Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuwait City and Ar-rawdah Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuwait City and Ar-rawdah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,491 in Kuwait City versus $1,333 in Ar-rawdah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,412 in Kuwait City versus $2,249 in Ar-rawdah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,334 in Kuwait City versus $3,165 in Ar-rawdah.

Living in Kuwait City is roughly 12% more expensive than in Ar-rawdah, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kuwait City is 9% above, Ar-rawdah is 3% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.40 KWD 3.50

$11.29 KWD 3.47

0.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.7 KWD 19.88

$63.7 KWD 19.58

1.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.75 KWD 2.69

$9.04 KWD 2.78

-3.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.18 KWD 0.98

$3.30 KWD 1.01

-3.64%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.78 KWD 1.47

$4.89 KWD 1.50

-2.25%

Cappuccino

$5.08 KWD 1.56

$5.30 KWD 1.63

-4.15%

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

$0.70 KWD 0.21

$0.71 KWD 0.22

-1.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 KWD 0.10

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 KWD 0.51

$1.60 KWD 0.49

4.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 KWD 0.47

$1.53 KWD 0.47

0.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 KWD 0.60

$2.00 KWD 0.61

-2.50%

Eggs

$2.15 KWD 0.66

$2.07 KWD 0.64

3.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.43 KWD 1.36

$4.35 KWD 1.34

1.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.65 KWD 2.04

$6.83 KWD 2.10

-2.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.25 KWD 3.15

$10.45 KWD 3.21

-1.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.41 KWD 0.74

$2.44 KWD 0.75

-1.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 KWD 0.57

$1.94 KWD 0.59

-4.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 KWD 0.58

$1.81 KWD 0.56

3.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 KWD 0.48

$1.50 KWD 0.46

4.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.36 KWD 0.42

$1.39 KWD 0.43

-2.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

$1.48 KWD 0.45

-3.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.31 KWD 0.71

$2.38 KWD 0.73

-2.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 KWD 0.18

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.30 KWD 1.01

$3.32 KWD 1.02

-0.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

$1.02 KWD 0.31

2.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 KWD 0.44

$1.38 KWD 0.42

4.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.78 KWD 0.85

$2.80 KWD 0.86

-0.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 KWD 0.24

$0.82 KWD 0.25

-6.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.19 KWD 15.12

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.96 KWD 1.52

$4.82 KWD 1.48

2.90%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.22 KWD 0.99

$3.19 KWD 0.98

0.94%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.00 KWD 4.92

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 KWD 0.10

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

$21.1K KWD 6,486

$21.1K KWD 6,487

-0.00%

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

$20.8K KWD 6,394

$20.4K KWD 6,255

2.22%

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

$66.5 KWD 20.43

$66.2 KWD 20.33

0.48%

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

$22.50 KWD 6.91

$22.53 KWD 6.92

-0.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.76 KWD 9.15

$29.99 KWD 9.21

-0.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$126 KWD 38.66

$102 KWD 31.20

23.91%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.03 KWD 10.15

Cinema Ticket

$11.43 KWD 3.51

$11.47 KWD 3.52

-0.35%

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

$299 KWD 91.8

$300 KWD 92.2

-0.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,253 KWD 2,844

$9,436 KWD 2,900

-1.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.06 KWD 11.39

$37.81 KWD 11.62

-1.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.15 KWD 12.34

$39.84 KWD 12.24

0.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100.0 KWD 30.72

$99.8 KWD 30.66

0.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 KWD 27.67

$88.9 KWD 27.32

1.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$916 KWD 281

$737 KWD 226

24.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$637 KWD 196

$545 KWD 167

17.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,966 KWD 604

$1,847 KWD 567

6.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,361 KWD 418

$1,320 KWD 406

3.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,250 KWD 1,613

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,419 KWD 743

$1,642 KWD 505

47.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,111 KWD 649

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 Kuwait City: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ar-rawdah: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $916 in Kuwait City and $737 in Ar-rawdah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $65.0 in Kuwait City vs $64.0 in Ar-rawdah. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 vs $189, with Kuwait City cheaper for home cooking.

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 Ar-rawdah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ar-rawdah wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Kuwait City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ar-rawdah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,236 in Kuwait City and $2,000 in Ar-rawdah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $916 in Kuwait City versus $737 in Ar-rawdah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Kuwait City pay roughly 1% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,491 per month in Kuwait City versus $1,333 in Ar-rawdah – a 12% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,333 in Ar-rawdah versus $1,491 in Kuwait City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ar-rawdah but tight or insufficient in Kuwait City. The gap between the two cities makes Ar-rawdah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Kuwait City and Ar-rawdah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ar-rawdah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Kuwait City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.