Cost of Living Comparison Between Abha and Ad Dammam Cost of Living Comparison Between Abha and Ad Dammam

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,136 per month in Abha vs $1,210 in Ad Dammam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,893 per month in Abha vs $1,872 in Ad Dammam, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,650 per month in Abha vs $2,533 in Ad Dammam, rent included.

Abha is about 6% cheaper than Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Abha and Ad Dammam are more affordable than the global median – Abha 15% lower, Ad Dammam 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.27 SAR 19.80

$7.31 SAR 27.42

-27.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.5 SAR 197

$53.6 SAR 201

-2.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.55 SAR 28.35

$7.98 SAR 29.94

-5.39%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 SAR 6.53

$1.83 SAR 6.86

-4.92%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 SAR 5.35

$1.82 SAR 6.82

-21.43%

Cappuccino

$3.17 SAR 11.88

$3.70 SAR 13.89

-14.32%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.63 SAR 2.38

$0.92 SAR 3.43

-31.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 SAR 0.87

$0.35 SAR 1.30

-34.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 SAR 7.08

$1.71 SAR 6.43

10.53%

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 SAR 1.79

$1.45 SAR 5.43

-66.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.02 SAR 7.57

$2.09 SAR 7.85

-3.35%

Eggs

$2.99 SAR 11.24

$2.24 SAR 8.42

33.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.80 SAR 21.77

$6.06 SAR 22.73

-4.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.91 SAR 33.43

$7.15 SAR 26.85

24.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.68 SAR 62.6

$9.62 SAR 36.12

73.39%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 SAR 6.83

$2.11 SAR 7.93

-13.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 SAR 6.26

$1.50 SAR 5.62

11.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 SAR 5.50

$1.38 SAR 5.20

6.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.68 SAR 6.30

$1.66 SAR 6.24

1.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.43 SAR 5.36

$1.28 SAR 4.80

11.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 SAR 4.72

$1.33 SAR 4.99

-5.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 SAR 3.43

$1.35 SAR 5.06

-32.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.23

$0.55 SAR 2.07

7.27%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.31 SAR 16.17

$4.19 SAR 15.73

2.86%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 SAR 5.72

$1.60 SAR 6.01

-5.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 SAR 5.57

$1.98 SAR 7.44

-25.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.42 SAR 35.37

$7.92 SAR 29.73

18.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 SAR 3.06

$0.89 SAR 3.36

-7.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.87 SAR 150

$40.16 SAR 151

-0.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 SAR 9.86

$3.29 SAR 12.35

-20.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.63 SAR 9.87

$2.65 SAR 9.96

-0.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.17 SAR 49.42

$13.28 SAR 49.85

-0.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 SAR 2.28

$0.64 SAR 2.42

-4.69%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.2K SAR 90.9K

$23.1K SAR 86.6K

5.01%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$22.2K SAR 83.3K

$21.3K SAR 79.8K

4.44%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$81.1 SAR 304

$117 SAR 438

-30.48%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$37.40 SAR 140

$38.34 SAR 144

-2.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.7 SAR 209

$63.5 SAR 238

-12.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$122 SAR 460

$70.9 SAR 266

72.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.36 SAR 103

$30.51 SAR 114

-10.32%

Cinema Ticket

$18.08 SAR 67.9

$15.54 SAR 58.3

16.34%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$235 SAR 882

$415 SAR 1,559

-43.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,411 SAR 20.3K

$8,170 SAR 30.7K

-33.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.52 SAR 141

$66.9 SAR 251

-43.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.6 SAR 250

$68.2 SAR 256

-2.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$181 SAR 679

$90.8 SAR 341

99.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.2 SAR 327

$85.5 SAR 321

1.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$358 SAR 1,345

$447 SAR 1,678

-19.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 SAR 991

$375 SAR 1,408

-29.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 SAR 2,167

$800 SAR 3,002

-27.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$640 SAR 2,402

$641 SAR 2,407

-0.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,072 SAR 4,025

$1,309 SAR 4,914

-18.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$609 SAR 2,285

$805 SAR 3,020

-24.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,221 SAR 8,334

$1,895 SAR 7,110

17.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

4.33

30.95%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Abha: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $358 in Abha versus $447 in Ad Dammam. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 17% higher in Abha, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Abha versus $54.0 in Ad Dammam. Groceries tell a different story – $207 in Abha vs $184 in Ad Dammam – so Ad Dammam wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Abha vs Ad Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ad Dammam costs about 7% more than Abha, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,704 per month in Abha and $1,816 in Ad Dammam. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Abha, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 12% cheaper in Ad Dammam – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Abha and $54.0 in Ad Dammam. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Abha, where all-in costs run around $1,136, than in Ad Dammam at $1,210. In Abha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ad Dammam it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Abha – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Abha. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ad Dammam makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.