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 $1,210 per month in Ad Dammam vs $1,136 in Abha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,872 per month in Ad Dammam vs $1,893 in Abha, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,533 per month in Ad Dammam vs $2,650 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 10% lower, Abha 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.31 SAR 27.42

$5.27 SAR 19.80

38.71%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.6 SAR 201

$52.5 SAR 197

2.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.98 SAR 29.94

$7.55 SAR 28.35

5.70%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.83 SAR 6.86

$1.74 SAR 6.53

5.17%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 SAR 6.82

$1.43 SAR 5.35

27.27%

Cappuccino

$3.70 SAR 13.89

$3.17 SAR 11.88

16.72%

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

$0.92 SAR 3.43

$0.63 SAR 2.38

46.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 SAR 1.30

$0.23 SAR 0.87

52.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 SAR 6.43

$1.89 SAR 7.08

-9.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 SAR 5.43

$0.48 SAR 1.79

202.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 SAR 7.85

$2.02 SAR 7.57

3.47%

Eggs

$2.24 SAR 8.42

$2.99 SAR 11.24

-25.08%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 SAR 22.73

$5.80 SAR 21.77

4.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.15 SAR 26.85

$8.91 SAR 33.43

-19.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.62 SAR 36.12

$16.68 SAR 62.6

-42.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 SAR 7.93

$1.82 SAR 6.83

15.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 SAR 5.62

$1.67 SAR 6.26

-10.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.38 SAR 5.20

$1.47 SAR 5.50

-6.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 SAR 6.24

$1.68 SAR 6.30

-1.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 SAR 4.80

$1.43 SAR 5.36

-10.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 SAR 4.99

$1.26 SAR 4.72

5.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 SAR 5.06

$0.91 SAR 3.43

48.35%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 SAR 2.07

$0.59 SAR 2.23

-6.78%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.19 SAR 15.73

$4.31 SAR 16.17

-2.78%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 SAR 6.01

$1.52 SAR 5.72

5.26%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 SAR 7.44

$1.48 SAR 5.57

33.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.92 SAR 29.73

$9.42 SAR 35.37

-15.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 SAR 3.36

$0.82 SAR 3.06

8.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.16 SAR 151

$39.87 SAR 150

0.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 SAR 12.35

$2.63 SAR 9.86

25.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.65 SAR 9.96

$2.63 SAR 9.87

0.76%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.28 SAR 49.85

$13.17 SAR 49.42

0.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.42

$0.61 SAR 2.28

4.92%

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

$23.1K SAR 86.6K

$24.2K SAR 90.9K

-4.77%

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

$21.3K SAR 79.8K

$22.2K SAR 83.3K

-4.25%

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

$117 SAR 438

$81.1 SAR 304

43.85%

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

$38.34 SAR 144

$37.40 SAR 140

2.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 SAR 238

$55.7 SAR 209

14.11%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.9 SAR 266

$122 SAR 460

-42.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.51 SAR 114

$27.36 SAR 103

11.51%

Cinema Ticket

$15.54 SAR 58.3

$18.08 SAR 67.9

-14.05%

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

$415 SAR 1,559

$235 SAR 882

76.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,170 SAR 30.7K

$5,411 SAR 20.3K

50.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.9 SAR 251

$37.52 SAR 141

78.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.2 SAR 256

$66.6 SAR 250

2.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 SAR 341

$181 SAR 679

-49.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.5 SAR 321

$87.2 SAR 327

-1.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 SAR 1,678

$358 SAR 1,345

24.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$375 SAR 1,408

$264 SAR 991

42.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$800 SAR 3,002

$577 SAR 2,167

38.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 SAR 2,407

$640 SAR 2,402

0.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,309 SAR 4,914

$1,072 SAR 4,025

22.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$805 SAR 3,020

$609 SAR 2,285

32.15%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,895 SAR 7,110

$2,221 SAR 8,334

-14.68%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Abha: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $447 in Ad Dammam versus $358 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 17% 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 Ad Dammam versus $53.0 in Abha. Groceries tell a different story – $184 in Ad Dammam vs $207 in Abha – so Ad Dammam 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

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 $1,704 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 12% 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 $54.0 in Ad Dammam and $53.0 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 $1,136, than in Ad Dammam at $1,210. 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.