Moving to Kuwait from Iowa
What to Expect
Considering a move from Iowa to Kuwait? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Iowa to Kuwait, you would find that Kuwait is 35.7% cheaper than Iowa. A $75,000 salary in Iowa would need to be roughly KWD18,823 in Kuwait to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Kuwait City averages 94°F vs 60°F in Des Moines, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Iowa and Kuwait.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → KWD18,823
To maintain the same standard of living in Kuwait
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 56.9% less
Groceries
pay 39.4% less
Transportation
pay 5.0% less
Housing
pay 44.0% less
Childcare
pay 73.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 13.7% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from Iowa to Kuwait.
Who's moving to Kuwait?
Top countries of origin for Kuwait's foreign-born residents.
- 1,152,175
- 421,025
- 380,046
- 339,033
- 196,910
- 107,953
- · · ·
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18.5,167
United States
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Kuwait compared to Iowa.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Kuwait performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Kuwait performs significantly better than Iowa across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
Iowa generally does better on employment & economy, though Kuwait leads in unemployment rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Kuwait performs significantly better than Iowa across all family life metrics.
Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Des Moines | Kuwait City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 73°/51°F (23°/11°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 104°/76°F (40°/25°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 114°/84°F (46°/29°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 84°/60°F (29°/15°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Kuwait City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 67°/47°F (19.5°/8.5°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 71°/50°F (21.8°/10.0°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 80°/57°F (26.9°/14.0°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 93°/67°F (33.9°/19.5°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 106°/78°F (40.9°/25.4°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 114°/84°F (45.5°/28.9°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 116°/87°F (46.7°/30.7°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 116°/85°F (46.9°/29.5°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 111°/79°F (43.7°/26.2°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 98°/71°F (36.6°/21.5°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.5°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) | 71°/50°F (21.9°/9.9°C) |
National Weather Service
Meteorological DepartmentVisitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Kuwait. To live, work, or study long-term in Kuwait, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Kuwait's immigration authority.
United States passport holder visiting Kuwait
Visa on Arrival
Kuwait passport holder visiting United States
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Kuwait than Iowa?
On average Kuwait is about 19% less expensive than Iowa, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Kuwait?
Budget about KWD4,706 for 3 months in Kuwait (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Kuwait?
From major Kuwait cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in Iowa and Kuwait are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Kuwait compared to Iowa?
Kuwait performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Kuwait compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Kuwait City is 94°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Kuwait City receives around 4.6 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Kuwait?
The official language in Kuwait is Arabic. In Iowa, the official language is English.
