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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,211 in Ad Dammam versus $1,332 in Al Khobar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,857 in Ad Dammam versus $2,100 in Al Khobar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,503 in Ad Dammam versus $2,868 in Al Khobar.

Living in Ad Dammam costs roughly 9% less than in Al Khobar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ad Dammam is 9% below, Al Khobar is 0% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.45 SAR 27.99

$6.82 SAR 25.60

9.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.0 SAR 199

$54.0 SAR 203

-1.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 SAR 29.73

$8.19 SAR 30.77

-3.30%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.88 SAR 7.07

$1.98 SAR 7.44

-5.05%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 SAR 6.95

$2.70 SAR 10.13

-31.48%

Cappuccino

$3.55 SAR 13.34

$4.26 SAR 16.01

-16.67%

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

$0.92 SAR 3.44

$0.96 SAR 3.61

-4.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 SAR 1.42

$0.49 SAR 1.83

-22.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 SAR 6.15

$1.69 SAR 6.34

-2.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 SAR 5.32

$1.40 SAR 5.24

1.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 SAR 7.96

$2.32 SAR 8.72

-8.62%

Eggs

$2.31 SAR 8.68

$2.88 SAR 10.81

-19.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.99 SAR 22.48

$6.94 SAR 26.05

-13.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.32 SAR 27.49

$9.12 SAR 34.26

-19.74%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.07 SAR 37.81

$12.61 SAR 47.34

-20.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.09 SAR 7.85

$2.54 SAR 9.53

-17.72%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 SAR 5.82

$1.72 SAR 6.45

-9.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.39 SAR 5.23

$2.13 SAR 8.00

-34.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 SAR 6.20

$1.57 SAR 5.88

5.10%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 SAR 4.79

$1.41 SAR 5.31

-9.22%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 SAR 5.15

$1.72 SAR 6.47

-20.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 SAR 4.86

$1.70 SAR 6.38

-24.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 SAR 2.08

$0.60 SAR 2.24

-8.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.12 SAR 15.47

$2.70 SAR 10.14

52.59%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 SAR 6.05

$1.46 SAR 5.48

10.27%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 SAR 7.47

$1.88 SAR 7.04

5.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.76 SAR 29.14

$6.51 SAR 24.45

19.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 SAR 3.51

$0.92 SAR 3.44

2.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.30 SAR 148

$60.1 SAR 226

-34.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 SAR 12.42

$2.26 SAR 8.48

46.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.73 SAR 10.26

$1.35 SAR 5.06

102.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.58 SAR 51.0

$6.60 SAR 24.78

105.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 SAR 2.29

$0.65 SAR 2.43

-6.15%

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

$22.2K SAR 83.5K

$21.4K SAR 80.3K

4.01%

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

$20.9K SAR 78.3K

$22.7K SAR 85.4K

-8.28%

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

$118 SAR 444

$124 SAR 466

-4.57%

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

$38.60 SAR 145

$34.51 SAR 130

11.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.4 SAR 238

$80.7 SAR 303

-21.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.7 SAR 266

$109 SAR 410

-35.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.89 SAR 116

$36.80 SAR 138

-16.06%

Cinema Ticket

$15.30 SAR 57.5

$17.36 SAR 65.2

-11.87%

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

$427 SAR 1,602

$306 SAR 1,147

39.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,216 SAR 30.9K

$7,541 SAR 28.3K

8.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 SAR 255

$63.4 SAR 238

7.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.8 SAR 255

$69.8 SAR 262

-2.82%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.5 SAR 340

$100 SAR 376

-9.63%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.1 SAR 323

$80.4 SAR 302

7.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$452 SAR 1,697

$433 SAR 1,628

4.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 SAR 1,413

$401 SAR 1,505

-6.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$792 SAR 2,976

$1,059 SAR 3,978

-25.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 SAR 2,388

$813 SAR 3,054

-21.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,320 SAR 4,956

$2,442 SAR 9,170

-45.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$812 SAR 3,051

$1,423 SAR 5,344

-42.91%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,502 SAR 5,640

$1,856 SAR 6,971

-19.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.33

3.84

12.76%

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 Khobar: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $452 in Ad Dammam and $433 in Al Khobar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Khobar pays 24% 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: $53.0 in Ad Dammam vs $54.0 in Al Khobar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $185 vs $217 per month, with Ad Dammam 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 Khobar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Al Khobar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ad Dammam the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 24% lower in Al Khobar. 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 $433 in Al Khobar. 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 $1,332 in Al Khobar – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

At $1,211 in Ad Dammam versus $1,332 in Al Khobar, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ad Dammam but tight or insufficient in Al Khobar. The gap between the two cities makes Ad Dammam 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 Khobar 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 Ad Dammam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.