Cost of Living Comparison Between Abha and Jeddah Cost of Living Comparison Between Abha and Jeddah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,050 per month in Abha vs $1,362 in Jeddah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,749 per month in Abha vs $2,108 in Jeddah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,448 per month in Abha vs $2,855 in Jeddah, rent included.

Abha is about 23% cheaper than Jeddah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Abha and Jeddah are more affordable than the global median – Abha 24% lower, Jeddah 1% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Abha
Jeddah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.23 SAR 19.65
$6.69 SAR 25.13
-21.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.0 SAR 188
$53.1 SAR 199
-5.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.26 SAR 27.25
$8.16 SAR 30.63
-11.03%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.60 SAR 6.01
$2.51 SAR 9.42
-36.25%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 SAR 4.85
$2.70 SAR 10.14
-52.22%
Cappuccino
$3.11 SAR 11.67
$3.54 SAR 13.28
-12.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 SAR 2.35
$1.00 SAR 3.77
-38.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24 SAR 0.90
$0.24 SAR 0.89
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Abha
Jeddah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.63 SAR 6.11
$1.71 SAR 6.42
-4.68%
White Bread (500g)
$0.60 SAR 2.25
$1.01 SAR 3.80
-40.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.95 SAR 7.33
$2.20 SAR 8.27
-11.36%
Eggs
$3.07 SAR 11.53
$2.37 SAR 8.91
29.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.45 SAR 16.70
$6.36 SAR 23.86
-30.03%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.49 SAR 28.12
$8.30 SAR 31.17
-9.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$18.41 SAR 69.1
$13.08 SAR 49.12
40.75%
Apples (1kg)
$1.99 SAR 7.49
$1.95 SAR 7.33
2.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.99 SAR 7.46
$1.66 SAR 6.25
19.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.61 SAR 6.05
$1.52 SAR 5.72
5.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.63 SAR 6.13
$1.66 SAR 6.23
-1.81%
Potato (1kg)
$2.19 SAR 8.20
$1.16 SAR 4.37
88.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.27 SAR 4.75
$1.29 SAR 4.83
-1.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.36 SAR 1.37
$1.06 SAR 3.98
-66.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 SAR 1.90
$0.54 SAR 2.02
-5.56%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$4.48 SAR 16.80
$4.20 SAR 15.78
6.67%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 SAR 4.36
$1.82 SAR 6.84
-36.26%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 SAR 5.43
$2.48 SAR 9.31
-41.53%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$9.47 SAR 35.56
$6.45 SAR 24.21
46.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Abha
Jeddah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.79 SAR 2.98
$1.09 SAR 4.11
-27.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.84 SAR 135
$54.9 SAR 206
-34.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.83 SAR 10.62
$3.14 SAR 11.80
-9.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.64 SAR 9.90
$1.75 SAR 6.58
50.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.54 SAR 50.8
$13.91 SAR 52.2
-2.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.60 SAR 2.24
$0.60 SAR 2.25
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$46.1K SAR 173.1K
$48.0K SAR 180.1K
-3.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.6K SAR 73.5K
$21.3K SAR 80.0K
-8.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Abha
Jeddah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.7 SAR 326
$102 SAR 384
-15.23%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$36.59 SAR 137
$38.54 SAR 145
-5.06%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.9 SAR 289
$67.6 SAR 254
13.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Abha
Jeddah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$89.5 SAR 336
$87.1 SAR 327
2.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$44.06 SAR 165
$41.18 SAR 155
6.99%
Cinema Ticket
$15.63 SAR 58.7
$11.87 SAR 44.56
31.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Abha
Jeddah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$207 SAR 779
$728 SAR 2,733
-71.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,118 SAR 15.5K
$16.3K SAR 61.1K
-74.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Abha
Jeddah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$30.92 SAR 116
$68.9 SAR 259
-55.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$72.0 SAR 270
$59.8 SAR 224
20.44%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.1 SAR 357
$96.4 SAR 362
-1.29%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$67.3 SAR 253
$97.4 SAR 366
-30.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Abha
Jeddah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$307 SAR 1,153
$773 SAR 2,904
-60.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$249 SAR 933
$531 SAR 1,994
-53.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$538 SAR 2,021
$1,464 SAR 5,497
-63.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$566 SAR 2,123
$831 SAR 3,121
-31.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$913 SAR 3,427
$1,746 SAR 6,555
-47.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,346 SAR 5,055
$1,145 SAR 4,301
17.54%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Abha
Jeddah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,217 SAR 8,325
$1,664 SAR 6,249
33.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
5.39
11.32%

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

Last update for Abha: August 29, 2026

Last update for Jeddah: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $307 in Abha versus $773 in Jeddah. 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 33% 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 $50.0 in Abha versus $53.0 in Jeddah. Groceries tell a different story – $202 in Abha vs $196 in Jeddah – so Jeddah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Jeddah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Abha or Jeddah?
Jeddah costs about 30% more than Abha, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Abha and in Jeddah?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,576 per month in Abha and $2,043 in Jeddah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Abha or Jeddah?
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.
Are groceries more expensive in Abha or in Jeddah?
Interestingly, groceries are about 3% cheaper in Jeddah – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
How do dining costs compare in Abha and in Jeddah?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $50.0 in Abha and $53.0 in Jeddah. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Abha or in Jeddah?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Abha, where all-in costs run around $1,050, than in Jeddah at $1,362. In Abha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jeddah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for families?
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.
How safe is Abha compared to Jeddah?
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.
Should I move to Abha or to Jeddah?
If budget matters most, go with Abha. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jeddah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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