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: $1,215 in Ad Dammam versus $957 in AL Kharj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,866 in Ad Dammam versus $1,461 in AL Kharj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,516 in Ad Dammam versus $1,965 in AL Kharj.

Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 27% more expensive than in AL Kharj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 12% lower, AL Kharj 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.09 SAR 30.39

$4.86 SAR 18.27

66.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.39 SAR 129

$26.27 SAR 98.7

30.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.57 SAR 24.69

$8.84 SAR 33.20

-25.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.91 SAR 7.17

$2.02 SAR 7.60

-5.45%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 SAR 8.37

$1.36 SAR 5.12

63.97%

Cappuccino

$3.10 SAR 11.65

$3.09 SAR 11.61

0.32%

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

$0.79 SAR 2.95

$0.90 SAR 3.39

-12.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.75

$0.13 SAR 0.50

53.85%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 SAR 6.84

$1.43 SAR 5.39

27.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 SAR 5.01

$0.28 SAR 1.06

375.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 SAR 7.21

$2.48 SAR 9.30

-22.58%

Eggs

$2.13 SAR 7.98

$2.12 SAR 7.94

0.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.39 SAR 27.77

$9.49 SAR 35.64

-22.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.82 SAR 29.36

$5.20 SAR 19.53

50.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.72 SAR 47.79

$13.23 SAR 49.69

-3.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 SAR 8.17

$1.74 SAR 6.54

25.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 SAR 6.11

$1.35 SAR 5.09

20.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 SAR 5.96

$1.22 SAR 4.57

30.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 SAR 6.09

$1.30 SAR 4.90

24.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 SAR 4.02

$1.06 SAR 3.97

0.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 SAR 4.52

$1.05 SAR 3.93

14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.28 SAR 4.80

$0.54 SAR 2.04

137.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 SAR 2.18

$0.56 SAR 2.10

3.57%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.09 SAR 15.37

$2.09 SAR 7.85

95.69%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 SAR 5.46

$1.05 SAR 3.96

38.10%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 SAR 8.14

$2.57 SAR 9.64

-15.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.80 SAR 29.30

$6.62 SAR 24.88

17.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 SAR 3.63

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.89 SAR 135

$23.39 SAR 87.9

53.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 SAR 9.75

$2.60 SAR 9.76

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.60 SAR 9.78

$0.51 SAR 1.93

409.80%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.41 SAR 50.4

$13.36 SAR 50.2

0.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.42

$0.61 SAR 2.29

4.92%

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

$67.7K SAR 254.2K

$36.1K SAR 135.7K

87.41%

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

$21.3K SAR 79.9K

$22.3K SAR 83.7K

-4.55%

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

$128 SAR 482

$95.9 SAR 360

33.72%

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

$33.46 SAR 126

$26.51 SAR 99.6

26.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.1 SAR 233

$49.70 SAR 187

25.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.8 SAR 292

$73.0 SAR 274

6.66%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.85 SAR 108

$40.22 SAR 151

-28.27%

Cinema Ticket

$13.40 SAR 50.3

$13.56 SAR 50.9

-1.18%

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

$417 SAR 1,566

$285 SAR 1,071

46.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,868 SAR 29.5K

$3,774 SAR 14.2K

108.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.40 SAR 155

$57.9 SAR 217

-28.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.15 SAR 185

$52.4 SAR 197

-6.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.8 SAR 360

$45.70 SAR 172

109.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.5 SAR 340

$79.3 SAR 298

14.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$567 SAR 2,128

$698 SAR 2,620

-18.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 SAR 1,388

$264 SAR 990

40.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,007 SAR 3,781

$592 SAR 2,222

70.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 SAR 2,490

$460 SAR 1,729

44.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,379 SAR 5,179

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$595 SAR 2,235

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,532 SAR 5,754

$2,845 SAR 10.7K

-46.15%

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 6, 2026

Last update for AL Kharj: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $567 in Ad Dammam and $698 in AL Kharj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

AL Kharj pays 86% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $34.00 in Ad Dammam vs $26.00 in AL Kharj for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $200 vs $172 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 27% 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 86% 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: $567 in Ad Dammam versus $698 in AL Kharj. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,215 per month in Ad Dammam versus $957 in AL Kharj – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in AL Kharj runs roughly 53% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $957 in AL Kharj versus $1,215 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 27% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.