The currency in Kuwait is the Dinar (KWD) and the cost of living is variable, depending upon what you are spending your money on. Shopping hours are affected by the religious days and most shops will be closed on a Friday and some on a Saturday.

Out of an index of 282 countries, Kuwait is placed as the 134th most expensive country for expats to live in the world. The index is based on a series of items that are everyday purchases and expenses. The first group is alcohol and tobacco. As a Muslim country, alcohol is not widely available, which means that this puts it as the cheapest, making it 282nd out of 282.

The cost of buying clothing, both for adults and children, is very high as most of this is imported from other countries, and the country has a ranking of 41st most expensive in this category. An average ranking for the cost of healthcare makes Kuwait affordable for most people and this takes into consideration the cost of prescriptions, consultations with doctors and hospital stays.

The cost of communications, such as landline and mobile phone usage as well as internet charges, gives the country only an average ranking, putting Kuwait in the middle of the list, though education costs are extremely low with a ranking of 264th.

Household items, such as furniture and appliances are also extremely inexpensive and purchasing groceries also helps to keep the cost of living down, with a ranking of 210th out of 282. However, the cost of running a home – rent, utility bills and local taxes – is quite high, with a ranking of 57th, meaning that these two categories balance each other out.

Purchasing miscellaneous items such as stationery and soft furnishings, or having items dry cleaned gives Kuwait an average ranking, as does the cost of buying personal care items like shampoo and cosmetics. The cost of a evening out at a restaurant is a slightly higher than average ranking at 104th, making it a fairly expensive place to go out for a meal, and it is even more expensive if you wish to go to the cinema or purchase a DVD, as the country is ranked at 34th for this category.

Most branded goods are available in Kuwait, though it is cheaper to buy local produce. Most expats will not bother to import their own for this reason.