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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,418 in Kuwait City versus $1,195 in Mangaf.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,432 in Kuwait City versus $2,102 in Mangaf.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,446 in Kuwait City versus $3,008 in Mangaf.

Living in Kuwait City is roughly 19% more expensive than Mangaf, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kuwait City is 5% above, Mangaf is 11% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.92 KWD 3.05

$6.45 KWD 1.98

53.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$81.6 KWD 25.05

$39.06 KWD 12.00

108.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.22 KWD 2.83

$8.93 KWD 2.74

3.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 KWD 0.74

$2.40 KWD 0.74

0.42%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 KWD 1.15

$3.59 KWD 1.10

3.90%

Cappuccino

$5.85 KWD 1.80

$5.34 KWD 1.64

9.55%

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

$0.70 KWD 0.21

$0.31 KWD 0.09

125.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 KWD 0.11

$0.38 KWD 0.12

-2.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 KWD 0.50

$1.55 KWD 0.48

4.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 KWD 0.40

$1.30 KWD 0.40

-0.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 KWD 0.54

$1.70 KWD 0.52

3.53%

Eggs

$2.02 KWD 0.62

$2.06 KWD 0.63

-1.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.27 KWD 1.62

$5.10 KWD 1.57

3.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.32 KWD 1.94

$6.54 KWD 2.01

-3.36%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.30 KWD 3.16

$10.50 KWD 3.23

-1.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.45 KWD 0.75

$2.47 KWD 0.76

-0.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 KWD 0.61

$1.88 KWD 0.58

5.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.74 KWD 0.53

$1.72 KWD 0.53

1.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 KWD 0.46

$1.51 KWD 0.46

-1.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 KWD 0.39

$1.23 KWD 0.38

2.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 KWD 0.39

$1.31 KWD 0.40

-3.82%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.68 KWD 0.52

$1.69 KWD 0.52

-0.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 KWD 0.15

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.20 KWD 0.98

$3.32 KWD 1.02

-3.61%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.06 KWD 0.33

$1.01 KWD 0.31

4.95%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 KWD 0.43

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 KWD 0.93

$2.88 KWD 0.88

5.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 KWD 0.26

$0.84 KWD 0.26

2.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.81 KWD 12.23

$43.70 KWD 13.43

-8.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 KWD 0.99

$3.22 KWD 0.99

0.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.19 KWD 0.98

$2.46 KWD 0.75

29.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.48 KWD 5.06

$11.55 KWD 3.55

42.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

$0.32 KWD 0.10

6.25%

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

$21.5K KWD 6,620

$21.3K KWD 6,532

1.35%

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

$20.2K KWD 6,197

$19.3K KWD 5,937

4.38%

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

$62.1 KWD 19.07

$63.6 KWD 19.55

-2.44%

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

$18.83 KWD 5.78

$18.38 KWD 5.65

2.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.13 KWD 8.03

$26.06 KWD 8.01

0.27%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$110 KWD 33.64

$94.6 KWD 29.07

15.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.30 KWD 6.54

$45.74 KWD 14.05

-53.43%

Cinema Ticket

$11.46 KWD 3.52

$11.45 KWD 3.52

0.09%

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

$401 KWD 123

$408 KWD 125

-1.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,715 KWD 2,063

$6,575 KWD 2,020

2.13%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.10 KWD 12.93

$42.71 KWD 13.12

-1.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.72 KWD 12.82

$41.70 KWD 12.81

0.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.3 KWD 27.13

$88.8 KWD 27.29

-0.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.7 KWD 24.80

$82.0 KWD 25.18

-1.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$888 KWD 273

$585 KWD 180

51.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$674 KWD 207

$469 KWD 144

43.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,746 KWD 536

$1,587 KWD 488

10.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,398 KWD 430

$1,296 KWD 398

7.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,297 KWD 1,627

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,361 KWD 725

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,073 KWD 637

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.14

4.5

58.67%

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

Last update for Kuwait City: June 9, 2026

Last update for Mangaf: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $888 in Kuwait City and $585 in Mangaf. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $82.0 in Kuwait City vs $39.00 in Mangaf. Groceries flip the comparison at $180 vs $180, 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 Mangaf: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mangaf wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Kuwait City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mangaf the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,127 in Kuwait City and $1,793 in Mangaf 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: $888 in Kuwait City versus $585 in Mangaf. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,418 per month in Kuwait City versus $1,195 in Mangaf – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mangaf runs roughly 10% less than in Kuwait City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,195 in Mangaf versus $1,418 in Kuwait City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mangaf but tight or insufficient in Kuwait City. The gap between the two cities makes Mangaf 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 Mangaf 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 Mangaf gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Kuwait City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.