Moving to Norway from Kuwait

moving to

What to Expect

Considering a move from Kuwait to Norway? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from Kuwait to Norway, you would find that Norway is 2.4 times more expensive than Kuwait overall. A KWD23,208 salary in Kuwait would need to be roughly NOK1,117,552 in Norway to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Sami. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Oslo averages 49°F vs 94°F in Kuwait City, making it significantly cooler.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Kuwait and Norway.

What does your salary buy?

KWD23,208 NOK1,117,552

To maintain the same standard of living in Norway

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 4.6 times more

Groceries

pay 2.3 times more

Transportation

pay 2.6 times more

Housing

pay 2.1 times more

Childcare

pay 33.5% more

Entertainment and Sports

pay 2.3 times more

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 KWD = 29.9 NOK (June 2026)

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 Kuwait to Norway.

Moved in 2022
6 ↓ 50% vs 2021

people moved from Kuwait to Norway · OECD (latest data available)

Who's moving to Norway?

Top countries of origin for Norway's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Norway compared to Kuwait.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

KW
0.2
NO
0.6
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

KW
9.2
NO
1.5

Kuwait generally does better on safety, though Norway leads in road traffic deaths.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2023

annual government + private spending per person

KW
$2,567
NO
$9,523
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

KW
22.9
NO
51.7

Kuwait generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Norway leads in doctors per 10,000 people.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

KW
45.0
NO
8.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

KW
23.7t
NO
7.2t

Norway performs significantly better than Kuwait across all environment metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

KW
1.5
NO
45.9
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

KW
3850.5%
NO
2.0%

Norway performs significantly better than Kuwait across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

KW
2.1%
NO
3.6%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

KW
$50,800
NO
$90,500

Kuwait generally does better on employment & economy, though Norway leads in gdp per capita.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

KW
79.1 yrs
NO
82.5 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

KW
7.4
NO
2.3

Norway generally does better on family life, though Kuwait leads in education spending.

Data: Ministry of Finance, Kuwait, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Kuwait City Rain: 4.6 in/yr (116 mm)
94° / 68°F

Avg. annual high / low

Oslo Rain: 30.0 in/yr (763 mm)
49° / 36°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Kuwait City Oslo
Jan–Mar 73°/51°F (23°/11°C) 32°/22°F (0°/-6°C)
Apr–Jun 104°/76°F (40°/25°C) 59°/43°F (15°/6°C)
Jul–Sep 114°/84°F (46°/29°C) 66°/51°F (19°/10°C)
Oct–Dec 84°/60°F (29°/15°C) 39°/30°F (4°/-1°C)
View all months
Month Kuwait City Oslo
Jan 67°/47°F (19.5°/8.5°C) 29°/20°F (-1.8°/-6.8°C)
Feb 71°/50°F (21.8°/10.0°C) 30°/20°F (-0.9°/-6.8°C)
Mar 80°/57°F (26.9°/14.0°C) 38°/26°F (3.5°/-3.3°C)
Apr 93°/67°F (33.9°/19.5°C) 48°/33°F (9.1°/0.8°C)
May 106°/78°F (40.9°/25.4°C) 60°/44°F (15.8°/6.5°C)
Jun 114°/84°F (45.5°/28.9°C) 69°/51°F (20.4°/10.6°C)
Jul 116°/87°F (46.7°/30.7°C) 71°/54°F (21.5°/12.2°C)
Aug 116°/85°F (46.9°/29.5°C) 68°/52°F (20.1°/11.3°C)
Sep 111°/79°F (43.7°/26.2°C) 59°/46°F (15.1°/7.5°C)
Oct 98°/71°F (36.6°/21.5°C) 49°/39°F (9.3°/3.8°C)
Nov 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.5°C) 38°/29°F (3.2°/-1.5°C)
Dec 71°/50°F (21.9°/9.9°C) 31°/22°F (-0.5°/-5.6°C)

Data: Meteorological Department Meteorological Department, Norwegian Meteorological Institute Norwegian Meteorological Institute

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between Kuwait and Norway. To live, work, or study long-term in Norway, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Norway's immigration authority.

Kuwait passport

Kuwait passport holder visiting Norway

Visa Required
Kuwait passport holders need a visa to enter Norway.
Norway passport

Norway passport holder visiting Kuwait

Visa on Arrival
Norway passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Kuwait.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Norway than Kuwait?

On average Norway is around 61% pricier than Kuwait, with notable variation by city.

How much money do I need to move to Norway?

Budget about NOK279,388 for 3 months in Norway (based on a KWD23,208 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.

Can I work remotely from Norway?

Connectivity is usually fine (Norway: 45.9 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Norway offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?

Is Norway safe for expats?

Kuwait generally does better on safety, though Norway leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Norway is 0.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Kuwait.

How is healthcare in Norway compared to Kuwait?

Kuwait generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Norway leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 51.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Norway, compared to 22.9 in Kuwait. Norway scores 87 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Kuwait: 78).

What's the weather like in Norway compared to Kuwait?

The average high temperature in Oslo is 49°F, compared to 94°F in Kuwait City. Oslo receives around 30.0 in of rainfall per year, while Kuwait City gets 4.6 in.

What language do they speak in Norway?

The official languages in Norway are Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Sami. In Kuwait, the official language is Arabic.

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At a Glance

KW NO
Population 3,068,155 5,553,840
Currency Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD) Norwegian Krone (NOK)
Languages Arabic Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, Sami
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +965 +47
Time zones 1 1
Emergency number 112 112