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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Mahboula costs roughly 16% less than in Kuwait City, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.67 KWD 2.05

$9.88 KWD 3.04

-32.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.91 KWD 7.96

$80.7 KWD 24.79

-67.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.76 KWD 2.69

$9.26 KWD 2.85

-5.40%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 KWD 0.51

$2.42 KWD 0.74

-30.99%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 KWD 0.98

$3.69 KWD 1.14

-13.28%

Cappuccino

$5.99 KWD 1.84

$5.92 KWD 1.82

1.18%

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

$0.51 KWD 0.16

$0.68 KWD 0.21

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 KWD 0.06

$0.38 KWD 0.12

-52.63%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 KWD 0.48

$1.63 KWD 0.50

-4.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 KWD 0.31

$1.29 KWD 0.40

-21.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 KWD 0.53

$1.79 KWD 0.55

-3.35%

Eggs

$1.28 KWD 0.39

$2.10 KWD 0.64

-39.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.15 KWD 1.58

$5.28 KWD 1.62

-2.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.45 KWD 1.98

$6.52 KWD 2.00

-1.07%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.51 KWD 3.23

$10.30 KWD 3.17

2.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 KWD 0.72

$2.43 KWD 0.75

-3.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 KWD 0.61

$1.89 KWD 0.58

5.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 KWD 0.53

$1.78 KWD 0.55

-2.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 KWD 0.35

$1.44 KWD 0.44

-21.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 KWD 0.38

$1.22 KWD 0.38

0.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 KWD 0.35

$1.32 KWD 0.40

-15.15%

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)

$3.28 KWD 1.01

$3.27 KWD 1.01

0.31%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 KWD 0.32

$1.04 KWD 0.32

0.96%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 KWD 0.42

$1.35 KWD 0.41

1.48%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.65 KWD 0.51

$2.85 KWD 0.88

-42.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 KWD 0.26

$0.85 KWD 0.26

1.18%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$49.21 KWD 15.13

$38.92 KWD 11.96

26.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 KWD 0.49

$3.34 KWD 1.03

-51.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.60 KWD 0.49

$3.17 KWD 0.97

-49.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.80 KWD 1.78

$16.40 KWD 5.04

-64.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.20 KWD 0.06

$0.36 KWD 0.11

-44.44%

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

$19.6K KWD 6,033

$21.0K KWD 6,442

-6.35%

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

$17.9K KWD 5,499

$19.8K KWD 6,074

-9.47%

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

$62.1 KWD 19.10

$62.7 KWD 19.27

-0.91%

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

$16.54 KWD 5.09

$18.39 KWD 5.65

-10.06%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.13 KWD 8.03

$25.42 KWD 7.81

2.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$93.4 KWD 28.72

$108 KWD 33.14

-13.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$46.15 KWD 14.19

$21.51 KWD 6.61

114.55%

Cinema Ticket

$11.37 KWD 3.50

$11.53 KWD 3.55

-1.39%

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

$392 KWD 121

$400 KWD 123

-1.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,467 KWD 1,988

$6,575 KWD 2,021

-1.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.82 KWD 12.86

$42.00 KWD 12.91

-0.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.84 KWD 13.17

$41.82 KWD 12.86

2.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.1 KWD 26.77

$88.9 KWD 27.32

-1.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.3 KWD 25.00

$82.7 KWD 25.42

-1.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$723 KWD 222

$868 KWD 267

-16.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$497 KWD 153

$653 KWD 201

-23.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,824 KWD 561

$1,757 KWD 540

3.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 KWD 353

$1,371 KWD 422

-16.31%

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)

$1,278 KWD 393

$2,068 KWD 636

-38.20%

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 Mahboula: July 11, 2026

Last update for Kuwait City: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $723 in Mahboula and $868 in Kuwait City. 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: $26.00 in Mahboula vs $81.0 in Kuwait City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $171 vs $180 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

Mahboula vs Kuwait City: 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.

On paper, salaries run 62% lower in Kuwait City. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

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

All in, you'll spend $1,228 per month in Mahboula versus $1,469 in Kuwait City – 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, Mahboula and Kuwait City 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.