Moving to Kuwait from South Korea
What to Expect
Considering a move from South Korea to Kuwait? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from South Korea to Kuwait, you would find that Kuwait is 9.1% cheaper than South Korea overall. A ₩112,436,250 salary in South Korea would need to be roughly KWD20,914 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 63°F in Seoul, making it significantly warmer.
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A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between South Korea and Kuwait.
What does your salary buy?
₩112,436,250 → KWD20,914
To maintain the same standard of living in Kuwait
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 11.3% less
Groceries
pay 55.5% less
Transportation
pay 19.3% more
Housing
pay 25.1% more
Childcare
pay 48.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 27.5% 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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Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Kuwait compared to South Korea.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
South Korea 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
South Korea 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
South Korea 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
South Korea 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 performs significantly better than South Korea across all employment & economy metrics.
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
percentage of adults who can read and write
South Korea generally does better on family life, though Kuwait leads in education spending.
Data: National Tax Service, South Korea, 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 | Seoul | Kuwait City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 43°/28°F (6°/-2°C) | 73°/51°F (23°/11°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 73°/56°F (23°/13°C) | 104°/76°F (40°/25°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 83°/70°F (28°/21°C) | 114°/84°F (46°/29°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 54°/38°F (12°/4°C) | 84°/60°F (29°/15°C) |
View all months
| Month | Seoul | Kuwait City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.5°C) | 67°/47°F (19.5°/8.5°C) |
| Feb | 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C) | 71°/50°F (21.8°/10.0°C) |
| Mar | 52°/35°F (11.0°/1.9°C) | 80°/57°F (26.9°/14.0°C) |
| Apr | 64°/46°F (17.9°/8.0°C) | 93°/67°F (33.9°/19.5°C) |
| May | 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.5°C) | 106°/78°F (40.9°/25.4°C) |
| Jun | 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.7°C) | 114°/84°F (45.5°/28.9°C) |
| Jul | 84°/72°F (29.0°/22.3°C) | 116°/87°F (46.7°/30.7°C) |
| Aug | 86°/73°F (30.0°/22.9°C) | 116°/85°F (46.9°/29.5°C) |
| Sep | 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.7°C) | 111°/79°F (43.7°/26.2°C) |
| Oct | 68°/51°F (20.2°/10.6°C) | 98°/71°F (36.6°/21.5°C) |
| Nov | 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.5°C) | 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.5°C) |
| Dec | 40°/26°F (4.2°/-3.4°C) | 71°/50°F (21.9°/9.9°C) |
Data:
Korea Meteorological Administration,
Meteorological Department
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between South Korea 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.
South Korea passport holder visiting Kuwait
Visa on Arrival
Kuwait passport holder visiting South Korea
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 South Korea?
On average Kuwait is about 10% less expensive than South Korea, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Kuwait?
Budget about KWD5,228 for 3 months in Kuwait (based on a ₩112,436,250 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: 1.5 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?
South Korea 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 0.5 in South Korea.
How is healthcare in Kuwait compared to South Korea?
South Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kuwait leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 22.9 doctors per 10,000 people in Kuwait, compared to 25.2 in South Korea. Kuwait scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (South Korea: 89).
What's the weather like in Kuwait compared to South Korea?
The average high temperature in Kuwait City is 94°F, compared to 63°F in Seoul. Kuwait City receives around 4.6 in of rainfall per year, while Seoul gets 55.8 in.
What language do they speak in Kuwait?
The official language in Kuwait is Arabic. In South Korea, the official language is Korean.
