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 $1,427 per month in Kuwait City vs $1,101 in Hawalli, rent included.

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

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

Kuwait City costs about 30% more than Hawalli, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.06 KWD 3.11

$4.84 KWD 1.49

107.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.0 KWD 25.63

$68.0 KWD 20.99

22.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.77 KWD 2.71

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 KWD 0.75

$2.50 KWD 0.77

-2.40%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 KWD 1.16

$3.28 KWD 1.01

14.63%

Cappuccino

$5.95 KWD 1.84

$4.54 KWD 1.40

31.06%

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

$0.69 KWD 0.21

$0.52 KWD 0.16

32.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 KWD 0.11

$0.34 KWD 0.11

2.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 KWD 0.48

$1.60 KWD 0.50

-2.50%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 KWD 0.40

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 KWD 0.53

$1.80 KWD 0.56

-4.44%

Eggs

$2.03 KWD 0.63

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.16 KWD 1.59

$3.37 KWD 1.04

53.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.64 KWD 2.05

$3.32 KWD 1.02

100.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.28 KWD 3.17

$5.64 KWD 1.74

82.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 KWD 0.74

$2.37 KWD 0.73

0.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 KWD 0.60

$1.96 KWD 0.61

-0.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 KWD 0.54

$1.80 KWD 0.56

-2.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

$1.44 KWD 0.45

-0.69%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 KWD 0.38

$1.21 KWD 0.37

1.65%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 KWD 0.39

$1.31 KWD 0.41

-3.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 KWD 0.50

$1.63 KWD 0.50

-0.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 KWD 0.15

$0.32 KWD 0.10

50.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.31 KWD 1.02

$3.17 KWD 0.98

4.42%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

$1.00 KWD 0.31

5.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 KWD 0.43

$1.32 KWD 0.41

4.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 KWD 0.92

$2.98 KWD 0.92

-0.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 KWD 0.26

$0.79 KWD 0.25

8.86%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.87 KWD 12.00

$48.30 KWD 14.91

-19.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 KWD 1.00

$3.21 KWD 0.99

0.62%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.19 KWD 0.99

$3.28 KWD 1.01

-2.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.27 KWD 5.02

$16.02 KWD 4.95

1.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

$0.37 KWD 0.11

-2.70%

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

$20.8K KWD 6,433

$21.5K KWD 6,630

-2.97%

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

$19.6K KWD 6,054

$19.9K KWD 6,141

-1.41%

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

$62.4 KWD 19.27

$61.8 KWD 19.09

0.92%

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

$18.33 KWD 5.66

$18.89 KWD 5.83

-2.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.30 KWD 7.81

$25.93 KWD 8.01

-2.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$109 KWD 33.54

$49.89 KWD 15.41

117.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.90 KWD 6.45

$46.54 KWD 14.37

-55.09%

Cinema Ticket

$11.33 KWD 3.50

$9.79 KWD 3.02

15.73%

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

$402 KWD 124

$405 KWD 125

-0.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,711 KWD 2,072

$6,666 KWD 2,059

0.66%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.86 KWD 13.23

$32.17 KWD 9.93

33.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.89 KWD 13.24

$42.57 KWD 13.15

0.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 KWD 26.63

$89.3 KWD 27.58

-3.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.2 KWD 25.37

$81.3 KWD 25.09

1.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$890 KWD 275

$594 KWD 183

49.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$666 KWD 206

$492 KWD 152

35.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,765 KWD 545

$976 KWD 301

80.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,373 KWD 424

$3,313 KWD 1,023

-58.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,320 KWD 1,643

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,372 KWD 732

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,052 KWD 634

$1,854 KWD 573

10.67%

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 Kuwait City: May 31, 2026

Last update for Hawalli: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $890 in Kuwait City versus $594 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 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 $83.0 in Kuwait City versus $68.0 in Hawalli. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $179 vs $143 – 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: $1,427 in Kuwait City, $1,101 in Hawalli – roughly 30% apart. Kuwait City costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,140 per month in Kuwait City and $1,651 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 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 $83.0 in Kuwait City and $68.0 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 $1,101, 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.