🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,196 in Ad Dammam versus $1,221 in Al Majma'ah.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,860 in Ad Dammam versus $1,927 in Al Majma'ah.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,524 in Ad Dammam versus $2,633 in Al Majma'ah.
🌍Living in Ad Dammam costs roughly 2% less than in Al Majma'ah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam10% lower, Al Majma'ah8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.29SAR 27.37
$7.92SAR 29.75
-7.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.7SAR 202
$53.0SAR 199
1.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.03SAR 30.16
$7.79SAR 29.24
3.08%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.82SAR 6.83
$1.77SAR 6.65
2.82%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90SAR 7.14
$2.32SAR 8.70
-18.10%
Cappuccino
$3.73SAR 14.00
$4.05SAR 15.22
-7.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92SAR 3.44
$0.77SAR 2.90
19.48%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35SAR 1.30
$0.29SAR 1.07
20.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63SAR 6.13
$1.43SAR 5.38
13.99%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46SAR 5.49
$0.66SAR 2.48
121.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.09SAR 7.86
$2.27SAR 8.53
-7.93%
Eggs
$2.27SAR 8.53
$2.29SAR 8.58
-0.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.12SAR 22.97
$8.66SAR 32.51
-29.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.25SAR 27.23
$6.62SAR 24.88
9.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.70SAR 36.42
$11.58SAR 43.50
-16.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.12SAR 7.95
$2.21SAR 8.30
-4.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49SAR 5.61
$1.74SAR 6.52
-14.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.40SAR 5.24
$1.50SAR 5.63
-6.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59SAR 5.98
$1.59SAR 5.96
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.82
$0.69SAR 2.58
85.51%
Onion(1kg)
$1.32SAR 4.97
$0.97SAR 3.63
36.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36SAR 5.12
$1.45SAR 5.43
-6.21%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59SAR 2.21
$0.52SAR 1.97
13.46%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.13SAR 15.50
$2.80SAR 10.53
47.50%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56SAR 5.85
$1.73SAR 6.48
-9.83%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92SAR 7.22
$2.43SAR 9.12
-20.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.76SAR 29.13
$7.46SAR 28.00
4.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.95SAR 3.57
$1.08SAR 4.06
-12.04%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.54SAR 148
$40.59SAR 152
-2.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.38SAR 12.70
$3.28SAR 12.32
3.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.62SAR 9.86
$1.90SAR 7.13
37.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.54SAR 50.8
$13.29SAR 49.91
1.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60SAR 2.25
$0.64SAR 2.39
-6.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0KSAR 86.3K
$35.1KSAR 131.9K
-34.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1KSAR 79.1K
$23.7KSAR 89.1K
-11.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115SAR 432
$103SAR 386
11.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.60SAR 145
$34.75SAR 130
11.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.5SAR 239
$74.9SAR 281
-15.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$70.5SAR 265
$86.4SAR 325
-18.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.26SAR 117
$35.51SAR 133
-11.97%
Cinema Ticket
$15.06SAR 56.6
$15.93SAR 59.8
-5.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$415SAR 1,558
$460SAR 1,728
-9.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,157SAR 30.6K
$9,463SAR 35.5K
-13.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.6SAR 258
$59.3SAR 223
15.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.7SAR 250
$63.7SAR 239
4.60%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.6SAR 348
$108SAR 406
-14.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.7SAR 322
$97.6SAR 367
-12.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$447SAR 1,677
$439SAR 1,649
1.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$378SAR 1,421
$374SAR 1,404
1.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$805SAR 3,021
$867SAR 3,255
-7.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$626SAR 2,350
$614SAR 2,307
1.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,353SAR 5,082
$2,503SAR 9,398
-45.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$816SAR 3,063
$1,378SAR 5,174
-40.81%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,510SAR 5,669
-
-
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 26, 2026
Last update for Al Majma'ah: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $447 in Ad Dammam and $439 in Al Majma'ah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Ad Dammam vs $53.0 in Al Majma'ah. Groceries flip the comparison at $184 vs $184, with Ad Dammam 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 Majma'ah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ad Dammam or Al Majma'ah?
Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Al Majma'ah. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ad Dammam the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ad Dammam and in Al Majma'ah?
You'd need roughly $1,794 in Ad Dammam and $1,832 in Al Majma'ah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ad Dammam compared to Al Majma'ah?
Rent for a central apartment: $447 in Ad Dammam versus $439 in Al Majma'ah. 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 Majma'ah?
All in, you'll spend $1,196 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,221 in Al Majma'ah – a 2% 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 Majma'ah?
A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 3% less than in Al Majma'ah. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ad Dammam or in Al Majma'ah?
At $1,196 in Ad Dammam versus $1,221 in Al Majma'ah, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ad Dammam but tight or insufficient in Al Majma'ah. The gap between the two cities makes Ad Dammam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ad Dammam or Al Majma'ah?
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 Majma'ah?
Safety-wise, Ad Dammam and Al Majma'ah 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 Ad Dammam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Al Majma'ah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.