Cost of Living in Kuwait for Students 2026

What it costs to live and study in Kuwait, measured against comparable destinations, with the figures that decide a student budget.

Student life → Working & jobs →

Price level, against the United States

67%

A basket of goods costing $100 in the United States costs about $67 in Kuwait, at market exchange rates. This is a whole-economy average from the World Bank (2023), not a student budget — rent near a university and a student's own habits move it a long way in both directions.

Universities in Kuwait

#5 in Kuwait Kuwait

Arab Open University, Kuwait Branch

Public University — Arab Open University (AOU) is a non-profit university system in the Arab world. Headquartered in Kuwait, the system is composed of 16 campuses across 9 countries: Ardiya in Kuwait, Riyadh, J...

—Tuition (indicative)

—Founded

—Students

—International

Admissions open

#5 in Kuwait · by research impact

6,707 citations · h-index 39

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#4 in Kuwait Kuwait

American University of Kuwait

Public University — The American University of Kuwait (AUK) is a private liberal arts institution located in Salmiya, Kuwait. Established in 2003 by Amiri decree, AUK is affiliated with Dartmouth College. The u...

—Tuition (indicative)

2003Founded

—Students

—International

Admissions open

#4 in Kuwait · by research impact

17,775 citations · h-index 55

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#2 in Kuwait Kuwait

American University of Middle East

Public University — The American University of the Middle East (AUM) is a private university established in 2005 in Kuwait.

—Tuition (indicative)

2005Founded

10,000Students

—International

Admissions open

#2 in Kuwait · by research impact

132,366 citations · h-index 124

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#3 in Kuwait Kuwait

Gulf University for Science and Technology

Public University — Gulf University for Science & Technology (GUST) is the first private university established in Kuwait. It has a dual-enrollment agreement with the University of Missouri–St. Louis.

—Tuition (indicative)

—Founded

—Students

—International

Admissions open

#3 in Kuwait · by research impact

78,154 citations · h-index 105

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