuccino

$5.85 KWD 1.80

$5.44 KWD 1.67

7.54%

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

$0.65 KWD 0.20

$0.63 KWD 0.19

3.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 KWD 0.11

$0.37 KWD 0.11

-5.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 KWD 0.50

$1.44 KWD 0.44

12.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 KWD 0.38

$1.06 KWD 0.33

16.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 KWD 0.55

$1.72 KWD 0.53

4.07%

Eggs

$2.05 KWD 0.63

$2.06 KWD 0.63

-0.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.06 KWD 1.56

$4.46 KWD 1.37

13.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.31 KWD 1.94

$6.69 KWD 2.06

-5.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.17 KWD 3.13

$9.57 KWD 2.94

6.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 KWD 0.73

$2.23 KWD 0.68

6.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 KWD 0.61

$1.62 KWD 0.50

21.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 KWD 0.55

$1.50 KWD 0.46

19.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 KWD 0.46

$1.36 KWD 0.42

10.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 KWD 0.38

$1.26 KWD 0.39

-2.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.28 KWD 0.39

$1.14 KWD 0.35

12.28%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.60 KWD 0.49

$1.70 KWD 0.52

-5.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 KWD 0.14

$0.46 KWD 0.14

-2.17%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.17 KWD 0.97

$3.61 KWD 1.11

-12.19%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 KWD 0.32

$1.01 KWD 0.31

2.97%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 KWD 0.42

$1.39 KWD 0.43

-1.44%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 KWD 0.92

$2.88 KWD 0.89

3.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 KWD 0.25

$0.88 KWD 0.27

-6.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$44.43 KWD 13.67

$44.30 KWD 13.63

0.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 KWD 0.99

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.29 KWD 1.01

$3.27 KWD 1.00

0.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.30 KWD 5.01

$16.14 KWD 4.96

0.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

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

$20.9K KWD 6,429

$20.0K KWD 6,159

4.38%

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

$19.6K KWD 6,018

$18.9K KWD 5,817

3.46%

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

$62.8 KWD 19.30

$62.9 KWD 19.35

-0.25%

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

$18.65 KWD 5.74

$18.53 KWD 5.70

0.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.32 KWD 7.79

$25.72 KWD 7.91

-1.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$92.2 KWD 28.35

$94.4 KWD 29.03

-2.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.43 KWD 13.98

$46.49 KWD 14.30

-2.28%

Cinema Ticket

$11.38 KWD 3.50

$11.27 KWD 3.47

0.98%

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

$402 KWD 124

$283 KWD 86.9

42.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,464 KWD 1,988

$6,121 KWD 1,883

5.60%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.97 KWD 13.22

$41.65 KWD 12.81

3.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.84 KWD 13.18

$42.30 KWD 13.01

1.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.7 KWD 26.67

$88.9 KWD 27.34

-2.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.8 KWD 24.85

$81.5 KWD 25.06

-0.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$796 KWD 245

$803 KWD 247

-0.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$620 KWD 191

$600 KWD 185

3.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,591 KWD 489

$1,563 KWD 481

1.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,288 KWD 396

$1,285 KWD 395

0.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,166 KWD 974

$4,593 KWD 1,413

-31.08%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Hadiya: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $796 in Shaab versus $803 in Hadiya. 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 45% higher in Hadiya, 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 $82.0 in Shaab versus $58.0 in Hadiya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $178 vs $168 – making Hadiya 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 Hadiya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Shaab is pricier by about 4%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,062 per month in Shaab and $1,988 in Hadiya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Public transport costs about 0% less in Hadiya. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $402 per month in Shaab and $283 in Hadiya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Hadiya, where all-in costs run around $1,325, than in Shaab at $1,375. In Hadiya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shaab it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Hadiya – 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 Hadiya. 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.