Moving to Kuwait from United Kingdom

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What to Expect

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

If you moved from United Kingdom to Kuwait, you would find that Kuwait is 42.7% cheaper than United Kingdom overall. A £55,958 salary in United Kingdom would need to be roughly KWD14,873 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 60°F in London, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between United Kingdom and Kuwait.

What does your salary buy?

£55,958 KWD14,873

To maintain the same standard of living in Kuwait

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 57.9% less

Groceries

pay 35.0% less

Transportation

pay 44.2% less

Housing

pay 48.8% less

Childcare

pay 76.3% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 8.9% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 GBP = 0.415 KWD (July 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 United Kingdom to Kuwait.

Living there in 2020
10,191 ↑ 8% vs 2015

people born in United Kingdom live in Kuwait · UN DESA

Who's moving to Kuwait?

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

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

The numbers behind daily life in Kuwait compared to United Kingdom.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2020

per 100,000 people per year

GB
1.0
KW
0.2
Road traffic deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

per 100,000 people per year

GB
2.4
KW
9.2

United Kingdom generally does better on safety, though Kuwait leads in homicide rate.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

GB
$6,606
KW
$2,567
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

affects wait times and access to care

GB
31.7
KW
22.9

United Kingdom generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Kuwait leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

GB
13.0
KW
45.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

GB
4.2t
KW
23.7t

United Kingdom performs 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

GB
41.4
KW
1.5
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

GB
14.3%
KW
3850.5%

United Kingdom generally does better on infrastructure, though Kuwait leads in electricity per capita.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

GB
4.1%
KW
2.1%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

GB
$54,100
KW
$50,800

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

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

GB
81.9 yrs
KW
79.1 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

GB
3.8
KW
7.4

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

Data: HM Revenue & Customs, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

London Rain: 22.0 in/yr (558 mm)
60° / 46°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months London Kuwait City
Jan–Mar 49°/38°F (9°/3°C) 73°/51°F (23°/11°C)
Apr–Jun 64°/48°F (18°/9°C) 104°/76°F (40°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 72°/56°F (22°/13°C) 114°/84°F (46°/29°C)
Oct–Dec 53°/43°F (12°/6°C) 84°/60°F (29°/15°C)
View all months
Month London Kuwait City
Jan 47°/38°F (8.1°/3.1°C) 67°/47°F (19.5°/8.5°C)
Feb 47°/37°F (8.6°/2.7°C) 71°/50°F (21.8°/10.0°C)
Mar 53°/40°F (11.6°/4.6°C) 80°/57°F (26.9°/14.0°C)
Apr 58°/43°F (14.6°/5.9°C) 93°/67°F (33.9°/19.5°C)
May 65°/48°F (18.1°/8.9°C) 106°/78°F (40.9°/25.4°C)
Jun 70°/53°F (21.0°/11.8°C) 114°/84°F (45.5°/28.9°C)
Jul 74°/57°F (23.4°/13.7°C) 116°/87°F (46.7°/30.7°C)
Aug 74°/57°F (23.1°/13.8°C) 116°/85°F (46.9°/29.5°C)
Sep 68°/53°F (20.0°/11.4°C) 111°/79°F (43.7°/26.2°C)
Oct 60°/48°F (15.5°/8.8°C) 98°/71°F (36.6°/21.5°C)
Nov 52°/42°F (11.3°/5.8°C) 82°/58°F (27.8°/14.5°C)
Dec 47°/38°F (8.4°/3.4°C) 71°/50°F (21.9°/9.9°C)

Data: Met Office Met Office, Meteorological Department Meteorological Department

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United Kingdom 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.

United Kingdom passport

United Kingdom passport holder visiting Kuwait

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

Kuwait passport holder visiting United Kingdom

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Kuwait passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter United Kingdom.

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 Kuwait than United Kingdom?

On average Kuwait is about 36% less expensive than United Kingdom, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Kuwait?

Budget about KWD3,718 for 3 months in Kuwait (based on a £55,958 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?

United Kingdom 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 1.0 in United Kingdom.

How is healthcare in Kuwait compared to United Kingdom?

United Kingdom 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 31.7 in United Kingdom. Kuwait scores 78 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United Kingdom: 88).

What's the weather like in Kuwait compared to United Kingdom?

The average high temperature in Kuwait City is 94°F, compared to 60°F in London. Kuwait City receives around 4.6 in of rainfall per year, while London gets 22.0 in.

What language do they speak in Kuwait?

The official language in Kuwait is Arabic. In United Kingdom, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

GB KW
Population 67,791,400 3,068,155
Currency British Pound Sterling (£) Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD)
Languages English Arabic
Driving side Left Right
Calling code +44 +965
Time zones 9 1
Emergency number 999 112