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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,416 in Kuwait City versus $1,400 in Mishref.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,381 in Kuwait City versus $2,369 in Mishref.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,346 in Kuwait City versus $3,337 in Mishref.

Living in Kuwait City is roughly 1% more expensive than Mishref, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kuwait City 6% above, Mishref 5% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.83 KWD 3.02

$9.74 KWD 2.99

0.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.2 KWD 24.60

$80.4 KWD 24.66

-0.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.86 KWD 2.72

$8.96 KWD 2.75

-1.12%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 KWD 0.74

$2.38 KWD 0.73

1.68%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.65 KWD 1.12

$3.66 KWD 1.12

-0.27%

Cappuccino

$6.00 KWD 1.84

$5.81 KWD 1.78

3.27%

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

$0.64 KWD 0.20

$0.69 KWD 0.21

-7.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 KWD 0.11

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 KWD 0.50

$1.56 KWD 0.48

4.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 KWD 0.40

$1.25 KWD 0.38

4.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.76 KWD 0.54

$1.71 KWD 0.53

2.92%

Eggs

$2.11 KWD 0.65

$2.12 KWD 0.65

-0.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.24 KWD 1.61

$5.32 KWD 1.63

-1.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.55 KWD 2.01

$6.36 KWD 1.95

2.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.19 KWD 3.13

$10.49 KWD 3.22

-2.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 KWD 0.73

$2.34 KWD 0.72

2.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.97 KWD 0.60

$1.99 KWD 0.61

-1.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 KWD 0.54

$1.76 KWD 0.54

-0.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 KWD 0.46

$1.50 KWD 0.46

0.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 KWD 0.39

$1.23 KWD 0.38

3.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 KWD 0.39

$1.32 KWD 0.40

-4.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.63 KWD 0.50

$1.67 KWD 0.51

-2.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 KWD 0.15

$0.49 KWD 0.15

-2.04%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.16 KWD 0.97

$3.28 KWD 1.01

-3.66%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.01 KWD 0.31

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.39 KWD 0.43

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 KWD 0.91

$2.98 KWD 0.91

-0.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 KWD 0.26

$0.82 KWD 0.25

2.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.08 KWD 11.99

$43.40 KWD 13.32

-9.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.33 KWD 1.02

$3.21 KWD 0.99

3.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.21 KWD 0.98

$3.34 KWD 1.02

-3.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.44 KWD 5.04

$16.61 KWD 5.10

-1.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.34 KWD 0.10

$0.36 KWD 0.11

-5.56%

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

$21.4K KWD 6,553

$21.5K KWD 6,590

-0.55%

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

$20.0K KWD 6,145

$19.7K KWD 6,059

1.41%

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

$63.6 KWD 19.52

$62.6 KWD 19.20

1.65%

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

$18.72 KWD 5.74

$18.35 KWD 5.63

2.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.20 KWD 8.04

$25.93 KWD 7.96

1.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$111 KWD 34.11

$94.6 KWD 29.02

17.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.19 KWD 6.50

$46.87 KWD 14.38

-54.79%

Cinema Ticket

$11.52 KWD 3.53

$11.35 KWD 3.48

1.50%

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

$409 KWD 126

$403 KWD 124

1.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,530 KWD 2,004

$6,459 KWD 1,982

1.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.46 KWD 12.72

$42.42 KWD 13.02

-2.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.85 KWD 13.15

$41.77 KWD 12.82

2.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.6 KWD 27.49

$86.1 KWD 26.44

3.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.8 KWD 25.11

$80.6 KWD 24.73

1.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$900 KWD 276

$782 KWD 240

15.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$656 KWD 201

$598 KWD 184

9.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,765 KWD 542

$1,571 KWD 482

12.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,361 KWD 418

$1,291 KWD 396

5.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,238 KWD 1,608

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,403 KWD 738

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,054 KWD 630

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Mishref: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $900 in Kuwait City and $782 in Mishref. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $80.0 in Kuwait City vs $80.0 in Mishref. Groceries flip the comparison at $181 vs $180, with Mishref 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 Mishref: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mishref wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Kuwait City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mishref the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,124 in Kuwait City and $2,100 in Mishref 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: $900 in Kuwait City versus $782 in Mishref. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,416 per month in Kuwait City versus $1,400 in Mishref – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mishref runs roughly 11% less than in Kuwait City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,400 in Mishref versus $1,416 in Kuwait City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mishref but tight or insufficient in Kuwait City. The gap between the two cities makes Mishref 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 Mishref 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 Mishref gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Kuwait City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.