Kuwait on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
A budget trip is possible from November to March: allow about KD 26 per person per day, with about KD 14 for a shared room, KD 6 for food, KD 3 for sights and KD 3 for transport. The cost of rooms and taxis makes it pricier than many Middle Eastern countries for backpackers.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | KD14 | KD25 | KD60 |
| Food & drink | KD6 | KD14 | KD30 |
| Sights & tickets | KD3 | KD6 | KD12 |
| Local transport | KD3 | KD7 | KD15 |
| Per person, per day | KD26 | KD52 | KD117 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Kuwait day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Free guided tour of the Grand Mosque (outside prayer times).
- Walk the Arabian Gulf Street corniche at sunset past Marina Crescent.
- Wander the alleys of Souq Al-Mubarakiya.
- Rest in Al Shaheed Park (the museums inside may charge).
- See the gem-shaped buildings of the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre from outside.
- View the Kuwait Towers and Al Hamra Tower lit up at night.
Cheap eats
- Grilled meat and fresh bread in the souq courtyard restaurants: KD 2-4.
- Machboos (spiced rice with meat or fish) in a traditional restaurant: about KD 3-6.
- Shawarma or falafel wrap: under KD 1.
- Fresh juice or mocktail: about KD 1-2.
- Sweet tea in the old souq coffee house: a few hundred fils.
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in older hotels in the city centre (Sharq and Qibla), near the souq and the bus station, at about KD 20-35 for a double. There are very few hostels.
Getting around cheaply
Public buses (KPTC and CityBus) cost about 250 fils but are slow; ride-hailing rides cost KD 2-4. From Kuwait International Airport, about 15 km from the centre, a taxi takes 20-30 minutes for KD 5-8; buses are cheaper but infrequent.
A sample budget day
- Morning: free Grand Mosque tour, then Kuwait Towers (about KD 3).
- Lunch: shawarma and juice (about KD 2).
- Afternoon: Sadu House and the Kuwait National Museum area (small fees).
- Evening: souq dinner of grilled meat and bread (about KD 3) and the corniche at sunset.
- Total: about KD 26 with a shared budget room
More ways to save
- Visit between November and March, when walking along the corniche is possible.
- Use the bus for long, simple routes and ride-hailing for short hops.
- Fill a full day at the Sheikh Abdullah Al Salem Cultural Centre, cheap for what it offers.
- Take the ferry to Failaka (about KD 4-6 return) for a low-cost day trip.
- Remember the weekend is Friday and Saturday; many places open only after Friday prayers.
- Carry water everywhere; bottled water is cheap in supermarkets but pricey in hotels.
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Common questions
Can you visit Kuwait on a budget?
Yes in the cooler months: stay near the souq, eat in its courtyard restaurants and focus on free and cheap sights.
How do I get from the airport?
A taxi or ride-hail takes 20-30 minutes for about KD 5-8.
Is public transport useful?
Buses are cheap (about 250 fils) but slow and crowded; most visitors use Careem or Uber.