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 $1,378 per month in Shaab vs $1,312 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,321 per month in Shaab vs $2,228 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,263 per month in Shaab vs $3,143 in Sabah Al Salem, rent included.

Shaab costs about 5% more than Sabah Al Salem, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.09 KWD 3.09

$7.56 KWD 2.32

33.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.4 KWD 24.97

$58.7 KWD 18.00

38.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 KWD 2.69

$8.59 KWD 2.63

1.98%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 KWD 0.77

$2.48 KWD 0.76

0.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 KWD 1.10

$3.56 KWD 1.09

0.84%

Cappuccino

$5.86 KWD 1.80

$5.34 KWD 1.64

9.74%

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

$0.68 KWD 0.21

$0.62 KWD 0.19

9.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 KWD 0.12

$0.34 KWD 0.10

11.76%

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

$1.65 KWD 0.51

4.85%

Eggs

$2.09 KWD 0.64

$2.04 KWD 0.62

2.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.17 KWD 1.58

$4.58 KWD 1.40

12.88%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.59 KWD 2.02

$6.68 KWD 2.05

-1.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.23 KWD 3.14

$9.91 KWD 3.04

3.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.46 KWD 0.76

$2.35 KWD 0.72

4.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.88 KWD 0.58

$1.65 KWD 0.51

13.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 KWD 0.55

$1.56 KWD 0.48

14.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 KWD 0.46

$1.43 KWD 0.44

4.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 KWD 0.38

$1.23 KWD 0.38

0.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 KWD 0.39

$1.10 KWD 0.34

14.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.61 KWD 0.49

$1.69 KWD 0.52

-4.73%

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

$1.00 KWD 0.31

1.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 KWD 0.41

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.99 KWD 0.92

$2.86 KWD 0.88

4.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 KWD 0.27

$0.90 KWD 0.28

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$45.00 KWD 13.80

$44.87 KWD 13.76

0.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 KWD 1.01

$3.18 KWD 0.97

3.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.26 KWD 1.00

$3.16 KWD 0.97

3.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.30 KWD 5.00

$16.57 KWD 5.08

-1.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

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

$21.3K KWD 6,525

$20.5K KWD 6,280

3.89%

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

$19.9K KWD 6,114

$18.9K KWD 5,794

5.53%

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

$62.6 KWD 19.20

$63.6 KWD 19.50

-1.56%

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

$18.95 KWD 5.81

$18.43 KWD 5.65

2.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.89 KWD 7.94

$26.24 KWD 8.05

-1.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.5 KWD 28.97

$95.5 KWD 29.30

-1.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.50 KWD 13.95

$46.83 KWD 14.36

-2.84%

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

$278 KWD 85.4

46.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,485 KWD 1,989

$6,070 KWD 1,862

6.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.61 KWD 13.07

$42.73 KWD 13.11

-0.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.28 KWD 12.97

$42.21 KWD 12.95

0.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.1 KWD 26.41

$87.9 KWD 26.96

-2.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.1 KWD 24.86

$81.8 KWD 25.07

-0.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$779 KWD 239

$808 KWD 248

-3.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$605 KWD 185

$611 KWD 188

-1.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,547 KWD 474

$1,586 KWD 486

-2.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,269 KWD 389

$1,309 KWD 402

-3.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$3,219 KWD 987

$2,958 KWD 907

8.82%

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 Sabah Al Salem: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $779 in Shaab versus $808 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 partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $81.0 in Shaab versus $59.0 in Sabah Al Salem. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $170 – making Sabah Al Salem 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 – 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 $2,067 per month in Shaab and $1,968 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 Sabah Al Salem, 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 $81.0 in Shaab and $59.0 in Sabah Al Salem. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,378 in Shaab and $1,312 in Sabah Al Salem. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Sabah Al Salem, where all-in costs run around $1,312, than in Shaab at $1,378. In Sabah Al Salem it covers expenses comfortably, while in Shaab it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sabah Al Salem – 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 Sabah Al Salem. 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.