Cost of Living Comparison Between Hawalli and Kuwait City Cost of Living Comparison Between Hawalli and Kuwait City

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,101 per month in Hawalli vs $1,427 in Kuwait City, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,962 per month in Hawalli vs $2,375 in Kuwait City, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,824 per month in Hawalli vs $3,322 in Kuwait City, rent included.

Hawalli is about 23% cheaper than Kuwait City, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Hawalli sits 18% below the global median, while Kuwait City is 6% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.84 KWD 1.48

$10.06 KWD 3.09

-51.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$68.0 KWD 20.85

$83.0 KWD 25.46

-18.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.77 KWD 2.69

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 KWD 0.77

$2.44 KWD 0.75

2.46%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.28 KWD 1.01

$3.76 KWD 1.15

-12.77%

Cappuccino

$4.54 KWD 1.39

$5.95 KWD 1.83

-23.70%

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

$0.52 KWD 0.16

$0.69 KWD 0.21

-24.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.11

$0.35 KWD 0.11

-2.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.60 KWD 0.49

$1.56 KWD 0.48

2.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 KWD 0.40

$1.29 KWD 0.39

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.80 KWD 0.55

$1.72 KWD 0.53

4.65%

Eggs

$2.03 KWD 0.62

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.37 KWD 1.03

$5.16 KWD 1.58

-34.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.32 KWD 1.02

$6.64 KWD 2.04

-50.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.64 KWD 1.73

$10.28 KWD 3.15

-45.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.37 KWD 0.73

$2.38 KWD 0.73

-0.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 KWD 0.60

$1.95 KWD 0.60

0.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.80 KWD 0.55

$1.75 KWD 0.54

2.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 KWD 0.44

$1.43 KWD 0.44

0.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 KWD 0.37

$1.23 KWD 0.38

-1.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 KWD 0.40

$1.27 KWD 0.39

3.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.63 KWD 0.50

$1.62 KWD 0.50

0.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.32 KWD 0.10

$0.48 KWD 0.15

-33.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.17 KWD 0.97

$3.31 KWD 1.02

-4.23%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 KWD 0.31

$1.05 KWD 0.32

-4.76%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 KWD 0.40

$1.38 KWD 0.42

-4.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.98 KWD 0.92

$2.97 KWD 0.91

0.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 KWD 0.24

$0.86 KWD 0.26

-8.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$48.30 KWD 14.81

$38.87 KWD 11.92

24.26%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.21 KWD 0.98

$3.23 KWD 0.99

-0.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.28 KWD 1.01

$3.19 KWD 0.98

2.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.02 KWD 4.91

$16.27 KWD 4.99

-1.54%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.37 KWD 0.11

$0.36 KWD 0.11

2.78%

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

$21.5K KWD 6,585

$20.8K KWD 6,390

3.06%

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

$19.9K KWD 6,099

$19.6K KWD 6,013

1.44%

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

$61.8 KWD 18.96

$62.4 KWD 19.14

-0.91%

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

$18.89 KWD 5.79

$18.33 KWD 5.62

3.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.93 KWD 7.95

$25.30 KWD 7.76

2.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$49.89 KWD 15.30

$109 KWD 33.32

-54.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.54 KWD 14.27

$20.90 KWD 6.41

122.68%

Cinema Ticket

$9.79 KWD 3.00

$11.33 KWD 3.47

-13.59%

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

$405 KWD 124

$402 KWD 123

0.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,666 KWD 2,045

$6,711 KWD 2,058

-0.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.17 KWD 9.87

$42.86 KWD 13.14

-24.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.57 KWD 13.06

$42.89 KWD 13.15

-0.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.3 KWD 27.39

$86.2 KWD 26.45

3.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.3 KWD 24.92

$82.2 KWD 25.20

-1.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$594 KWD 182

$890 KWD 273

-33.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$492 KWD 151

$666 KWD 204

-26.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$976 KWD 299

$1,765 KWD 541

-44.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,313 KWD 1,016

$1,373 KWD 421

141.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,320 KWD 1,632

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,372 KWD 727

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,854 KWD 569

$2,052 KWD 629

-9.64%

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 Hawalli: June 1, 2026

Last update for Kuwait City: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $594 in Hawalli versus $890 in Kuwait City. 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 11% higher in Kuwait City, 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 $68.0 in Hawalli versus $83.0 in Kuwait City. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $143 vs $179 – making Hawalli 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

Hawalli vs Kuwait City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,101 in Hawalli, $1,427 in Kuwait City – roughly 30% apart. Kuwait City costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,651 per month in Hawalli and $2,140 in Kuwait City. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 26% more in Kuwait City, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $68.0 in Hawalli and $83.0 in Kuwait City. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Hawalli, where all-in costs run around $1,101, than in Kuwait City at $1,427. In Hawalli it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuwait City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Hawalli has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,101 in Hawalli to $1,427 in Kuwait City. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Hawalli. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kuwait City makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.