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: $1,454 in Kuwait City versus $1,379 in Mishref.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,405 in Kuwait City versus $2,310 in Mishref.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,355 in Kuwait City versus $3,242 in Mishref.

Living in Kuwait City is roughly 5% more expensive than in Mishref, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kuwait City 9% above, Mishref 4% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.99 KWD 3.07

$9.64 KWD 2.97

3.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$80.3 KWD 24.71

$82.6 KWD 25.39

-2.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.02 KWD 2.77

$8.83 KWD 2.72

2.15%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.49 KWD 0.77

$2.39 KWD 0.73

4.18%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.75 KWD 1.15

$3.61 KWD 1.11

3.88%

Cappuccino

$6.09 KWD 1.87

$5.84 KWD 1.80

4.28%

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

$0.65 KWD 0.20

$0.69 KWD 0.21

-5.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 KWD 0.11

$0.35 KWD 0.11

-2.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.61 KWD 0.50

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 KWD 0.40

$1.24 KWD 0.38

4.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 KWD 0.54

$1.70 KWD 0.52

4.12%

Eggs

$2.03 KWD 0.63

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.23 KWD 1.61

$5.25 KWD 1.61

-0.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.55 KWD 2.01

$6.52 KWD 2.01

0.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.35 KWD 3.18

$10.29 KWD 3.16

0.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.44 KWD 0.75

$2.38 KWD 0.73

2.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.92 KWD 0.59

$1.95 KWD 0.60

-1.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 KWD 0.55

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 KWD 0.46

$1.49 KWD 0.46

-0.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 KWD 0.40

$1.26 KWD 0.39

1.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 KWD 0.40

$1.31 KWD 0.40

0.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.67 KWD 0.51

$1.63 KWD 0.50

2.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 KWD 0.14

$0.45 KWD 0.14

2.22%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.29 KWD 1.01

$3.20 KWD 0.98

2.81%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 KWD 0.31

$1.05 KWD 0.32

-4.76%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 KWD 0.41

$1.39 KWD 0.43

-5.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.89 KWD 0.89

$2.88 KWD 0.88

0.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 KWD 0.24

$0.88 KWD 0.27

-10.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.21 KWD 12.06

$43.63 KWD 13.42

-10.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 KWD 1.03

$3.20 KWD 0.99

4.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.19 KWD 0.98

$3.32 KWD 1.02

-3.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.42 KWD 5.05

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.36 KWD 0.11

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

$21.0K KWD 6,474

$21.6K KWD 6,642

-2.54%

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

$20.2K KWD 6,210

$19.6K KWD 6,023

3.12%

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

$63.4 KWD 19.49

$61.3 KWD 18.84

3.43%

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

$18.49 KWD 5.69

$18.31 KWD 5.63

0.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.94 KWD 7.98

$25.96 KWD 7.99

-0.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$112 KWD 34.31

$93.9 KWD 28.87

18.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.65 KWD 6.66

$47.18 KWD 14.51

-54.11%

Cinema Ticket

$11.29 KWD 3.47

$11.51 KWD 3.54

-1.91%

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

$407 KWD 125

0.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,590 KWD 2,027

$6,487 KWD 1,995

1.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.62 KWD 12.80

$41.66 KWD 12.81

-0.10%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.18 KWD 13.28

$43.26 KWD 13.31

-0.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.7 KWD 27.27

$86.4 KWD 26.58

2.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.7 KWD 25.12

$81.6 KWD 25.09

0.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$868 KWD 267

$806 KWD 248

7.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 KWD 202

$603 KWD 185

9.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,743 KWD 536

$1,571 KWD 483

10.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,380 KWD 425

$1,287 KWD 396

7.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$5,342 KWD 1,643

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,402 KWD 739

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,052 KWD 631

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 27, 2026

Last update for Mishref: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $868 in Kuwait City and $806 in Mishref. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $80.0 in Kuwait City vs $83.0 in Mishref. Groceries flip the comparison at $181 vs $179, 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 5% 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 $2,181 in Kuwait City and $2,069 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: $868 in Kuwait City versus $806 in Mishref. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,454 per month in Kuwait City versus $1,379 in Mishref – a 5% 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 $1,379 in Mishref versus $1,454 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 5% less than in Kuwait City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.