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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,427 in Kuwait City versus $1,346 in Qairawan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,375 in Kuwait City versus $2,219 in Qairawan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,322 in Kuwait City versus $3,092 in Qairawan.

Living in Kuwait City is roughly 6% more expensive than Qairawan, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Kuwait City 6% above, Qairawan 0% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.06 KWD 3.11

$7.69 KWD 2.38

30.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$83.0 KWD 25.63

$58.5 KWD 18.06

41.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.77 KWD 2.71

$8.61 KWD 2.66

1.86%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 KWD 0.75

$2.46 KWD 0.76

-0.81%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.76 KWD 1.16

$3.38 KWD 1.04

11.24%

Cappuccino

$5.95 KWD 1.84

$5.47 KWD 1.69

8.78%

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

$0.69 KWD 0.21

$0.63 KWD 0.20

9.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 KWD 0.11

$0.33 KWD 0.10

6.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 KWD 0.48

$1.47 KWD 0.46

6.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 KWD 0.40

$1.05 KWD 0.32

22.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.72 KWD 0.53

$1.73 KWD 0.53

-0.58%

Eggs

$2.03 KWD 0.63

$2.07 KWD 0.64

-1.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.16 KWD 1.59

$4.38 KWD 1.35

17.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.64 KWD 2.05

$6.45 KWD 1.99

2.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.28 KWD 3.17

$9.73 KWD 3.00

5.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 KWD 0.74

$2.32 KWD 0.72

2.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.95 KWD 0.60

$1.63 KWD 0.50

19.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 KWD 0.54

$1.57 KWD 0.48

11.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.43 KWD 0.44

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 KWD 0.38

$1.22 KWD 0.38

0.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 KWD 0.39

$1.14 KWD 0.35

11.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.62 KWD 0.50

$1.61 KWD 0.50

0.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 KWD 0.15

$0.46 KWD 0.14

4.35%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$3.31 KWD 1.02

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

$1.05 KWD 0.33

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.38 KWD 0.43

$1.34 KWD 0.41

2.99%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.97 KWD 0.92

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 KWD 0.26

$0.83 KWD 0.26

3.61%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.87 KWD 12.00

$44.71 KWD 13.81

-13.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 KWD 1.00

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.19 KWD 0.99

$3.18 KWD 0.98

0.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.27 KWD 5.02

$16.16 KWD 4.99

0.68%

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

$20.5K KWD 6,316

1.87%

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

$19.6K KWD 6,054

$19.4K KWD 6,002

0.88%

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

$62.4 KWD 19.27

$61.8 KWD 19.09

0.95%

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

$18.33 KWD 5.66

$18.26 KWD 5.64

0.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.30 KWD 7.81

$25.69 KWD 7.93

-1.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$109 KWD 33.54

$95.5 KWD 29.50

13.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$20.90 KWD 6.45

$46.91 KWD 14.49

-55.45%

Cinema Ticket

$11.33 KWD 3.50

$11.22 KWD 3.47

0.98%

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

$402 KWD 124

$281 KWD 86.8

43.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,711 KWD 2,072

$6,152 KWD 1,900

9.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.86 KWD 13.23

$41.94 KWD 12.95

2.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.89 KWD 13.24

$43.22 KWD 13.35

-0.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.2 KWD 26.63

$88.6 KWD 27.36

-2.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.2 KWD 25.37

$83.0 KWD 25.62

-0.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$890 KWD 275

$808 KWD 249

10.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$666 KWD 206

$621 KWD 192

7.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,765 KWD 545

$1,544 KWD 477

14.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,373 KWD 424

$1,300 KWD 401

5.67%

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

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 Qairawan: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $890 in Kuwait City and $808 in Qairawan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $83.0 in Kuwait City vs $58.0 in Qairawan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $179 vs $168 per month, with Qairawan 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 Qairawan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Qairawan wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Kuwait City. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Qairawan the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $2,140 in Kuwait City and $2,019 in Qairawan 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: $890 in Kuwait City versus $808 in Qairawan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,427 per month in Kuwait City versus $1,346 in Qairawan – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Qairawan runs roughly 15% less than in Kuwait City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,346 in Qairawan versus $1,427 in Kuwait City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Qairawan but tight or insufficient in Kuwait City. The gap between the two cities makes Qairawan 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 Qairawan 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 Qairawan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Kuwait City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.