Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuwait and United Arab Emirates 
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| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in United Arab Emirates is 24.7% higher than in Kuwait (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in United Arab Emirates is 36.6% higher than in Kuwait | |
| Rent Prices in United Arab Emirates are 65.0% higher than in Kuwait | |
| Restaurant Prices in United Arab Emirates are 17.8% higher than in Kuwait | |
| Groceries Prices in United Arab Emirates are 23.5% higher than in Kuwait | |
| Local Purchasing Power in United Arab Emirates is 19.5% lower than in Kuwait | |
Restaurants | Kuwait Edit |
United Arab Emirates Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
2.50 KWD (29.90 AED) |
2.51 KWD (30.00 AED) |
+0.3 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
18.00 KWD (215.30 AED) |
17.56 KWD (210.00 AED) |
-2.5 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
2.50 KWD (29.90 AED) |
2.72 KWD (32.50 AED) |
+8.7 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
1.00 KWD (11.96 AED) |
3.34 KWD (40.00 AED) |
+234.4 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
1.00 KWD (11.96 AED) |
3.76 KWD (45.00 AED) |
+276.2 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
1.62 KWD (19.44 AED) |
1.71 KWD (20.40 AED) |
+4.9 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
0.15 KWD (1.82 AED) |
0.35 KWD (4.23 AED) |
+132.7 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
0.11 KWD (1.32 AED) |
0.17 KWD (1.98 AED) |
+50.3 % |
Markets | Kuwait Edit |
United Arab Emirates Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
0.46 KWD (5.54 AED) |
0.55 KWD (6.52 AED) |
+17.6 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
0.32 KWD (3.80 AED) |
0.39 KWD (4.67 AED) |
+23.0 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
0.26 KWD (3.10 AED) |
0.31 KWD (3.76 AED) |
+21.0 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
0.66 KWD (7.87 AED) |
0.97 KWD (11.60 AED) |
+47.4 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
0.88 KWD (10.55 AED) |
1.48 KWD (17.70 AED) |
+67.9 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
1.00 KWD (11.94 AED) |
1.20 KWD (14.35 AED) |
+20.3 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
1.47 KWD (17.57 AED) |
1.59 KWD (19.00 AED) |
+8.1 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
0.34 KWD (4.09 AED) |
0.33 KWD (3.97 AED) |
-3.0 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
0.27 KWD (3.18 AED) |
0.24 KWD (2.92 AED) |
-8.1 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
0.25 KWD (2.94 AED) |
0.24 KWD (2.84 AED) |
-3.4 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
0.22 KWD (2.59 AED) |
0.19 KWD (2.23 AED) |
-13.9 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
0.19 KWD (2.23 AED) |
0.15 KWD (1.80 AED) |
-19.0 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
0.18 KWD (2.13 AED) |
0.16 KWD (1.97 AED) |
-7.6 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
0.74 KWD (8.88 AED) |
0.46 KWD (5.56 AED) |
-37.4 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
0.16 KWD (1.87 AED) |
0.18 KWD (2.18 AED) |
+16.6 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
1.00 KWD (11.96 AED) |
4.78 KWD (57.20 AED) |
+378.2 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
0.39 KWD (4.68 AED) |
0.73 KWD (8.73 AED) |
+86.5 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
0.54 KWD (6.43 AED) |
0.84 KWD (10.01 AED) |
+55.7 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
0.90 KWD (10.76 AED) |
1.92 KWD (23.00 AED) |
+113.7 % |
Transportation | Kuwait Edit |
United Arab Emirates Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
0.28 KWD (3.29 AED) |
0.42 KWD (5.00 AED) |
+52.0 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
15.00 KWD (179.41 AED) |
16.72 KWD (200.00 AED) |
+11.5 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
1.00 KWD (11.96 AED) |
1.00 KWD (12.00 AED) |
+0.3 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
1.61 KWD (19.25 AED) |
0.34 KWD (4.02 AED) |
-79.1 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
5.00 KWD (59.80 AED) |
2.51 KWD (30.00 AED) |
-49.8 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
0.11 KWD (1.29 AED) |
0.23 KWD (2.74 AED) |
+113.5 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
6,000.00 KWD (71,765.06 AED) |
13,706.14 KWD (163,937.00 AED) |
+128.4 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
5,899.38 KWD (70,561.50 AED) |
6,798.39 KWD (81,314.53 AED) |
+15.2 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Kuwait Edit |
United Arab Emirates Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
17.90 KWD (214.14 AED) |
58.16 KWD (695.64 AED) |
+224.8 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
6.54 KWD (78.21 AED) |
17.02 KWD (203.53 AED) |
+160.3 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
10.90 KWD (130.37 AED) |
30.02 KWD (359.12 AED) |
+175.5 % |
Sports And Leisure | Kuwait Edit |
United Arab Emirates Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
33.79 KWD (404.19 AED) |
19.49 KWD (233.14 AED) |
-42.3 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
12.29 KWD (147.05 AED) |
11.78 KWD (140.92 AED) |
-4.2 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
3.50 KWD (41.86 AED) |
4.18 KWD (50.00 AED) |
+19.4 % |
Childcare | Kuwait Edit |
United Arab Emirates Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
96.55 KWD (1,154.79 AED) |
187.93 KWD (2,247.85 AED) |
+94.7 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
2,276.74 KWD (27,231.69 AED) |
3,909.13 KWD (46,756.44 AED) |
+71.7 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Kuwait Edit |
United Arab Emirates Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
12.44 KWD (148.76 AED) |
19.18 KWD (229.43 AED) |
+54.2 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
14.25 KWD (170.44 AED) |
18.64 KWD (222.93 AED) |
+30.8 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
31.21 KWD (373.24 AED) |
31.30 KWD (374.39 AED) |
+0.3 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
25.00 KWD (299.02 AED) |
31.61 KWD (378.08 AED) |
+26.4 % |
Rent Per Month | Kuwait Edit |
United Arab Emirates Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
261.00 KWD (3,121.78 AED) |
451.74 KWD (5,403.18 AED) |
+73.1 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
186.96 KWD (2,236.23 AED) |
334.10 KWD (3,996.07 AED) |
+78.7 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
565.66 KWD (6,765.71 AED) |
856.49 KWD (10,244.37 AED) |
+51.4 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
405.55 KWD (4,850.74 AED) |
698.65 KWD (8,356.42 AED) |
+72.3 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Kuwait Edit |
United Arab Emirates Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
151.63 KWD (1,813.68 AED) |
167.67 KWD (2,005.44 AED) |
+10.6 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
75.88 KWD (907.54 AED) |
91.93 KWD (1,099.51 AED) |
+21.2 % |
Salaries And Financing | Kuwait Edit |
United Arab Emirates Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
902.87 KWD (10,799.11 AED) |
992.43 KWD (11,870.28 AED) |
+9.9 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.05 | 4.72 | -22.1 % |
| Last update: | 3 February 2026 | 3 February 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 63 | 467 | |
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