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 $1,132 per month in Abha vs $1,211 in Ad Dammam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,887 per month in Abha vs $1,857 in Ad Dammam, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,643 per month in Abha vs $2,503 in Ad Dammam, rent included.

Abha is about 7% 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 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.42 SAR 20.37

$7.45 SAR 27.99

-27.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.8 SAR 202

$53.0 SAR 199

1.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 SAR 28.39

$7.92 SAR 29.73

-4.55%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 SAR 6.31

$1.88 SAR 7.07

-10.64%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 SAR 5.39

$1.85 SAR 6.95

-22.16%

Cappuccino

$3.16 SAR 11.88

$3.55 SAR 13.33

-10.99%

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

$0.58 SAR 2.19

$0.92 SAR 3.44

-36.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 SAR 0.86

$0.38 SAR 1.42

-39.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 SAR 7.07

$1.64 SAR 6.15

14.63%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 SAR 1.93

$1.42 SAR 5.32

-64.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.97 SAR 7.38

$2.12 SAR 7.96

-7.08%

Eggs

$2.85 SAR 10.69

$2.31 SAR 8.68

23.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.84 SAR 21.95

$5.99 SAR 22.48

-2.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.57 SAR 32.19

$7.32 SAR 27.49

17.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.77 SAR 63.0

$10.07 SAR 37.81

66.53%

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 SAR 7.10

$2.09 SAR 7.85

-9.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 SAR 6.02

$1.55 SAR 5.82

3.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.46 SAR 5.49

$1.39 SAR 5.23

5.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.72 SAR 6.47

$1.65 SAR 6.20

4.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 SAR 5.14

$1.28 SAR 4.79

7.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 SAR 4.57

$1.37 SAR 5.15

-10.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 SAR 3.36

$1.29 SAR 4.86

-30.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 SAR 2.19

$0.55 SAR 2.08

5.45%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.27 SAR 16.02

$4.12 SAR 15.47

3.64%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 SAR 5.97

$1.61 SAR 6.05

-1.24%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 SAR 5.59

$1.99 SAR 7.47

-25.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.61 SAR 36.07

$7.76 SAR 29.14

23.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 SAR 3.17

$0.94 SAR 3.51

-10.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.42 SAR 148

$39.30 SAR 148

0.31%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 SAR 9.76

$3.31 SAR 12.42

-21.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.73 SAR 10.27

$2.73 SAR 10.26

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.10 SAR 49.18

$13.58 SAR 51.0

-3.53%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 SAR 2.22

$0.61 SAR 2.29

-3.28%

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

$24.7K SAR 92.8K

$22.2K SAR 83.5K

11.15%

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

$22.6K SAR 85.0K

$20.9K SAR 78.3K

8.58%

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

$81.3 SAR 305

$118 SAR 444

-31.30%

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

$36.96 SAR 139

$38.60 SAR 145

-4.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.7 SAR 205

$63.4 SAR 238

-13.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$122 SAR 456

$70.7 SAR 266

71.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.45 SAR 103

$30.89 SAR 116

-11.14%

Cinema Ticket

$17.86 SAR 67.1

$15.30 SAR 57.5

16.73%

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

$241 SAR 906

$427 SAR 1,602

-43.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,294 SAR 19.9K

$8,216 SAR 30.9K

-35.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.27 SAR 144

$68.0 SAR 255

-43.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.9 SAR 247

$67.8 SAR 255

-2.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$178 SAR 667

$90.5 SAR 340

96.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.1 SAR 331

$86.1 SAR 323

2.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$361 SAR 1,355

$452 SAR 1,697

-20.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 SAR 990

$376 SAR 1,413

-29.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$557 SAR 2,091

$792 SAR 2,976

-29.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$622 SAR 2,334

$636 SAR 2,388

-2.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,364 SAR 8,876

$1,320 SAR 4,956

79.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,328 SAR 4,986

$812 SAR 3,051

63.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,190 SAR 8,222

$1,502 SAR 5,640

45.79%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $361 in Abha versus $452 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 46% 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 $54.0 in Abha versus $53.0 in Ad Dammam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $185 – making Ad Dammam the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 $1,698 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 11% 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 $54.0 in Abha and $53.0 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 $1,132, than in Ad Dammam at $1,211. 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.