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: $1,237 in Ad Dammam versus $1,033 in Al Hufuf.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,905 in Ad Dammam versus $1,611 in Al Hufuf.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,574 in Ad Dammam versus $2,189 in Al Hufuf.

Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 20% more expensive than Al Hufuf, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 8% lower, Al Hufuf 23% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.31 SAR 27.41

$6.51 SAR 24.41

12.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 SAR 202

$48.91 SAR 183

10.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.13 SAR 30.50

$7.57 SAR 28.39

7.40%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.86 SAR 6.97

$1.78 SAR 6.68

4.49%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 SAR 6.91

$1.62 SAR 6.07

13.58%

Cappuccino

$3.67 SAR 13.78

$3.93 SAR 14.75

-6.62%

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

$0.84 SAR 3.15

$0.65 SAR 2.43

29.23%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 SAR 1.39

$0.20 SAR 0.75

85.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 SAR 6.45

$1.64 SAR 6.17

4.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 SAR 5.50

$0.94 SAR 3.53

56.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 SAR 7.91

$2.36 SAR 8.85

-10.59%

Eggs

$2.29 SAR 8.58

$2.01 SAR 7.54

13.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.28 SAR 23.54

$5.56 SAR 20.87

12.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.43 SAR 27.85

$6.51 SAR 24.42

14.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.11 SAR 37.91

$14.07 SAR 52.8

-28.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.21 SAR 8.27

$1.64 SAR 6.15

34.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 SAR 5.57

$1.56 SAR 5.87

-5.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.45 SAR 5.43

$1.30 SAR 4.87

11.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.67 SAR 6.25

$1.14 SAR 4.26

46.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 SAR 4.82

$1.02 SAR 3.83

25.49%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 SAR 4.98

$0.97 SAR 3.63

37.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 SAR 4.88

$1.36 SAR 5.11

-4.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.22

$0.56 SAR 2.11

5.36%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.24 SAR 15.88

$2.86 SAR 10.73

48.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 SAR 5.87

$1.80 SAR 6.74

-12.78%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 SAR 7.56

$1.14 SAR 4.28

77.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.04 SAR 30.17

$6.26 SAR 23.46

28.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 SAR 3.33

$1.09 SAR 4.08

-18.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.57 SAR 148

$39.75 SAR 149

-0.45%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 SAR 12.42

$2.70 SAR 10.13

22.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.73 SAR 10.22

$1.89 SAR 7.10

44.44%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.14 SAR 49.27

$13.12 SAR 49.18

0.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.40

$0.59 SAR 2.20

8.47%

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

$22.7K SAR 85.3K

$34.9K SAR 130.8K

-34.78%

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

$20.9K SAR 78.2K

$23.0K SAR 86.4K

-9.46%

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

$117 SAR 438

$80.8 SAR 303

44.73%

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

$38.51 SAR 144

$31.44 SAR 118

22.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.3 SAR 237

$74.9 SAR 281

-15.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.6 SAR 261

$145 SAR 542

-51.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.63 SAR 115

$33.07 SAR 124

-7.38%

Cinema Ticket

$15.02 SAR 56.3

$13.16 SAR 49.34

14.13%

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

$425 SAR 1,592

$299 SAR 1,122

41.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,339 SAR 31.3K

$4,212 SAR 15.8K

97.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 SAR 251

$12.55 SAR 47.08

433.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.0 SAR 248

$16.21 SAR 60.8

307.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 SAR 347

$41.53 SAR 156

123.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.2 SAR 327

$33.77 SAR 127

158.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 SAR 1,670

$362 SAR 1,357

23.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$377 SAR 1,414

$268 SAR 1,004

40.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$799 SAR 2,997

$728 SAR 2,731

9.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$640 SAR 2,398

$393 SAR 1,474

62.69%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$894 SAR 3,352

$2,392 SAR 8,972

-62.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$778 SAR 2,917

$1,348 SAR 5,054

-42.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,974 SAR 7,403

$1,951 SAR 7,315

1.19%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Al Hufuf: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $445 in Ad Dammam and $362 in Al Hufuf. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ad Dammam pays 1% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

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 $189 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 20% 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.

Ad Dammam pays 1% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $445 in Ad Dammam versus $362 in Al Hufuf. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,237 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,033 in Al Hufuf – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

At $1,033 in Al Hufuf versus $1,237 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 20% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.