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 $1,046 per month in Abha vs $1,215 in Ad Dammam, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,746 per month in Abha vs $1,866 in Ad Dammam, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,446 per month in Abha vs $2,516 in Ad Dammam, rent included.

Abha is about 14% cheaper than Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Abha and Ad Dammam are more affordable than the global median – Abha 24% lower, Ad Dammam 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 SAR 20.20

$8.09 SAR 30.39

-33.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.2 SAR 192

$34.39 SAR 129

48.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.28 SAR 27.33

$6.57 SAR 24.69

10.81%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.62 SAR 6.08

$1.91 SAR 7.17

-15.18%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 SAR 4.86

$2.23 SAR 8.37

-42.15%

Cappuccino

$3.09 SAR 11.62

$3.10 SAR 11.65

-0.32%

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

$0.63 SAR 2.36

$0.79 SAR 2.95

-20.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 SAR 0.82

$0.20 SAR 0.75

10.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 SAR 6.07

$1.82 SAR 6.84

-10.99%

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 SAR 2.38

$1.33 SAR 5.01

-52.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.99 SAR 7.46

$1.92 SAR 7.21

3.65%

Eggs

$3.19 SAR 11.99

$2.13 SAR 7.98

49.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.47 SAR 16.80

$7.39 SAR 27.77

-39.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.53 SAR 28.26

$7.82 SAR 29.36

-3.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.60 SAR 69.8

$12.72 SAR 47.79

46.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.08 SAR 7.81

$2.18 SAR 8.17

-4.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 SAR 7.49

$1.63 SAR 6.11

22.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 SAR 5.83

$1.59 SAR 5.96

-2.52%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 SAR 6.06

$1.62 SAR 6.09

-0.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.17 SAR 8.14

$1.07 SAR 4.02

102.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 SAR 4.73

$1.20 SAR 4.52

5.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 SAR 1.30

$1.28 SAR 4.80

-72.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 SAR 1.93

$0.58 SAR 2.18

-12.07%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.37 SAR 16.41

$4.09 SAR 15.37

6.85%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 SAR 4.60

$1.45 SAR 5.46

-15.17%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 SAR 5.61

$2.17 SAR 8.14

-31.34%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.13 SAR 34.28

$7.80 SAR 29.30

17.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 SAR 3.00

$0.97 SAR 3.63

-17.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.27 SAR 132

$35.89 SAR 135

-1.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 SAR 11.23

$2.60 SAR 9.75

15.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.69 SAR 10.12

$2.60 SAR 9.78

3.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.00 SAR 48.82

$13.41 SAR 50.4

-3.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.26

$0.64 SAR 2.42

-6.25%

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

$45.1K SAR 169.2K

$67.7K SAR 254.2K

-33.43%

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

$19.5K SAR 73.1K

$21.3K SAR 79.9K

-8.54%

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

$88.1 SAR 331

$128 SAR 482

-31.27%

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

$37.07 SAR 139

$33.46 SAR 126

10.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.0 SAR 293

$62.1 SAR 233

25.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.3 SAR 339

$77.8 SAR 292

15.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.44 SAR 167

$28.85 SAR 108

54.04%

Cinema Ticket

$16.08 SAR 60.4

$13.40 SAR 50.3

20.00%

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

$206 SAR 774

$417 SAR 1,566

-50.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,231 SAR 15.9K

$7,868 SAR 29.5K

-46.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.71 SAR 115

$41.40 SAR 155

-25.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$71.7 SAR 269

$49.15 SAR 185

45.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.1 SAR 361

$95.8 SAR 360

0.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.9 SAR 251

$90.5 SAR 340

-26.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$306 SAR 1,150

$567 SAR 2,128

-45.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$252 SAR 945

$369 SAR 1,388

-31.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$537 SAR 2,016

$1,007 SAR 3,781

-46.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$563 SAR 2,113

$663 SAR 2,490

-15.13%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$945 SAR 3,549

$1,379 SAR 5,179

-31.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,315 SAR 4,940

$595 SAR 2,235

121.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,238 SAR 8,405

$1,532 SAR 5,754

46.07%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.9

1.69%

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

Last update for Abha: September 7, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $306 in Abha versus $567 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 $51.0 in Abha versus $34.00 in Ad Dammam. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $200 – 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 16% more than Abha, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,570 per month in Abha and $1,823 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 2% 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 $51.0 in Abha and $34.00 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 $1,046, than in Ad Dammam at $1,215. 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.