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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,469 in Kuwait City versus $1,228 in Mahboula.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,440 in Kuwait City versus $1,997 in Mahboula.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,411 in Kuwait City versus $2,767 in Mahboula.

Living in Kuwait City is roughly 20% more expensive than in Mahboula, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kuwait City is 10% above, Mahboula is 8% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.88 KWD 3.04

$6.67 KWD 2.05

48.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.7 KWD 24.79

$25.91 KWD 7.96

211.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.26 KWD 2.85

$8.76 KWD 2.69

5.71%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 KWD 0.74

$1.67 KWD 0.51

44.91%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 KWD 1.14

$3.20 KWD 0.98

15.31%

Cappuccino

$5.92 KWD 1.82

$5.99 KWD 1.84

-1.17%

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

$0.68 KWD 0.21

$0.51 KWD 0.16

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 KWD 0.12

$0.18 KWD 0.06

111.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 KWD 0.50

$1.56 KWD 0.48

4.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 KWD 0.40

$1.01 KWD 0.31

27.72%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.79 KWD 0.55

$1.73 KWD 0.53

3.47%

Eggs

$2.10 KWD 0.64

$1.28 KWD 0.39

64.06%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.28 KWD 1.62

$5.15 KWD 1.58

2.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.52 KWD 2.00

$6.45 KWD 1.98

1.09%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.30 KWD 3.17

$10.51 KWD 3.23

-2.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.43 KWD 0.75

$2.35 KWD 0.72

3.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.89 KWD 0.58

$1.99 KWD 0.61

-5.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.78 KWD 0.55

$1.73 KWD 0.53

2.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.44 KWD 0.44

$1.13 KWD 0.35

27.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.22 KWD 0.38

$1.23 KWD 0.38

-0.81%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 KWD 0.40

$1.12 KWD 0.35

17.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.69 KWD 0.52

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 KWD 0.14

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.27 KWD 1.01

$3.28 KWD 1.01

-0.30%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 KWD 0.32

$1.05 KWD 0.32

-0.95%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 KWD 0.41

$1.37 KWD 0.42

-1.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 KWD 0.88

$1.65 KWD 0.51

72.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 KWD 0.26

$0.86 KWD 0.26

-1.16%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.92 KWD 11.96

$49.21 KWD 15.13

-20.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 KWD 1.03

$1.61 KWD 0.49

107.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.17 KWD 0.97

$1.60 KWD 0.49

98.12%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.40 KWD 5.04

$5.80 KWD 1.78

182.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

$0.20 KWD 0.06

80.00%

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

$21.0K KWD 6,442

$19.6K KWD 6,033

6.78%

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

$19.8K KWD 6,074

$17.9K KWD 5,499

10.46%

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

$62.7 KWD 19.27

$62.1 KWD 19.10

0.92%

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

$18.39 KWD 5.65

$16.54 KWD 5.09

11.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.42 KWD 7.81

$26.13 KWD 8.03

-2.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$108 KWD 33.14

$93.4 KWD 28.72

15.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.51 KWD 6.61

$46.15 KWD 14.19

-53.39%

Cinema Ticket

$11.53 KWD 3.55

$11.37 KWD 3.50

1.41%

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

$400 KWD 123

$392 KWD 121

1.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,575 KWD 2,021

$6,467 KWD 1,988

1.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.00 KWD 12.91

$41.82 KWD 12.86

0.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.82 KWD 12.86

$42.84 KWD 13.17

-2.38%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.9 KWD 27.32

$87.1 KWD 26.77

2.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.7 KWD 25.42

$81.3 KWD 25.00

1.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$868 KWD 267

$723 KWD 222

19.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$653 KWD 201

$497 KWD 153

31.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,757 KWD 540

$1,824 KWD 561

-3.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,371 KWD 422

$1,148 KWD 353

19.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,223 KWD 1,606

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,377 KWD 731

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,068 KWD 636

$1,278 KWD 393

61.81%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Mahboula: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $868 in Kuwait City and $723 in Mahboula. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuwait City pays 62% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $81.0 in Kuwait City vs $26.00 in Mahboula for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $180 vs $171 per month, with Mahboula cheaper across the board.

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 Mahboula: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mahboula wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Kuwait City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mahboula the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 62% higher in Kuwait City, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $868 in Kuwait City versus $723 in Mahboula. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,469 per month in Kuwait City versus $1,228 in Mahboula – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mahboula runs roughly 26% less than in Kuwait City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,228 in Mahboula versus $1,469 in Kuwait City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mahboula but tight or insufficient in Kuwait City. The gap between the two cities makes Mahboula 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 Mahboula 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 Mahboula gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Kuwait City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.