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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,491 per month in Kuwait City vs $1,139 in Hawalli, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,412 per month in Kuwait City vs $3,048 in Hawalli, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,334 per month in Kuwait City vs $4,957 in Hawalli, rent included.

Kuwait City costs about 31% more than Hawalli, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Kuwait City sits 9% above the global median, while Hawalli is 17% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.40 KWD 3.50

$4.89 KWD 1.50

133.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$64.7 KWD 19.86

$64.5 KWD 19.80

0.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.75 KWD 2.69

$8.99 KWD 2.76

-2.67%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.18 KWD 0.98

$3.17 KWD 0.97

0.32%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.78 KWD 1.47

$3.18 KWD 0.98

50.31%

Cappuccino

$5.08 KWD 1.56

$5.11 KWD 1.57

-0.59%

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

$0.70 KWD 0.21

$0.45 KWD 0.14

55.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 KWD 0.10

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 KWD 0.51

$1.64 KWD 0.50

1.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.54 KWD 0.47

$1.48 KWD 0.45

4.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.95 KWD 0.60

$1.93 KWD 0.59

1.04%

Eggs

$2.15 KWD 0.66

$2.16 KWD 0.66

-0.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.43 KWD 1.36

$3.20 KWD 0.98

38.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.65 KWD 2.04

$3.28 KWD 1.01

102.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.25 KWD 3.15

$3.31 KWD 1.02

209.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.41 KWD 0.74

Banana (1kg)

$1.85 KWD 0.57

$1.86 KWD 0.57

-0.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 KWD 0.58

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 KWD 0.48

$1.54 KWD 0.47

1.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.36 KWD 0.42

$1.37 KWD 0.42

-0.73%

Onion (1kg)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

$1.48 KWD 0.45

-3.38%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.31 KWD 0.71

$2.30 KWD 0.71

0.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 KWD 0.18

$0.54 KWD 0.17

11.11%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.30 KWD 1.01

$3.18 KWD 0.98

3.77%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 KWD 0.44

$1.40 KWD 0.43

2.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.78 KWD 0.85

$2.73 KWD 0.84

1.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 KWD 0.24

$0.84 KWD 0.26

-8.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.19 KWD 15.10

$48.12 KWD 14.77

2.22%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.96 KWD 1.52

$4.73 KWD 1.45

4.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.22 KWD 0.99

$3.18 KWD 0.98

1.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.00 KWD 4.91

$16.27 KWD 4.99

-1.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.33 KWD 0.10

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

$21.1K KWD 6,480

$20.9K KWD 6,418

0.96%

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

$20.8K KWD 6,388

$20.7K KWD 6,341

0.74%

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

$66.5 KWD 20.41

$65.5 KWD 20.12

1.46%

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

$22.50 KWD 6.91

$22.40 KWD 6.88

0.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.76 KWD 9.14

$25.88 KWD 7.94

14.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$126 KWD 38.62

$64.2 KWD 19.72

95.87%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$33.03 KWD 10.14

Cinema Ticket

$11.43 KWD 3.51

$11.32 KWD 3.48

0.97%

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

$299 KWD 91.8

$299 KWD 91.9

-0.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,253 KWD 2,841

$9,316 KWD 2,860

-0.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.06 KWD 11.38

$32.64 KWD 10.02

13.54%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.15 KWD 12.33

$39.76 KWD 12.21

0.98%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100.0 KWD 30.69

$97.1 KWD 29.81

2.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 KWD 27.64

$88.9 KWD 27.28

1.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$916 KWD 281

$575 KWD 177

59.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$637 KWD 196

$495 KWD 152

28.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,966 KWD 604

$953 KWD 292

106.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,361 KWD 418

$3,236 KWD 994

-57.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,250 KWD 1,612

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,419 KWD 743

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,111 KWD 648

$1,876 KWD 576

12.49%

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 Hawalli: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $916 in Kuwait City versus $575 in Hawalli. 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 12% 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 Kuwait City versus $64.0 in Hawalli. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $145 – 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

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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,491 in Kuwait City, $1,139 in Hawalli – roughly 31% apart. Kuwait City costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,236 per month in Kuwait City and $1,709 in Hawalli. 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 30% 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 Kuwait City and $64.0 in Hawalli. 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 $1,139, than in Kuwait City at $1,491. 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 $1,139 in Hawalli to $1,491 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.