Cost of Living Comparison Between Abha and Al Khobar Cost of Living Comparison Between Abha and Al Khobar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,046 per month in Abha vs $1,415 in Al Khobar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,746 per month in Abha vs $2,187 in Al Khobar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,446 per month in Abha vs $2,960 in Al Khobar, rent included.

Abha is about 26% cheaper than Al Khobar, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Abha sits 24% below the global median, while Al Khobar is 3% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.38 SAR 20.20

$6.69 SAR 25.13

-19.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$51.2 SAR 192

$59.3 SAR 223

-13.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.28 SAR 27.33

$7.92 SAR 29.73

-8.08%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.62 SAR 6.08

$2.59 SAR 9.74

-37.45%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 SAR 4.86

$2.70 SAR 10.15

-52.22%

Cappuccino

$3.09 SAR 11.62

$4.32 SAR 16.21

-28.47%

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

$0.63 SAR 2.36

$1.00 SAR 3.74

-37.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 SAR 0.82

$0.38 SAR 1.42

-42.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.62 SAR 6.07

$1.62 SAR 6.08

White Bread (500g)

$0.63 SAR 2.38

$1.26 SAR 4.75

-50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.99 SAR 7.46

$2.43 SAR 9.13

-18.11%

Eggs

$3.19 SAR 11.99

$2.40 SAR 9.02

32.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.47 SAR 16.80

$7.11 SAR 26.72

-37.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.53 SAR 28.26

$10.25 SAR 38.48

-26.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$18.60 SAR 69.8

$11.75 SAR 44.13

58.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.08 SAR 7.81

$2.78 SAR 10.44

-25.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 SAR 7.49

$1.72 SAR 6.45

15.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 SAR 5.83

$1.97 SAR 7.42

-21.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 SAR 6.06

$1.83 SAR 6.87

-12.02%

Potato (1kg)

$2.17 SAR 8.14

$1.35 SAR 5.05

60.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 SAR 4.73

$1.63 SAR 6.13

-22.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.35 SAR 1.30

$1.68 SAR 6.30

-79.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 SAR 1.93

$0.55 SAR 2.05

-7.27%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.37 SAR 16.41

$2.60 SAR 9.75

68.08%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.23 SAR 4.60

$1.59 SAR 5.96

-22.64%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 SAR 5.61

$1.81 SAR 6.79

-17.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.13 SAR 34.28

$6.54 SAR 24.56

39.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 SAR 3.00

$0.74 SAR 2.79

8.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.27 SAR 132

$66.6 SAR 250

-47.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 SAR 11.23

$3.40 SAR 12.78

-12.06%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.69 SAR 10.12

$2.62 SAR 9.83

2.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.00 SAR 48.82

$6.75 SAR 25.36

92.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.26

$0.60 SAR 2.25

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

$45.1K SAR 169.2K

$67.2K SAR 252.4K

-32.97%

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

$19.5K SAR 73.1K

$22.3K SAR 83.7K

-12.64%

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

$88.1 SAR 331

$100 SAR 376

-12.08%

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

$37.07 SAR 139

$32.10 SAR 121

15.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$78.0 SAR 293

$68.3 SAR 256

14.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.3 SAR 339

$81.6 SAR 306

10.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$44.44 SAR 167

$36.00 SAR 135

23.44%

Cinema Ticket

$16.08 SAR 60.4

$15.59 SAR 58.6

3.14%

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

$206 SAR 774

$590 SAR 2,216

-65.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,231 SAR 15.9K

$8,568 SAR 32.2K

-50.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$30.71 SAR 115

$62.4 SAR 234

-50.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$71.7 SAR 269

$83.5 SAR 313

-14.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.1 SAR 361

$95.7 SAR 359

0.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.9 SAR 251

$91.4 SAR 343

-26.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$306 SAR 1,150

$645 SAR 2,423

-52.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$252 SAR 945

$496 SAR 1,864

-49.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$537 SAR 2,016

$1,188 SAR 4,463

-54.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$563 SAR 2,113

$876 SAR 3,289

-35.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$945 SAR 3,549

$2,382 SAR 8,944

-60.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,315 SAR 4,940

$1,464 SAR 5,498

-10.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,238 SAR 8,405

$1,812 SAR 6,806

23.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.88

2.04%

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

Last update for Abha: September 7, 2026

Last update for Al Khobar: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $306 in Abha versus $645 in Al Khobar. 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 24% 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 $59.0 in Al Khobar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $218 – making Abha 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 Al Khobar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Khobar costs about 35% more than Abha, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. 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 $2,122 in Al Khobar. 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.

Groceries cost about 7% more in Al Khobar, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Abha and $59.0 in Al Khobar. 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 Al Khobar at $1,415. In Abha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Al Khobar 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, Al Khobar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.