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 $1,169 per month in Hawalli vs $1,497 in Kuwait City, rent included.

A couple spends around $3,010 per month in Hawalli vs $2,433 in Kuwait City, rent included.

A family of three spends $4,851 per month in Hawalli vs $3,369 in Kuwait City, rent included.

Hawalli is about 22% cheaper than Kuwait City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Hawalli sits 15% below the global median, while Kuwait City is 9% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.79 KWD 1.48

$12.93 KWD 3.99

-62.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.7 KWD 19.97

$63.6 KWD 19.62

1.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.00 KWD 2.78

$8.72 KWD 2.69

3.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.16 KWD 0.98

$3.33 KWD 1.03

-5.11%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 KWD 0.99

$4.94 KWD 1.52

-34.82%

Cappuccino

$4.84 KWD 1.49

$5.30 KWD 1.64

-8.68%

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

$0.41 KWD 0.13

$0.74 KWD 0.23

-44.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 KWD 0.12

$0.34 KWD 0.11

8.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 KWD 0.51

$1.57 KWD 0.49

4.46%

White Bread (500g)

$1.53 KWD 0.47

$1.54 KWD 0.47

-0.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 KWD 0.60

$1.90 KWD 0.59

2.63%

Eggs

$2.05 KWD 0.63

$2.16 KWD 0.67

-5.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$3.27 KWD 1.01

$4.44 KWD 1.37

-26.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.21 KWD 0.99

$6.63 KWD 2.05

-51.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$3.29 KWD 1.02

$10.25 KWD 3.16

-67.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 KWD 0.78

$2.46 KWD 0.76

3.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 KWD 0.60

$1.94 KWD 0.60

0.52%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 KWD 0.58

$1.79 KWD 0.55

5.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 KWD 0.46

$1.54 KWD 0.47

-2.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 KWD 0.41

$1.37 KWD 0.42

-3.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.48 KWD 0.46

$1.49 KWD 0.46

-0.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.28 KWD 0.70

$2.39 KWD 0.74

-4.60%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 KWD 0.17

$0.54 KWD 0.17

1.85%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.19 KWD 0.98

$3.19 KWD 0.99

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.02 KWD 0.32

$1.01 KWD 0.31

0.99%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.40 KWD 0.43

$1.39 KWD 0.43

0.72%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.67 KWD 0.82

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 KWD 0.25

$0.80 KWD 0.25

2.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.38 KWD 15.24

$48.22 KWD 14.89

2.41%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.73 KWD 1.46

$4.74 KWD 1.46

-0.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.30 KWD 1.02

$3.26 KWD 1.01

1.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.07 KWD 4.96

$16.34 KWD 5.04

-1.65%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

$0.35 KWD 0.11

2.86%

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

$21.4K KWD 6,595

$20.7K KWD 6,386

3.28%

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

$20.3K KWD 6,262

$20.2K KWD 6,235

0.43%

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

$64.7 KWD 19.97

$64.9 KWD 20.05

-0.38%

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

$22.99 KWD 7.10

$22.24 KWD 6.86

3.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.54 KWD 7.89

$29.52 KWD 9.11

-13.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.2 KWD 19.81

$123 KWD 38.05

-47.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$32.45 KWD 10.02

Cinema Ticket

$11.13 KWD 3.44

$11.52 KWD 3.56

-3.39%

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

$304 KWD 93.7

$303 KWD 93.4

0.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,531 KWD 2,942

$9,492 KWD 2,930

0.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.13 KWD 9.92

$38.42 KWD 11.86

-16.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.36 KWD 12.15

$39.37 KWD 12.15

-0.03%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.1 KWD 29.98

$98.3 KWD 30.36

-1.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.0 KWD 27.16

$89.3 KWD 27.58

-1.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 KWD 180

$925 KWD 286

-36.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$485 KWD 150

$637 KWD 197

-23.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$982 KWD 303

$1,994 KWD 615

-50.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$3,180 KWD 982

$1,341 KWD 414

137.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,368 KWD 1,657

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,407 KWD 743

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,881 KWD 581

$2,080 KWD 642

-9.59%

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 Hawalli: September 1, 2026

Last update for Kuwait City: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $584 in Hawalli versus $925 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 $65.0 in Hawalli versus $64.0 in Kuwait City. Groceries tell a different story – $145 in Hawalli vs $186 in Kuwait City – so Hawalli wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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: $1,169 in Hawalli, $1,497 in Kuwait City – roughly 28% apart. Kuwait City costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,754 per month in Hawalli and $2,246 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 28% 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 $65.0 in Hawalli and $64.0 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 $1,169, than in Kuwait City at $1,497. 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 $1,169 in Hawalli to $1,497 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.