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 $1,215 per month in Ad Dammam vs $1,046 in Abha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,866 per month in Ad Dammam vs $1,746 in Abha, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,516 per month in Ad Dammam vs $2,446 in Abha, rent included.

Ad Dammam costs about 16% more than Abha, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Ad Dammam and Abha are more affordable than the global median – Ad Dammam 12% lower, Abha 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.09 SAR 30.39

$5.38 SAR 20.20

50.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.39 SAR 129

$51.2 SAR 192

-32.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.57 SAR 24.69

$7.28 SAR 27.33

-9.75%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.91 SAR 7.17

$1.62 SAR 6.08

17.90%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 SAR 8.37

$1.29 SAR 4.86

72.87%

Cappuccino

$3.10 SAR 11.65

$3.09 SAR 11.62

0.32%

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

$0.79 SAR 2.95

$0.63 SAR 2.36

25.40%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.75

$0.22 SAR 0.82

-9.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 SAR 6.84

$1.62 SAR 6.07

12.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 SAR 5.01

$0.63 SAR 2.38

111.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 SAR 7.21

$1.99 SAR 7.46

-3.52%

Eggs

$2.13 SAR 7.98

$3.19 SAR 11.99

-33.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.39 SAR 27.77

$4.47 SAR 16.80

65.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.82 SAR 29.36

$7.53 SAR 28.26

3.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.72 SAR 47.79

$18.60 SAR 69.8

-31.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 SAR 8.17

$2.08 SAR 7.81

4.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 SAR 6.11

$1.99 SAR 7.49

-18.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 SAR 5.96

$1.55 SAR 5.83

2.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 SAR 6.09

$1.61 SAR 6.06

0.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 SAR 4.02

$2.17 SAR 8.14

-50.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 SAR 4.52

$1.26 SAR 4.73

-4.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.28 SAR 4.80

$0.35 SAR 1.30

265.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 SAR 2.18

$0.51 SAR 1.93

13.73%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.09 SAR 15.37

$4.37 SAR 16.41

-6.41%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 SAR 5.46

$1.23 SAR 4.60

17.89%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 SAR 8.14

$1.49 SAR 5.61

45.64%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.80 SAR 29.30

$9.13 SAR 34.28

-14.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 SAR 3.63

$0.80 SAR 3.00

21.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.89 SAR 135

$35.27 SAR 132

1.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 SAR 9.75

$2.99 SAR 11.23

-13.04%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.60 SAR 9.78

$2.69 SAR 10.12

-3.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.41 SAR 50.4

$13.00 SAR 48.82

3.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.42

$0.60 SAR 2.26

6.67%

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

$67.7K SAR 254.2K

$45.1K SAR 169.2K

50.23%

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

$21.3K SAR 79.9K

$19.5K SAR 73.1K

9.33%

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

$128 SAR 482

$88.1 SAR 331

45.51%

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

$33.46 SAR 126

$37.07 SAR 139

-9.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.1 SAR 233

$78.0 SAR 293

-20.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.8 SAR 292

$90.3 SAR 339

-13.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.85 SAR 108

$44.44 SAR 167

-35.08%

Cinema Ticket

$13.40 SAR 50.3

$16.08 SAR 60.4

-16.67%

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

$417 SAR 1,566

$206 SAR 774

102.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,868 SAR 29.5K

$4,231 SAR 15.9K

85.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.40 SAR 155

$30.71 SAR 115

34.81%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.15 SAR 185

$71.7 SAR 269

-31.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.8 SAR 360

$96.1 SAR 361

-0.37%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.5 SAR 340

$66.9 SAR 251

35.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$567 SAR 2,128

$306 SAR 1,150

85.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 SAR 1,388

$252 SAR 945

46.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,007 SAR 3,781

$537 SAR 2,016

87.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 SAR 2,490

$563 SAR 2,113

17.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,379 SAR 5,179

$945 SAR 3,549

45.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$595 SAR 2,235

$1,315 SAR 4,940

-54.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,532 SAR 5,754

$2,238 SAR 8,405

-31.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.9

-1.67%

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

Last update for Ad Dammam: September 6, 2026

Last update for Abha: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $567 in Ad Dammam versus $306 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 $34.00 in Ad Dammam versus $51.0 in Abha. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $200 vs $203 – 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 16% 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 $1,823 per month in Ad Dammam and $1,570 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 2% 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 $34.00 in Ad Dammam and $51.0 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 $1,046, than in Ad Dammam at $1,215. 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.