Overview
Kuwait City is the capital and largest city of Kuwait. Kuwait city is home to Kuwait's parliament, most governmental offices, and the headquarters of most Kuwaiti corporations and banks. It is the political, cultural and economic centre of the emirate. Kuwait’s booming economy has allowed many international hotel chains to enter agreements to open hotels in the country. Kuwait is in the Middle East, bordering the Arabian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The climate is dry desert with intensely hot summers and short, cool winters. The official language is Arabic. English is widely spoken in business and socially, some knowledge of Arabic is always appreciated. Some sections of the non-Kuwaiti population also speak Persian (Farsi) and Urdu. There is a wider use of English due to the large number of South Asian expatriates working in all sectors of the Kuwaiti economy. The main religion is Islam. The economy of Kuwait is a small, relatively open economy with proven crude oil reserves of about 96 billion barrels, i.e. about 10% of world reserves. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 90% of export revenues, and 95% of government income. In Kuwait conservative local Islamic sensibilities should be respected. Expatriate men should not directly address Kuwaiti women in the street. Couples should not display affection in public places. Alcohol is banned. Expatriate business dress is conservative and respectful of Muslim and Arab cultural sensitivities. Suits for expatriate men, while expatriate women are required to dress conservatively covering the arms and legs. The security risk for expatriates in Kuwait is low. Risks include low levels of petty and violent crime, and unexploded landmines, booby traps and cluster bombs in the desert from the Gulf wars. The currency of Kuwait is the Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD). ATMs are available and credit cards are widely accepted. Medical facilities are of a good standard but can be expensive. The population of Kuwait City is 2.4 Million (2018 est.), while the inflation rate (CPI) is 0.4% for Kuwait as at December 2018. Xpatulator Hypothetical Tax for Kuwait is based on the current personal income tax rate of 0% as there is currently no personal income tax.
Cost Of Living
The cost of living for expatriates / professional migrants in Kuwait City as at 1 January 2019 is average in comparison to other places in the world. In Kuwait City, the cost of each basket, based on local prices, compared to the international average, is categorized follows (Exact cost of living percentages only available in personalised reports): 1) Alcohol (where available) & Tobacco: Very Low 2) Clothing: Average 3) Communication: Very High 4) Education: High 5) Furniture & Appliances: Very High 6) Groceries: Low 7) Healthcare: Average 8) Household Accommodation: High 9) Miscellaneous: Very High 10) Personal Care: Very High 11) Recreation & Culture: Very High 12) Restaurants Meals Out and Hotels: Very High 13) Transport: Very Low Kuwait City is for example 0.6% more expensive than Houston TX for groceries, 35.9% more expensive for household costs than Kuala Lumpur, and -0.3% cheaper for transport costs than Dubai.Kuwait City is ranked as a extreme hardship location. The hardship premium for Kuwait City for an expat from Perth, is for example 30%, i.e. host location (Kuwait City) premium of 40% minus home (Perth) location premium of 10%.Want to know more about cost of living, hardship (quality of living) or expat salary in Kuwait City? Register subscribe to your home location and Kuwait City and run your personalised reports.