Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Dammam and Al Hufuf Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Dammam and Al Hufuf

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,196 in Ad Dammam versus $1,047 in Al Hufuf.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,860 in Ad Dammam versus $1,583 in Al Hufuf.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,524 in Ad Dammam versus $2,119 in Al Hufuf.

Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 14% more expensive than in Al Hufuf, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 10% lower, Al Hufuf 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.29 SAR 27.37

$6.64 SAR 24.95

9.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.7 SAR 202

$48.54 SAR 182

10.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.03 SAR 30.16

$7.67 SAR 28.82

4.69%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.82 SAR 6.83

$1.68 SAR 6.32

8.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 SAR 7.14

$1.62 SAR 6.07

17.28%

Cappuccino

$3.73 SAR 14.00

$3.94 SAR 14.78

-5.33%

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

$0.92 SAR 3.44

$0.65 SAR 2.45

41.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 SAR 1.30

$0.22 SAR 0.83

59.09%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 SAR 6.13

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 SAR 5.49

$0.96 SAR 3.61

52.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 SAR 7.86

$2.34 SAR 8.79

-10.68%

Eggs

$2.27 SAR 8.53

$2.02 SAR 7.58

12.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.12 SAR 22.97

$5.58 SAR 20.97

9.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.25 SAR 27.23

$6.48 SAR 24.32

11.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.70 SAR 36.42

$13.91 SAR 52.2

-30.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 SAR 7.95

$1.67 SAR 6.27

26.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 SAR 5.61

$1.55 SAR 5.83

-3.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 SAR 5.24

$1.35 SAR 5.07

3.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 SAR 5.98

$1.17 SAR 4.40

35.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 SAR 4.82

$1.02 SAR 3.82

25.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 SAR 4.97

$0.96 SAR 3.61

37.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 SAR 5.12

$1.30 SAR 4.88

4.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.21

$0.52 SAR 1.96

13.46%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.13 SAR 15.50

$2.87 SAR 10.77

43.90%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 SAR 5.85

$1.79 SAR 6.73

-12.85%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 SAR 7.22

$1.10 SAR 4.14

74.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.76 SAR 29.13

$6.56 SAR 24.63

18.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 SAR 3.57

$1.05 SAR 3.94

-9.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.54 SAR 148

$39.78 SAR 149

-0.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 SAR 12.70

$2.64 SAR 9.93

28.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 SAR 9.86

$1.91 SAR 7.19

37.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.54 SAR 50.8

$13.54 SAR 50.9

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.25

$0.64 SAR 2.40

-6.25%

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

$23.0K SAR 86.3K

$34.9K SAR 131.1K

-34.17%

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

$21.1K SAR 79.1K

$23.6K SAR 88.7K

-10.77%

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

$115 SAR 432

$80.2 SAR 301

43.38%

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

$38.60 SAR 145

$31.40 SAR 118

22.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 SAR 239

$76.5 SAR 287

-16.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.5 SAR 265

$144 SAR 540

-50.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$31.26 SAR 117

$33.87 SAR 127

-7.71%

Cinema Ticket

$15.06 SAR 56.6

$13.45 SAR 50.5

11.97%

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

$415 SAR 1,558

$299 SAR 1,122

38.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,157 SAR 30.6K

$4,157 SAR 15.6K

96.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 SAR 258

$12.49 SAR 46.90

449.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.7 SAR 250

$16.04 SAR 60.2

315.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 SAR 348

$41.35 SAR 155

123.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.7 SAR 322

$33.27 SAR 125

157.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 SAR 1,677

$366 SAR 1,374

22.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 SAR 1,421

$262 SAR 982

44.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$805 SAR 3,021

$707 SAR 2,653

13.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$626 SAR 2,350

$396 SAR 1,488

57.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,353 SAR 5,082

$2,018 SAR 7,578

-32.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 SAR 3,063

$1,307 SAR 4,909

-37.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,510 SAR 5,669

$1,990 SAR 7,472

-24.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.33

2.5

73.20%

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

Last update for Ad Dammam: July 26, 2026

Last update for Al Hufuf: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $447 in Ad Dammam and $366 in Al Hufuf. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Hufuf pays 32% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $54.0 in Ad Dammam vs $49.00 in Al Hufuf for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $180 per month, with Al Hufuf cheaper across the board.

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 Al Hufuf: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Hufuf wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Al Hufuf the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 32% lower in Al Hufuf. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $447 in Ad Dammam versus $366 in Al Hufuf. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,196 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,047 in Al Hufuf – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Al Hufuf runs roughly 1% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,047 in Al Hufuf versus $1,196 in Ad Dammam, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al Hufuf but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Al Hufuf the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Ad Dammam and Al Hufuf are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Al Hufuf gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.