Kuwait ranks 2nd lowest cost of living in Gulf region for first half of 2025
Kuwait ranked second in the Gulf region for the lowest overall cost of living in the first half of 2025, just behind Oman. It ranked 12th among Arab countries and 247th globally out of 404 countries in the Numbeo Global Cost of Living Index.
The index compares countries to New York City using six benchmarks: average cost of living, rental prices, combined living and rent costs, grocery prices, restaurant prices, and local purchasing power based on net salary.
Kuwait scored 42.9 points versus New York’s 100 points. Rent in Kuwait is 23% cheaper than in New York and accounts for roughly a third of total living costs. Grocery prices are 33.7% of New York’s, restaurant prices about 51.6%, while Kuwait’s dinar purchasing power is 149.5% that of the US dollar in New York.
The average monthly income after tax in Kuwait is about 948.5 dinars ($776) per person and 870.9 dinars for a family of four. Budget restaurant meals cost approximately 2.5 dinars per person; mid-range meals for two average 15 dinars.
The cheapest countries to live in include India, Pakistan, Libya, Egypt, Paraguay, Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Iran.
Switzerland ranks as the most expensive country, with six Swiss cities topping the list of costliest cities worldwide, followed by New York, Reykjavik, Honolulu, San Francisco, Seattle, Singapore, Oslo, San Jose, and London. High wages in these places often balance their high living costs.
