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 $1,136 per month in Abha vs $1,344 in Al Khobar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,893 per month in Abha vs $2,120 in Al Khobar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,650 per month in Abha vs $2,897 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

$5.27 SAR 19.80

$6.75 SAR 25.34

-21.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.5 SAR 197

$52.6 SAR 197

-0.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.55 SAR 28.35

$8.05 SAR 30.20

-6.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 SAR 6.53

$2.02 SAR 7.59

-13.86%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.43 SAR 5.35

$2.72 SAR 10.22

-47.43%

Cappuccino

$3.17 SAR 11.88

$4.32 SAR 16.23

-26.62%

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

$0.63 SAR 2.38

$1.00 SAR 3.75

-37.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 SAR 0.87

$0.51 SAR 1.93

-54.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 SAR 7.08

$1.69 SAR 6.34

11.83%

White Bread (500g)

$0.48 SAR 1.79

$1.38 SAR 5.17

-65.22%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.02 SAR 7.57

$2.33 SAR 8.75

-13.30%

Eggs

$2.99 SAR 11.24

$2.91 SAR 10.91

2.75%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.80 SAR 21.77

$6.59 SAR 24.72

-11.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.91 SAR 33.43

$9.17 SAR 34.43

-2.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$16.68 SAR 62.6

$12.70 SAR 47.65

31.34%

Apples (1kg)

$1.82 SAR 6.83

$2.50 SAR 9.38

-27.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 SAR 6.26

$1.74 SAR 6.54

-4.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 SAR 5.50

$2.11 SAR 7.90

-30.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.68 SAR 6.30

$1.64 SAR 6.17

2.44%

Potato (1kg)

$1.43 SAR 5.36

$1.43 SAR 5.38

Onion (1kg)

$1.26 SAR 4.72

$1.67 SAR 6.26

-24.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 SAR 3.43

$1.76 SAR 6.59

-48.30%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.23

$0.62 SAR 2.33

-4.84%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.31 SAR 16.17

$2.68 SAR 10.05

60.82%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 SAR 5.72

$1.42 SAR 5.34

7.04%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.48 SAR 5.57

$1.97 SAR 7.39

-24.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.42 SAR 35.37

$6.75 SAR 25.35

39.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.82 SAR 3.06

$0.92 SAR 3.45

-10.87%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.87 SAR 150

$61.6 SAR 231

-35.28%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.63 SAR 9.86

$2.25 SAR 8.44

16.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.63 SAR 9.87

$1.30 SAR 4.87

102.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.17 SAR 49.42

$6.59 SAR 24.74

99.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 SAR 2.28

$0.60 SAR 2.25

1.67%

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

$24.2K SAR 90.9K

$21.2K SAR 79.4K

14.48%

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

$22.2K SAR 83.3K

$22.7K SAR 85.1K

-2.04%

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

$81.1 SAR 304

$123 SAR 461

-33.91%

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

$37.40 SAR 140

$34.93 SAR 131

7.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$55.7 SAR 209

$80.1 SAR 301

-30.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$122 SAR 460

$107 SAR 400

14.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.36 SAR 103

$36.08 SAR 135

-24.17%

Cinema Ticket

$18.08 SAR 67.9

$17.66 SAR 66.3

2.38%

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

$235 SAR 882

$307 SAR 1,151

-23.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,411 SAR 20.3K

$7,553 SAR 28.3K

-28.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.52 SAR 141

$63.8 SAR 239

-41.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.6 SAR 250

$70.0 SAR 263

-4.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$181 SAR 679

$98.7 SAR 370

83.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.2 SAR 327

$80.8 SAR 303

7.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$358 SAR 1,345

$433 SAR 1,624

-17.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 SAR 991

$397 SAR 1,489

-33.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$577 SAR 2,167

$1,031 SAR 3,869

-43.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$640 SAR 2,402

$790 SAR 2,965

-19.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,072 SAR 4,025

$2,419 SAR 9,077

-55.66%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$609 SAR 2,285

$1,457 SAR 5,468

-58.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,221 SAR 8,334

$1,866 SAR 7,005

18.98%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Al Khobar: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $358 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 19% 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 $53.0 in Al Khobar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $207 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 $1,704 per month in Abha and $2,016 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 5% 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 $53.0 in Abha and $53.0 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 $1,136, than in Al Khobar at $1,344. 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.