Moving to Kuwait from Switzerland
What to Expect
Considering a move from Switzerland to Kuwait? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from Switzerland to Kuwait, you would find that Kuwait is 64.2% cheaper than Switzerland overall. A CHF58,584 salary in Switzerland would need to be roughly KWD9,283 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 55°F in Bern, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between Switzerland and Kuwait.
What does your salary buy?
CHF58,584 → KWD9,283
To maintain the same standard of living in Kuwait
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 78.1% less
Groceries
pay 61.1% less
Transportation
pay 61.7% less
Housing
pay 61.5% less
Childcare
pay 86.3% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 42.5% 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.
Get free moving quotes to Kuwait
We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes.
- ✅ Up to 5 quotes from screened movers
- ✅ Licensed and insured providers only
- ✅ 100% free — you choose who contacts you
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Kuwait compared to Switzerland.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
Switzerland 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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Switzerland 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
Switzerland 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
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: Swiss Federal Tax Administration, 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 | Bern | Kuwait City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 41°/30°F (5°/-1°C) | 73°/51°F (23°/11°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 62°/45°F (17°/7°C) | 104°/76°F (40°/25°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 70°/53°F (21°/12°C) | 114°/84°F (46°/29°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 46°/36°F (8°/2°C) | 84°/60°F (29°/15°C) |
View all months
| Month | Bern | Kuwait City |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 36°/27°F (2.0°/-2.8°C) | 67°/47°F (19.5°/8.5°C) |
| Feb | 40°/29°F (4.2°/-1.9°C) | 71°/50°F (21.8°/10.0°C) |
| Mar | 47°/33°F (8.3°/0.6°C) | 80°/57°F (26.9°/14.0°C) |
| Apr | 55°/39°F (12.6°/3.7°C) | 93°/67°F (33.9°/19.5°C) |
| May | 63°/46°F (17.3°/7.7°C) | 106°/78°F (40.9°/25.4°C) |
| Jun | 69°/51°F (20.5°/10.8°C) | 114°/84°F (45.5°/28.9°C) |
| Jul | 73°/55°F (23.0°/12.8°C) | 116°/87°F (46.7°/30.7°C) |
| Aug | 72°/54°F (22.0°/12.4°C) | 116°/85°F (46.9°/29.5°C) |
| Sep | 66°/50°F (18.8°/10.0°C) | 111°/79°F (43.7°/26.2°C) |
| Oct | 56°/43°F (13.3°/6.2°C) | 98°/71°F (36.6°/21.5°C) |
| Nov | 44°/35°F (6.9°/1.4°C) | 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.5°C) |
| Dec | 37°/29°F (2.9°/-1.7°C) | 71°/50°F (21.9°/9.9°C) |
Data:
MeteoSwiss - Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology,
Meteorological Department
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Switzerland 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.
Switzerland passport holder visiting Kuwait
Visa on Arrival
Kuwait passport holder visiting Switzerland
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 Switzerland?
On average Kuwait is about 60% less expensive than Switzerland, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Kuwait?
Budget about KWD2,321 for 3 months in Kuwait (based on a CHF58,584 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, 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?
Switzerland 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 Switzerland.
How is healthcare in Kuwait compared to Switzerland?
Switzerland 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 44.4 in Switzerland. Kuwait scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Switzerland: 86).
What's the weather like in Kuwait compared to Switzerland?
The average high temperature in Kuwait City is 94°F, compared to 55°F in Bern. Kuwait City receives around 4.6 in of rainfall per year, while Bern gets 42.8 in.
What language do they speak in Kuwait?
The official language in Kuwait is Arabic. In Switzerland, the official languages are French, Italian, Romansh and Swiss German.
