Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Dammam and Abha Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Dammam and Abha

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,211 per month in Ad Dammam vs $1,132 in Abha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,857 per month in Ad Dammam vs $1,887 in Abha, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,503 per month in Ad Dammam vs $2,643 in Abha, rent included.

Ad Dammam costs about 7% more than Abha, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Ad Dammam and Abha are more affordable than the global median – Ad Dammam 9% lower, Abha 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.45 SAR 27.99

$5.42 SAR 20.37

37.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.0 SAR 199

$53.8 SAR 202

-1.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 SAR 29.72

$7.56 SAR 28.39

4.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.88 SAR 7.07

$1.68 SAR 6.31

11.90%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 SAR 6.95

$1.44 SAR 5.39

28.47%

Cappuccino

$3.55 SAR 13.33

$3.16 SAR 11.88

12.34%

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

$0.92 SAR 3.44

$0.58 SAR 2.19

58.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 SAR 1.42

$0.23 SAR 0.86

65.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 SAR 6.15

$1.88 SAR 7.07

-12.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 SAR 5.32

$0.51 SAR 1.93

178.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 SAR 7.96

$1.97 SAR 7.38

7.61%

Eggs

$2.31 SAR 8.68

$2.85 SAR 10.69

-18.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.99 SAR 22.48

$5.84 SAR 21.95

2.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.32 SAR 27.49

$8.57 SAR 32.19

-14.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.07 SAR 37.80

$16.77 SAR 63.0

-39.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.09 SAR 7.85

$1.89 SAR 7.10

10.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 SAR 5.82

$1.60 SAR 6.02

-3.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.39 SAR 5.23

$1.46 SAR 5.49

-4.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 SAR 6.20

$1.72 SAR 6.47

-4.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 SAR 4.79

$1.37 SAR 5.14

-6.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 SAR 5.15

$1.22 SAR 4.57

12.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 SAR 4.86

$0.90 SAR 3.36

43.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 SAR 2.08

$0.58 SAR 2.19

-5.17%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.12 SAR 15.47

$4.27 SAR 16.02

-3.51%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 SAR 6.05

$1.59 SAR 5.97

1.26%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 SAR 7.47

$1.49 SAR 5.59

33.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.76 SAR 29.14

$9.61 SAR 36.07

-19.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 SAR 3.51

$0.84 SAR 3.17

11.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.30 SAR 148

$39.42 SAR 148

-0.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 SAR 12.42

$2.60 SAR 9.76

27.31%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.73 SAR 10.26

$2.73 SAR 10.27

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.58 SAR 51.0

$13.10 SAR 49.18

3.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 SAR 2.29

$0.59 SAR 2.22

3.39%

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

$22.2K SAR 83.5K

$24.7K SAR 92.8K

-10.03%

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

$20.9K SAR 78.3K

$22.6K SAR 85.0K

-7.90%

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

$118 SAR 444

$81.3 SAR 305

45.55%

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

$38.60 SAR 145

$36.96 SAR 139

4.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.4 SAR 238

$54.7 SAR 205

16.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.7 SAR 266

$122 SAR 456

-41.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.89 SAR 116

$27.45 SAR 103

12.53%

Cinema Ticket

$15.30 SAR 57.5

$17.86 SAR 67.0

-14.33%

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

$427 SAR 1,602

$241 SAR 906

76.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,216 SAR 30.8K

$5,294 SAR 19.9K

55.20%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 SAR 255

$38.27 SAR 144

77.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.8 SAR 255

$65.9 SAR 247

2.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.5 SAR 340

$178 SAR 667

-49.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.1 SAR 323

$88.1 SAR 331

-2.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$452 SAR 1,697

$361 SAR 1,355

25.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 SAR 1,413

$264 SAR 990

42.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$792 SAR 2,975

$557 SAR 2,091

42.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 SAR 2,387

$622 SAR 2,334

2.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,320 SAR 4,956

$2,364 SAR 8,876

-44.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$812 SAR 3,051

$1,328 SAR 4,986

-38.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,502 SAR 5,639

$2,190 SAR 8,222

-31.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.33

5.67

-23.63%

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

Last update for Ad Dammam: July 12, 2026

Last update for Abha: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $452 in Ad Dammam versus $361 in Abha. 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 $53.0 in Ad Dammam versus $54.0 in Abha. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $205 – 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

Ad Dammam vs Abha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ad Dammam costs about 7% more than Abha, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,816 per month in Ad Dammam and $1,698 in Abha. 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 11% 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 $53.0 in Ad Dammam and $54.0 in Abha. 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 Ad Dammam at $1,211. 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.