Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Dammam and AL Kharj Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Dammam and AL Kharj

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,211 in Ad Dammam versus $943 in AL Kharj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,857 in Ad Dammam versus $1,496 in AL Kharj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,503 in Ad Dammam versus $2,050 in AL Kharj.

Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 28% more expensive than in AL Kharj, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 9% lower, AL Kharj 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.45 SAR 27.99

$6.47 SAR 24.31

15.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.0 SAR 199

$26.66 SAR 100

98.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 SAR 29.72

$8.02 SAR 30.13

-1.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.88 SAR 7.07

$1.70 SAR 6.39

10.59%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 SAR 6.95

$1.29 SAR 4.86

43.41%

Cappuccino

$3.55 SAR 13.33

$2.45 SAR 9.21

44.90%

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

$0.92 SAR 3.44

$0.78 SAR 2.94

17.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 SAR 1.42

$0.13 SAR 0.47

192.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 SAR 6.15

$1.65 SAR 6.18

-0.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 SAR 5.32

$0.26 SAR 0.97

446.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 SAR 7.96

$2.40 SAR 9.00

-11.67%

Eggs

$2.31 SAR 8.68

$1.95 SAR 7.31

18.46%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.99 SAR 22.48

$8.50 SAR 31.90

-29.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.32 SAR 27.49

$5.12 SAR 19.24

42.97%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.07 SAR 37.80

$13.52 SAR 50.8

-25.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.09 SAR 7.85

$2.01 SAR 7.55

3.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 SAR 5.82

$1.23 SAR 4.61

26.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.39 SAR 5.23

$0.95 SAR 3.57

46.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 SAR 6.20

$1.31 SAR 4.92

25.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 SAR 4.79

$0.90 SAR 3.40

42.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 SAR 5.15

$0.97 SAR 3.63

41.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 SAR 4.86

$0.78 SAR 2.94

65.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 SAR 2.08

$0.51 SAR 1.93

7.84%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.12 SAR 15.47

$2.12 SAR 7.96

94.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 SAR 6.05

$1.36 SAR 5.09

18.38%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 SAR 7.47

$2.43 SAR 9.12

-18.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.76 SAR 29.14

$6.58 SAR 24.72

17.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 SAR 3.51

$1.05 SAR 3.95

-10.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.30 SAR 148

$39.90 SAR 150

-1.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 SAR 12.42

$2.73 SAR 10.25

21.25%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.73 SAR 10.26

$0.55 SAR 2.07

396.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.58 SAR 51.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 SAR 2.29

$0.64 SAR 2.40

-4.69%

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

$22.2K SAR 83.5K

$34.6K SAR 129.8K

-35.71%

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

$20.9K SAR 78.3K

$22.9K SAR 86.0K

-8.95%

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

$118 SAR 444

$105 SAR 393

13.00%

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

$38.60 SAR 145

$27.04 SAR 102

42.75%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.4 SAR 238

$49.84 SAR 187

27.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.7 SAR 266

$67.5 SAR 253

4.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.89 SAR 116

$40.77 SAR 153

-24.23%

Cinema Ticket

$15.30 SAR 57.5

$16.29 SAR 61.2

-6.08%

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

$427 SAR 1,602

$179 SAR 671

138.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,216 SAR 30.8K

$3,754 SAR 14.1K

118.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 SAR 255

$59.6 SAR 224

14.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.8 SAR 255

$54.2 SAR 204

25.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.5 SAR 340

$53.6 SAR 201

68.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.1 SAR 323

$81.1 SAR 305

6.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$452 SAR 1,697

$653 SAR 2,454

-30.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 SAR 1,413

$233 SAR 875

61.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$792 SAR 2,975

$484 SAR 1,819

63.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 SAR 2,387

$492 SAR 1,847

29.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,320 SAR 4,956

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$812 SAR 3,051

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,502 SAR 5,639

$2,831 SAR 10.6K

-46.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.33

5.31

-18.46%

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

Last update for Ad Dammam: July 12, 2026

Last update for AL Kharj: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $452 in Ad Dammam and $653 in AL Kharj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

AL Kharj pays 89% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $53.0 in Ad Dammam vs $27.00 in AL Kharj for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $185 vs $170 per month, with AL Kharj 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 Kharj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

AL Kharj wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making AL Kharj the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 89% lower in AL Kharj. 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: $452 in Ad Dammam versus $653 in AL Kharj. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,211 per month in Ad Dammam versus $943 in AL Kharj – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in AL Kharj runs roughly 2% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $943 in AL Kharj versus $1,211 in Ad Dammam, a $2,000 budget is realistic in AL Kharj but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes AL Kharj 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 Kharj 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 Kharj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.