Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuwait City and Al-'udayliyah Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuwait City and Al-'udayliyah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,491 per month in Kuwait City vs $1,270 in Al-'udayliyah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,412 per month in Kuwait City vs $2,179 in Al-'udayliyah, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,334 per month in Kuwait City vs $3,088 in Al-'udayliyah, rent included.

Kuwait City costs about 17% more than Al-'udayliyah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Kuwait City sits 9% above the global median, while Al-'udayliyah is 7% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuwait City
Al-'udayliyah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.40 KWD 3.50
$7.74 KWD 2.38
47.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.7 KWD 19.88
$56.1 KWD 17.23
15.41%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.75 KWD 2.69
$7.85 KWD 2.41
11.46%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 KWD 0.98
$3.60 KWD 1.11
-11.67%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.78 KWD 1.47
$3.71 KWD 1.14
28.84%
Cappuccino
$5.08 KWD 1.56
$4.62 KWD 1.42
9.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70 KWD 0.21
$0.55 KWD 0.17
27.27%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 KWD 0.10
$0.33 KWD 0.10
-6.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuwait City
Al-'udayliyah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.67 KWD 0.51
$1.11 KWD 0.34
50.45%
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 KWD 0.47
$0.76 KWD 0.23
102.63%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.95 KWD 0.60
$2.10 KWD 0.65
-7.14%
Eggs
$2.15 KWD 0.66
$2.10 KWD 0.65
2.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.43 KWD 1.36
$4.39 KWD 1.35
0.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$6.65 KWD 2.04
$5.01 KWD 1.54
32.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.25 KWD 3.15
$9.77 KWD 3.00
4.91%
Apples (1kg)
$2.41 KWD 0.74
$2.15 KWD 0.66
12.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.85 KWD 0.57
$1.73 KWD 0.53
6.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 KWD 0.58
$1.12 KWD 0.34
67.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 KWD 0.48
$1.36 KWD 0.42
14.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.36 KWD 0.42
$1.46 KWD 0.45
-6.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.43 KWD 0.44
$0.89 KWD 0.27
60.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.31 KWD 0.71
$1.67 KWD 0.51
38.32%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 KWD 0.18
$0.49 KWD 0.15
22.45%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$3.30 KWD 1.01
$3.20 KWD 0.98
3.12%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05 KWD 0.32
$1.04 KWD 0.32
0.96%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.44 KWD 0.44
$1.41 KWD 0.43
2.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.78 KWD 0.85
$3.13 KWD 0.96
-11.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuwait City
Al-'udayliyah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.77 KWD 0.24
$0.86 KWD 0.27
-10.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$49.19 KWD 15.12
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.96 KWD 1.52
$2.89 KWD 0.89
71.63%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.22 KWD 0.99
$3.32 KWD 1.02
-3.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.00 KWD 4.92
$13.92 KWD 4.28
14.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.33 KWD 0.10
$0.31 KWD 0.09
6.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1K KWD 6,486
$18.1K KWD 5,561
16.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K KWD 6,394
$22.3K KWD 6,846
-6.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuwait City
Al-'udayliyah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$66.5 KWD 20.43
$70.1 KWD 21.54
-5.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.50 KWD 6.91
$22.18 KWD 6.82
1.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.76 KWD 9.15
$31.77 KWD 9.76
-6.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuwait City
Al-'udayliyah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$126 KWD 38.66
$90.9 KWD 27.92
38.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.03 KWD 10.15
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.43 KWD 3.51
$12.56 KWD 3.86
-9.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuwait City
Al-'udayliyah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$299 KWD 91.8
$289 KWD 88.9
3.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,253 KWD 2,844
$7,207 KWD 2,215
28.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuwait City
Al-'udayliyah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.06 KWD 11.39
$41.67 KWD 12.81
-11.06%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.15 KWD 12.34
$36.76 KWD 11.30
9.22%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100.0 KWD 30.72
$108 KWD 33.23
-7.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0 KWD 27.67
$85.7 KWD 26.34
5.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuwait City
Al-'udayliyah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$916 KWD 281
$713 KWD 219
28.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$637 KWD 196
$565 KWD 174
12.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,966 KWD 604
$1,537 KWD 472
27.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,361 KWD 418
$1,198 KWD 368
13.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,250 KWD 1,613
$12.1K KWD 3,716
-56.58%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,419 KWD 743
$2,926 KWD 899
-17.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuwait City
Al-'udayliyah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,111 KWD 649
$5,324 KWD 1,636
-60.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.53
6.53
-

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

Last update for Kuwait City: September 13, 2026

Last update for Al-'udayliyah: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $916 in Kuwait City versus $713 in Al-'udayliyah. 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 152% higher in Al-'udayliyah, 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 Kuwait City versus $56.0 in Al-'udayliyah. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $154 – making Al-'udayliyah 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
Kuwait City vs Al-'udayliyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kuwait City or Al-'udayliyah?
Kuwait City costs about 17% more than Al-'udayliyah, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Kuwait City and in Al-'udayliyah?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,236 per month in Kuwait City and $1,904 in Al-'udayliyah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Kuwait City or Al-'udayliyah?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Al-'udayliyah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Kuwait City and in Al-'udayliyah?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $65.0 in Kuwait City and $56.0 in Al-'udayliyah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Kuwait City or in Al-'udayliyah?
Groceries cost about 22% 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.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Kuwait City or in Al-'udayliyah?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Al-'udayliyah, where all-in costs run around $1,270, than in Kuwait City at $1,491. In Al-'udayliyah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuwait City it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Al-'udayliyah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Kuwait City compared to Al-'udayliyah?
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.
Should I move to Kuwait City or to Al-'udayliyah?
If budget matters most, go with Al-'udayliyah. 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.

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