Moving to Kuwait from New Zealand
What to Expect
Considering a move from New Zealand to Kuwait? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from New Zealand to Kuwait, you would find that Kuwait is 36.9% cheaper than New Zealand overall. A NZ$130,000 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly KWD14,300 in Kuwait to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Arabic. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Kuwait City averages 94°F vs 66°F in Auckland, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓Is Kuwait cheaper than New Zealand?
How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 43.2% less
Groceries
pay 40.3% less
Transportation
pay 49.8% less
Housing
pay 31.1% less
Childcare
pay 63.3% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 2.9% 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.
What salary do you need in Kuwait?
What does your salary buy?
NZ$130,000 → KWD14,300
To maintain the same standard of living in Kuwait
Calculate with your salary →Get free moving quotes to Kuwait
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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Kuwait compared to New Zealand.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand generally does better on safety, though Kuwait leads in homicide rate.
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
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kuwait leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
New Zealand performs 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
share of households with internet
New Zealand 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 New Zealand 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
Kuwait generally does better on family life, though New Zealand leads in infant mortality.
Sources: World Bank (2020–2025), United Nations SDG Indicators (2019–2021), World Health Organization (2024), New Zealand Inland Revenue Department (2016), Ministry of Finance, Kuwait (2016). How we calculate this
Weather in Kuwait vs New Zealand
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Auckland | Kuwait City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 74°/61°F (23°/16°C) | 73°/51°F (23°/11°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 63°/51°F (18°/11°C) | 104°/76°F (40°/25°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 60°/47°F (15°/8°C) | 114°/84°F (46°/29°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 67°/55°F (20°/13°C) | 84°/60°F (29°/15°C) |
View all months
| Month | Auckland | Kuwait City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 74°/61°F (23.6°/16.0°C) | 67°/47°F (19.5°/8.5°C) |
| Feb | 75°/62°F (24.1°/16.5°C) | 71°/50°F (21.8°/10.0°C) |
| Mar | 73°/59°F (22.6°/14.9°C) | 80°/57°F (26.9°/14.0°C) |
| Apr | 68°/55°F (20.0°/12.7°C) | 93°/67°F (33.9°/19.5°C) |
| May | 63°/51°F (17.4°/10.6°C) | 106°/78°F (40.9°/25.4°C) |
| Jun | 59°/47°F (15.2°/8.4°C) | 114°/84°F (45.5°/28.9°C) |
| Jul | 58°/46°F (14.3°/7.5°C) | 116°/87°F (46.7°/30.7°C) |
| Aug | 59°/47°F (14.9°/8.2°C) | 116°/85°F (46.9°/29.5°C) |
| Sep | 62°/49°F (16.4°/9.7°C) | 111°/79°F (43.7°/26.2°C) |
| Oct | 64°/52°F (17.7°/11.2°C) | 98°/71°F (36.6°/21.5°C) |
| Nov | 67°/55°F (19.5°/12.8°C) | 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.5°C) |
| Dec | 71°/59°F (21.8°/14.9°C) | 71°/50°F (21.9°/9.9°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Meteorological Department
Can you move from New Zealand to Kuwait?
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Kuwait
Visa on Arrival
Kuwait passport holder visiting New Zealand
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 New Zealand?
On average Kuwait is about 37% less expensive than New Zealand, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Kuwait?
Budget about KWD3,575 for 3 months in Kuwait (based on a NZ$130,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Kuwait?
Connectivity is usually fine (Kuwait: 1.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Kuwait offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Kuwait safe for expats?
New Zealand generally does better on safety, though Kuwait leads in homicide rate. The homicide rate in Kuwait is 0.2 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.5 in New Zealand.
How is healthcare in Kuwait compared to New Zealand?
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kuwait leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 22.7 doctors per 10,000 people in Kuwait, compared to 36.1 in New Zealand. Kuwait scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What's the weather like in Kuwait compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Kuwait City is 94°F, compared to 66°F in Auckland. Kuwait City receives around 4.6 in of rainfall per year, while Auckland gets 43.3 in.
What language do they speak in Kuwait?
The official language in Kuwait is Arabic. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
