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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,353 per month in Shaab vs $1,284 in Hadiya, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,257 per month in Shaab vs $2,164 in Hadiya, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,161 per month in Shaab vs $3,044 in Hadiya, rent included.

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

Shaab sits 0% above the global median, while Hadiya is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.30 KWD 3.48

$8.31 KWD 2.56

35.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$63.7 KWD 19.60

$57.3 KWD 17.64

11.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.83 KWD 2.72

$8.07 KWD 2.48

9.42%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.22 KWD 0.99

$3.26 KWD 1.00

-1.23%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.85 KWD 1.49

$3.28 KWD 1.01

47.87%

Cappuccino

$5.30 KWD 1.63

$5.10 KWD 1.57

3.92%

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

$0.70 KWD 0.22

$0.55 KWD 0.17

27.27%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 KWD 0.10

$0.29 KWD 0.09

6.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 KWD 0.51

$1.32 KWD 0.40

25.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 KWD 0.46

$0.77 KWD 0.24

94.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.93 KWD 0.59

$1.95 KWD 0.60

-1.03%

Eggs

$2.08 KWD 0.64

$2.15 KWD 0.66

-3.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.45 KWD 1.37

$4.42 KWD 1.36

0.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.52 KWD 2.01

$5.48 KWD 1.68

18.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.13 KWD 3.12

$10.20 KWD 3.14

-0.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.49 KWD 0.77

$2.41 KWD 0.74

3.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 KWD 0.59

$1.95 KWD 0.60

-1.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 KWD 0.55

$1.28 KWD 0.39

40.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 KWD 0.46

$1.55 KWD 0.48

-3.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 KWD 0.41

$1.32 KWD 0.40

Onion (1kg)

$1.49 KWD 0.46

$0.96 KWD 0.30

55.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.36 KWD 0.73

$1.59 KWD 0.49

48.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 KWD 0.18

$0.50 KWD 0.16

20.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.22 KWD 0.99

$3.18 KWD 0.98

1.26%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.07 KWD 0.33

$1.02 KWD 0.31

4.90%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 KWD 0.43

$1.45 KWD 0.45

-3.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.71 KWD 0.83

$2.68 KWD 0.82

1.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 KWD 0.24

$0.84 KWD 0.26

-5.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.80 KWD 1.48

$3.17 KWD 0.98

51.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.22 KWD 0.99

$3.27 KWD 1.00

-1.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.35 KWD 5.03

$16.05 KWD 4.94

1.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 KWD 0.10

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

$20.8K KWD 6,405

$20.7K KWD 6,381

0.38%

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

$20.7K KWD 6,380

$20.4K KWD 6,274

1.70%

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

$65.5 KWD 20.15

$65.2 KWD 20.05

0.48%

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

$22.89 KWD 7.04

$21.25 KWD 6.54

7.72%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.62 KWD 9.42

$30.06 KWD 9.25

1.86%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$95.2 KWD 29.30

$96.9 KWD 29.82

-1.74%

Cinema Ticket

$11.28 KWD 3.47

$11.42 KWD 3.51

-1.23%

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

$301 KWD 92.6

$274 KWD 84.2

10.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,466 KWD 2,912

$7,587 KWD 2,334

24.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.85 KWD 11.64

$38.03 KWD 11.70

-0.47%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.26 KWD 12.39

$39.91 KWD 12.28

0.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.3 KWD 30.55

$97.3 KWD 29.92

2.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.9 KWD 27.64

$89.4 KWD 27.49

0.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$732 KWD 225

$733 KWD 226

-0.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$576 KWD 177

$575 KWD 177

0.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,806 KWD 555

$1,773 KWD 545

1.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,359 KWD 418

$1,324 KWD 407

2.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,211 KWD 988

$4,445 KWD 1,367

-27.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.53

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

Last update for Shaab: September 21, 2026

Last update for Hadiya: September 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $732 in Shaab versus $733 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 38% 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 $64.0 in Shaab versus $57.0 in Hadiya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $163 – 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 5%, 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 $2,029 per month in Shaab and $1,926 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $64.0 in Shaab and $57.0 in Hadiya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 14% more in Shaab, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Hadiya, where all-in costs run around $1,284, than in Shaab at $1,353. 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.