Cost of living comparison

 South Africa
compared to
 Kuwait
Kuwait vs. South Africa Cost of Living Summary

Kuwait is 30.4% more expensive than South Africa overall.

Restaurants
pay 10.2% less in Kuwait
Groceries
pay 2.9% more in Kuwait
Transportation
pay 34.4% more in Kuwait
Housing
pay 26.2% more in Kuwait
Childcare
pay 70.6% more in Kuwait
Entertainment and Sports
pay 80.2% more in Kuwait
Clothing
pay 8.8% more in Kuwait

The cost of entertainment and sports, childcare, transportation, housing, clothing, and groceries in Kuwait are more expensive than in South Africa. Notably, entertainment and sports is significantly more expensive in Kuwait.

Kuwait vs. South Africa Cost Breakdown

If you lived in Kuwait instead of South Africa, you would:

pay 10.2% less for restaurants

 
South Africa
Kuwait
Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant $8.97
ZAR168.87
$7.72
KWD2.370
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
$4.77
ZAR89.79
$7.66
KWD2.350
Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) $0.95
ZAR17.96
$0.55
KWD0.170

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pay 2.9% more for groceries

 
South Africa
Kuwait
Bread
1 loaf
$0.99
ZAR18.64
$1.01
KWD0.310
Local cheese (8 oz) $3.67
ZAR69.17
$2.23
KWD0.680
Milk (1 gallon) $4.20
ZAR79.02
$5.23
KWD1.600

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pay 34.4% more for transportation

 
South Africa
Kuwait
Gasoline (1 gallon) $4.99
ZAR93.89
$1.25
KWD0.380
Monthly public transit pass $52.31
ZAR984.55
$48.77
KWD14.950
New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) $20,607.77
ZAR387,861.11
$20,067.40
KWD6,152.670

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pay 26.2% more for housing

 
South Africa
Kuwait
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
$41.37
ZAR778.62
$24.39
KWD7.480
1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area $382.55
ZAR7,200.09
$767.09
KWD235.190
1-Bedroom apartment outside city center $326.35
ZAR6,142.22
$636.14
KWD195.040

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pay 70.6% more for childcare

 
South Africa
Kuwait
Private preschool for 1 child, monthly $174.12
ZAR3,277.06
$345.62
KWD105.970
Middle school for 1 child, two semesters $4,033.53
ZAR75,915.47
$5,757.77
KWD1,765.330

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pay 80.2% more for entertainment and sports

 
South Africa
Kuwait
Domestic/local beer (1 pint) $2.11
ZAR39.67
$1.63
KWD0.500
Cappuccino in mid-range area $1.88
ZAR35.44
$4.77
KWD1.460
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
$2.90
ZAR54.66
$3.04
KWD0.930

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pay 8.8% more for clothing

 
South Africa
Kuwait
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
$47.72
ZAR898.05
$40.88
KWD12.530
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
$32.06
ZAR603.39
$46.73
KWD14.330
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
$90.39
ZAR1,701.22
$89.98
KWD27.590

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The statistics used to build this comparison are calculated using data from users just like you. We average the price of thousands of data points entered by users across the world. Learn more about our data sources. Page last updated: April 2025
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