😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,205 in Ad Dammam versus $1,110 in Al Hufuf.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,828 in Ad Dammam versus $1,694 in Al Hufuf.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,450 in Ad Dammam versus $2,277 in Al Hufuf.
🌍Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 9% more expensive than in Al Hufuf, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam12% lower, Al Hufuf19% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ad Dammam
Al Hufuf
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.90SAR 29.66
$6.57SAR 24.69
20.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.27SAR 132
$54.1SAR 203
-34.81%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.78SAR 25.48
$7.29SAR 27.40
-7.00%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.92SAR 7.23
$1.85SAR 6.93
3.78%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22SAR 8.33
$1.56SAR 5.87
42.31%
Cappuccino
$2.98SAR 11.18
$3.82SAR 14.35
-21.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77SAR 2.90
$0.70SAR 2.63
10.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20SAR 0.77
$0.28SAR 1.04
-28.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ad Dammam
Al Hufuf
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80SAR 6.77
$1.67SAR 6.27
7.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.27SAR 4.78
$0.78SAR 2.91
62.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87SAR 7.02
$2.36SAR 8.87
-20.76%
Eggs
$2.18SAR 8.19
$2.18SAR 8.18
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.26SAR 27.26
$6.57SAR 24.69
10.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.74SAR 29.06
$7.94SAR 29.84
-2.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.95SAR 48.63
$15.10SAR 56.7
-14.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.19SAR 8.23
$1.58SAR 5.93
38.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66SAR 6.24
$1.70SAR 6.39
-2.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.58SAR 5.92
$1.34SAR 5.05
17.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56SAR 5.84
$1.09SAR 4.11
43.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11SAR 4.18
$1.05SAR 3.95
5.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16SAR 4.37
$0.84SAR 3.15
38.10%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.27SAR 4.75
$1.30SAR 4.90
-2.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58SAR 2.19
$0.55SAR 2.05
5.45%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.20SAR 15.77
$2.96SAR 11.12
41.89%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52SAR 5.70
$1.78SAR 6.69
-14.61%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21SAR 8.31
$2.56SAR 9.61
-13.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.58SAR 28.45
$6.71SAR 25.21
12.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Ad Dammam
Al Hufuf
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.98SAR 3.69
$1.05SAR 3.96
-6.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.71SAR 134
$35.77SAR 134
-0.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.74SAR 10.28
$3.28SAR 12.30
-16.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.62SAR 9.82
$1.84SAR 6.89
42.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.54SAR 50.8
$13.53SAR 50.8
0.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60SAR 2.27
$0.64SAR 2.40
-6.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$66.7KSAR 250.4K
$35.4KSAR 133.0K
88.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0KSAR 79.0K
$22.5KSAR 84.7K
-6.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ad Dammam
Al Hufuf
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$127SAR 478
$97.8SAR 367
30.06%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.69SAR 123
$31.93SAR 120
2.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.4SAR 242
$68.6SAR 258
-6.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ad Dammam
Al Hufuf
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$77.7SAR 292
$107SAR 401
-27.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.77SAR 108
$37.30SAR 140
-22.87%
Cinema Ticket
$13.58SAR 51.0
$13.46SAR 50.6
0.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ad Dammam
Al Hufuf
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$419SAR 1,574
$536SAR 2,013
-21.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,803SAR 29.3K
$11.5KSAR 43.1K
-32.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ad Dammam
Al Hufuf
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.01SAR 158
$17.16SAR 64.4
144.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.62SAR 186
$18.88SAR 70.9
162.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.9SAR 368
$42.50SAR 160
130.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.6SAR 344
$32.50SAR 122
181.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ad Dammam
Al Hufuf
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584SAR 2,193
$574SAR 2,155
1.79%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$369SAR 1,385
$340SAR 1,277
8.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$985SAR 3,701
$895SAR 3,362
10.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$673SAR 2,529
$549SAR 2,061
22.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,416SAR 5,319
$2,353SAR 8,839
-39.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$600SAR 2,253
$1,374SAR 5,162
-56.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ad Dammam
Al Hufuf
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,520SAR 5,709
$1,994SAR 7,488
-23.76%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.9
5.54
6.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ad Dammam: September 13, 2026
Last update for Al Hufuf: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $584 in Ad Dammam and $574 in Al Hufuf. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Al Hufuf pays 31% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Ad Dammam vs $54.0 in Al Hufuf. Groceries flip the comparison at $199 vs $193, with Al Hufuf cheaper for home cooking.
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
Which city is more expensive, Ad Dammam or Al Hufuf?
Al Hufuf wins on cost – living expenses run 9% 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.
Are salaries higher in Ad Dammam or in Al Hufuf?
On paper, salaries run 31% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ad Dammam compared to Al Hufuf?
Rent for a central apartment: $584 in Ad Dammam versus $574 in Al Hufuf. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Ad Dammam compared to Al Hufuf?
All in, you'll spend $1,205 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,110 in Al Hufuf – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ad Dammam compared to Al Hufuf?
A monthly transit pass in Al Hufuf runs roughly 0% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Ad Dammam or in Al Hufuf?
At $1,110 in Al Hufuf versus $1,205 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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ad Dammam or Al Hufuf?
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.
How safe is Ad Dammam compared to Al Hufuf?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Al Hufuf gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.