šMonthly costs for one person with rent: $1,352 in Mishref versus $1,460 in Kuwait City.
šEstimated couple costs with rent: $2,319 in Mishref versus $2,452 in Kuwait City.
šMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,287 in Mishref versus $3,444 in Kuwait City.
šLiving in Mishref costs roughly 7% less than in Kuwait City, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
šBoth cities are pricier than the global median: Mishref1% above, Kuwait City9% above.
Currency
š½ Eating Out
Mishref
Kuwait City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.65KWDĀ 2.96
$9.68KWDĀ 2.97
-0.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$80.1KWDĀ 24.60
$81.8KWDĀ 25.12
-2.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.00KWDĀ 2.76
$8.87KWDĀ 2.72
1.47%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41KWDĀ 0.74
$2.47KWDĀ 0.76
-2.43%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58KWDĀ 1.10
$3.74KWDĀ 1.15
-4.28%
Cappuccino
$6.05KWDĀ 1.86
$6.05KWDĀ 1.86
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65KWDĀ 0.20
$0.70KWDĀ 0.22
-7.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37KWDĀ 0.11
$0.38KWDĀ 0.12
-2.63%
š Groceries & Markets
Mishref
Kuwait City
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62KWDĀ 0.50
$1.61KWDĀ 0.49
0.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30KWDĀ 0.40
$1.30KWDĀ 0.40
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.73KWDĀ 0.53
$1.78KWDĀ 0.55
-2.81%
Eggs
$2.11KWDĀ 0.65
$2.01KWDĀ 0.62
4.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.19KWDĀ 1.59
$5.18KWDĀ 1.59
0.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.58KWDĀ 2.02
$6.61KWDĀ 2.03
-0.45%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.50KWDĀ 3.22
$10.30KWDĀ 3.16
1.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.42KWDĀ 0.74
$2.38KWDĀ 0.73
1.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.90KWDĀ 0.58
$1.92KWDĀ 0.59
-1.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75KWDĀ 0.54
$1.75KWDĀ 0.54
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.45KWDĀ 0.44
$1.51KWDĀ 0.46
-3.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23KWDĀ 0.38
$1.29KWDĀ 0.39
-4.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.26KWDĀ 0.39
$1.31KWDĀ 0.40
-3.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.67KWDĀ 0.51
$1.66KWDĀ 0.51
0.60%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45KWDĀ 0.14
$0.45KWDĀ 0.14
-
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$3.16KWDĀ 0.97
$3.24KWDĀ 0.99
-2.47%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.05KWDĀ 0.32
$1.06KWDĀ 0.32
-0.94%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39KWDĀ 0.43
$1.34KWDĀ 0.41
3.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.92KWDĀ 0.90
$2.89KWDĀ 0.89
1.04%
š Getting Around
Mishref
Kuwait City
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.90KWDĀ 0.28
$0.86KWDĀ 0.26
4.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.41KWDĀ 13.33
$38.77KWDĀ 11.90
11.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.19KWDĀ 0.98
$3.32KWDĀ 1.02
-3.92%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.31KWDĀ 1.02
$3.18KWDĀ 0.98
4.09%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$16.02KWDĀ 4.92
$16.36KWDĀ 5.02
-2.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.36KWDĀ 0.11
$0.36KWDĀ 0.11
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KKWDĀ 6,495
$21.4KKWDĀ 6,583
-1.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.2KKWDĀ 6,202
$19.9KKWDĀ 6,116
1.42%
š§¾ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mishref
Kuwait City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$62.4KWDĀ 19.15
$63.3KWDĀ 19.44
-1.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$18.74KWDĀ 5.75
$18.68KWDĀ 5.74
0.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.81KWDĀ 7.92
$25.37KWDĀ 7.79
1.73%
š Sport & Entertainment
Mishref
Kuwait City
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$93.5KWDĀ 28.69
$109KWDĀ 33.56
-14.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$46.43KWDĀ 14.25
$20.86KWDĀ 6.40
122.58%
Cinema Ticket
$11.66KWDĀ 3.58
$11.36KWDĀ 3.49
2.64%
š§ø Childcare & Education
Mishref
Kuwait City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$398KWDĀ 122
$410KWDĀ 126
-3.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,554KWDĀ 2,012
$6,581KWDĀ 2,020
-0.41%
šš Clothing & Footwear
Mishref
Kuwait City
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.46KWDĀ 12.73
$41.92KWDĀ 12.87
-1.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.54KWDĀ 13.06
$41.78KWDĀ 12.83
1.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$88.9KWDĀ 27.28
$86.1KWDĀ 26.44
3.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.3KWDĀ 24.65
$82.9KWDĀ 25.46
-3.20%
š Accommodation & Living
Mishref
Kuwait City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$782KWDĀ 240
$892KWDĀ 274
-12.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$612KWDĀ 188
$655KWDĀ 201
-6.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,559KWDĀ 479
$1,749KWDĀ 537
-10.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,273KWDĀ 391
$1,375KWDĀ 422
-7.44%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$5,381KWDĀ 1,652
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$2,355KWDĀ 723
-
šµ Salaries & Financials
Mishref
Kuwait City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,955KWDĀ 600
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.14
7.14
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input ā minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mishref: April 25, 2026
Last update for Kuwait City: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
š A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $782 in Mishref and $892 in Kuwait City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
šDining out: $80.0 in Mishref vs $82.0 in Kuwait City. Groceries flip the comparison at $181 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
Mishref vs Kuwait City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mishref or Kuwait City?
Mishref wins on cost ā living expenses run 8% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Mishref vs Kuwait City?
You'd need roughly $2,028 in Mishref and $2,190 in Kuwait City 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mishref vs Kuwait City?
Rent for a central apartment: $782 in Mishref versus $892 in Kuwait City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Mishref compared to Kuwait City?
All in, you'll spend $1,352 per month in Mishref versus $1,460 in Kuwait City ā a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Mishref vs Kuwait City?
A monthly transit pass in Mishref runs roughly 12% less than in Kuwait City. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Mishref or Kuwait City?
At $1,352 in Mishref versus $1,460 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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Mishref or Kuwait City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better ā the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Mishref compared to Kuwait City?
Safety-wise, Mishref 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mishref gentler on the wallet ā expenses run 8% less than in Kuwait City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.