Moving to Switzerland from Kuwait
What to Expect
Considering a move from Kuwait to Switzerland? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Kuwait to Switzerland, you would find that Switzerland is 4.3 times more expensive than Kuwait overall. A KWD23,208 salary in Kuwait would need to be roughly CHF146,461 in Switzerland to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Bern averages 55°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 Switzerland.
What does your salary buy?
KWD23,208 → CHF146,461
To maintain the same standard of living in Switzerland
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 7.6 times more
Groceries
pay 3.3 times more
Transportation
pay 3.3 times more
Housing
pay 2.7 times more
Childcare
pay 8.5 times more
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.2 times more
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 Switzerland.
people moved from Kuwait to Switzerland · OECD (latest data available)
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Switzerland compared to Kuwait.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Kuwait generally does better on safety, though Switzerland leads in road traffic deaths.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Kuwait generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Switzerland performs significantly better than Kuwait across all environment metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
Switzerland generally does better on infrastructure, though Kuwait leads in electricity per capita.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
Kuwait generally does better on employment & economy, though Switzerland leads in gdp per capita.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Switzerland 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Kuwait City | Bern |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 73°/51°F (23°/11°C) | 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 104°/76°F (40°/25°C) | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 114°/84°F (46°/29°C) | 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 84°/60°F (29°/15°C) | 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) |
View all months
| Month | Kuwait City | Bern |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 67°/47°F (19.5°/8.5°C) | 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) |
| Feb | 71°/50°F (21.8°/10.0°C) | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) |
| Mar | 80°/57°F (26.9°/14.0°C) | 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) |
| Apr | 93°/67°F (33.9°/19.5°C) | 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) |
| May | 106°/78°F (40.9°/25.4°C) | 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) |
| Jun | 114°/84°F (45.5°/28.9°C) | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) |
| Jul | 116°/87°F (46.7°/30.7°C) | 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) |
| Aug | 116°/85°F (46.9°/29.5°C) | 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) |
| Sep | 111°/79°F (43.7°/26.2°C) | 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) |
| Oct | 98°/71°F (36.6°/21.5°C) | 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) |
| Nov | 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.5°C) | 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) |
| Dec | 71°/50°F (21.9°/9.9°C) | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) |
Data:
Meteorological Department,
MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Kuwait and Switzerland. To live, work, or study long-term in Switzerland, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Switzerland's immigration authority.
Kuwait passport holder visiting Switzerland
Visa Required
Switzerland passport holder visiting Kuwait
Visa on ArrivalData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Switzerland than Kuwait?
On average Switzerland is around 150% pricier than Kuwait, with notable variation by city.
How much money do I need to move to Switzerland?
Budget about CHF36,615 for 3 months in Switzerland (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 Switzerland?
Connectivity is usually fine (Switzerland: 47.1 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Switzerland offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Switzerland safe for expats?
Kuwait generally does better on safety, though Switzerland leads in road traffic deaths. The homicide rate in Switzerland is 0.5 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.2 in Kuwait.
How is healthcare in Switzerland compared to Kuwait?
Kuwait generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Switzerland leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 44.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Switzerland, compared to 22.9 in Kuwait. Switzerland scores 86 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Kuwait: 78).
What's the weather like in Switzerland compared to Kuwait?
The average high temperature in Bern is 55°F, compared to 94°F in Kuwait City. Bern receives around 42.8 in of rainfall per year, while Kuwait City gets 4.6 in.
What language do they speak in Switzerland?
The official languages in Switzerland are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German. In Kuwait, the official language is Arabic.
