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 $1,132 per month in Abha vs $1,332 in Al Khobar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,887 per month in Abha vs $2,100 in Al Khobar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,643 per month in Abha vs $2,868 in Al Khobar, rent included.

Abha is about 15% cheaper than Al Khobar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Abha sits 15% below the global median, while Al Khobar is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.42 SAR 20.37

$6.82 SAR 25.60

-20.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.8 SAR 202

$54.0 SAR 203

-0.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.56 SAR 28.39

$8.19 SAR 30.77

-7.69%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 SAR 6.31

$1.98 SAR 7.44

-15.15%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.44 SAR 5.39

$2.70 SAR 10.13

-46.67%

Cappuccino

$3.16 SAR 11.88

$4.26 SAR 16.01

-25.82%

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

$0.58 SAR 2.19

$0.96 SAR 3.61

-39.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 SAR 0.86

$0.49 SAR 1.83

-53.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.88 SAR 7.07

$1.69 SAR 6.34

11.24%

White Bread (500g)

$0.51 SAR 1.93

$1.40 SAR 5.24

-63.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.97 SAR 7.38

$2.32 SAR 8.72

-15.09%

Eggs

$2.85 SAR 10.69

$2.88 SAR 10.81

-1.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.84 SAR 21.95

$6.94 SAR 26.05

-15.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.57 SAR 32.19

$9.12 SAR 34.26

-6.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.77 SAR 63.0

$12.61 SAR 47.34

32.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.89 SAR 7.10

$2.54 SAR 9.53

-25.59%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 SAR 6.02

$1.72 SAR 6.45

-6.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.46 SAR 5.49

$2.13 SAR 8.00

-31.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.72 SAR 6.47

$1.57 SAR 5.88

9.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 SAR 5.14

$1.41 SAR 5.30

-2.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.22 SAR 4.57

$1.72 SAR 6.47

-29.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 SAR 3.36

$1.70 SAR 6.38

-47.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 SAR 2.19

$0.60 SAR 2.24

-3.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.27 SAR 16.02

$2.70 SAR 10.14

58.15%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 SAR 5.97

$1.46 SAR 5.48

8.90%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 SAR 5.59

$1.88 SAR 7.04

-20.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.61 SAR 36.07

$6.51 SAR 24.45

47.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 SAR 3.17

$0.92 SAR 3.44

-8.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.42 SAR 148

$60.1 SAR 225

-34.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 SAR 9.76

$2.26 SAR 8.48

15.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.73 SAR 10.27

$1.35 SAR 5.06

102.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.10 SAR 49.18

$6.60 SAR 24.78

98.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 SAR 2.22

$0.65 SAR 2.43

-9.23%

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

$24.7K SAR 92.8K

$21.4K SAR 80.2K

15.60%

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

$22.6K SAR 85.0K

$22.7K SAR 85.4K

-0.41%

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

$81.3 SAR 305

$124 SAR 466

-34.44%

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

$36.96 SAR 139

$34.51 SAR 130

7.10%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$54.7 SAR 205

$80.7 SAR 303

-32.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$122 SAR 456

$109 SAR 410

11.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.45 SAR 103

$36.80 SAR 138

-25.41%

Cinema Ticket

$17.86 SAR 67.1

$17.36 SAR 65.2

2.88%

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

$241 SAR 906

$306 SAR 1,147

-21.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,294 SAR 19.9K

$7,541 SAR 28.3K

-29.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.27 SAR 144

$63.4 SAR 238

-39.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.9 SAR 247

$69.8 SAR 262

-5.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$178 SAR 667

$100 SAR 376

77.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.1 SAR 331

$80.4 SAR 302

9.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$361 SAR 1,355

$433 SAR 1,627

-16.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 SAR 990

$401 SAR 1,505

-34.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$557 SAR 2,091

$1,059 SAR 3,977

-47.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$622 SAR 2,334

$813 SAR 3,054

-23.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,364 SAR 8,876

$2,442 SAR 9,169

-3.19%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,328 SAR 4,986

$1,423 SAR 5,344

-6.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,190 SAR 8,222

$1,856 SAR 6,971

17.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.67

3.84

47.66%

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

Last update for Abha: July 13, 2026

Last update for Al Khobar: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $361 in Abha versus $433 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 18% 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 $54.0 in Al Khobar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $217 – 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 18% 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 $1,698 per month in Abha and $1,999 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 6% 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 $54.0 in Abha and $54.0 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 $1,132, than in Al Khobar at $1,332. 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.