Cost of Living Comparison Between Shaab and Sabah Al Salem Cost of Living Comparison Between Shaab and Sabah Al Salem

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,360 per month in Shaab vs $1,400 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,273 per month in Shaab vs $2,495 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,186 per month in Shaab vs $3,589 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

Shaab is about 3% cheaper than Sabah Al Salem, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Shaab sits 1% below the global median, while Sabah Al Salem is 2% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.13 KWD 4.03

$7.93 KWD 2.43

65.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$65.1 KWD 19.96

$72.6 KWD 22.26

-10.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.65 KWD 2.65

$9.17 KWD 2.81

-5.67%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.14 KWD 0.96

$3.26 KWD 1.00

-3.68%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.94 KWD 1.52

$3.16 KWD 0.97

56.33%

Cappuccino

$5.40 KWD 1.65

$6.44 KWD 1.97

-16.15%

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

$0.70 KWD 0.21

$0.47 KWD 0.15

48.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.11

$0.51 KWD 0.16

-33.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 KWD 0.51

$1.97 KWD 0.60

-15.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 KWD 0.47

$1.26 KWD 0.39

20.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.96 KWD 0.60

$2.06 KWD 0.63

-4.85%

Eggs

$2.06 KWD 0.63

$3.16 KWD 0.97

-34.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.47 KWD 1.37

$7.26 KWD 2.23

-38.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.58 KWD 2.02

$5.43 KWD 1.67

21.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.40 KWD 3.19

$10.33 KWD 3.17

0.68%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 KWD 0.75

$2.46 KWD 0.75

-0.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 KWD 0.57

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 KWD 0.56

$1.31 KWD 0.40

38.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 KWD 0.46

$1.54 KWD 0.47

-2.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 KWD 0.43

$1.32 KWD 0.41

5.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 KWD 0.45

$0.96 KWD 0.29

54.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.29 KWD 0.70

$1.60 KWD 0.49

43.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 KWD 0.17

$0.47 KWD 0.14

14.89%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.15 KWD 0.96

$3.12 KWD 0.96

0.96%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

$1.03 KWD 0.32

1.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 KWD 0.44

$1.63 KWD 0.50

-11.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.82 KWD 0.86

$2.91 KWD 0.89

-3.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 KWD 0.26

$0.81 KWD 0.25

3.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$114 KWD 34.94

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.81 KWD 1.47

$3.37 KWD 1.03

42.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.17 KWD 0.97

$3.70 KWD 1.13

-14.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.44 KWD 5.04

$17.45 KWD 5.35

-5.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 KWD 0.10

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

$21.1K KWD 6,484

$20.0K KWD 6,121

5.93%

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

$20.4K KWD 6,249

$20.5K KWD 6,295

-0.72%

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

$65.7 KWD 20.16

$38.32 KWD 11.75

71.56%

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

$22.73 KWD 6.97

$23.88 KWD 7.32

-4.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.56 KWD 9.37

$39.34 KWD 12.06

-22.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$96.2 KWD 29.49

$131 KWD 40.27

-26.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.26 KWD 11.73

Cinema Ticket

$11.43 KWD 3.50

$11.13 KWD 3.41

2.70%

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

$304 KWD 93.1

$273 KWD 83.8

11.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,545 KWD 2,927

$7,488 KWD 2,296

27.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.16 KWD 11.70

$37.51 KWD 11.50

1.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.02 KWD 12.27

$39.45 KWD 12.10

1.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100.0 KWD 30.65

$98.2 KWD 30.11

1.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.1 KWD 27.00

$88.8 KWD 27.21

-0.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$720 KWD 221

$731 KWD 224

-1.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$590 KWD 181

$552 KWD 169

6.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,750 KWD 536

$1,811 KWD 555

-3.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,326 KWD 407

$1,319 KWD 404

0.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,181 KWD 975

$2,911 KWD 893

9.27%

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 7, 2026

Last update for Sabah Al Salem: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $720 in Shaab versus $731 in Sabah Al Salem. 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 9% higher in Shaab, 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 $65.0 in Shaab versus $73.0 in Sabah Al Salem. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $186 vs $187 – making Shaab 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 Sabah Al Salem: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Sabah Al Salem is pricier by about 3%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,040 per month in Shaab and $2,100 in Sabah Al Salem. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Shaab, 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 $65.0 in Shaab and $73.0 in Sabah Al Salem. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 1% more in Sabah Al Salem, 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 Shaab, where all-in costs run around $1,360, than in Sabah Al Salem at $1,400. In Shaab it covers expenses comfortably, while in Sabah Al Salem it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Shaab – 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 Shaab. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Sabah Al Salem makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.