🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,207 in Ad Dammam versus $1,236 in Al Majma'ah.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,891 in Ad Dammam versus $1,904 in Al Majma'ah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,575 in Ad Dammam versus $2,571 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
$7.49SAR 28.11
$7.90SAR 29.65
-5.19%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.1SAR 203
$53.9SAR 202
0.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.78SAR 29.21
$8.18SAR 30.69
-4.89%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.91SAR 7.16
$1.75SAR 6.56
9.14%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82SAR 6.82
$2.31SAR 8.66
-21.21%
Cappuccino
$3.60SAR 13.51
$4.10SAR 15.38
-12.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89SAR 3.34
$0.73SAR 2.74
21.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35SAR 1.31
$0.31SAR 1.18
12.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66SAR 6.24
$1.44SAR 5.41
15.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45SAR 5.45
$0.66SAR 2.49
119.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.00SAR 7.52
$2.29SAR 8.59
-12.66%
Eggs
$2.24SAR 8.41
$2.26SAR 8.49
-0.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.01SAR 22.56
$8.22SAR 30.83
-26.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.22SAR 27.11
$6.36SAR 23.86
13.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.97SAR 37.41
$11.92SAR 44.72
-16.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.17SAR 8.16
$2.27SAR 8.52
-4.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50SAR 5.61
$1.67SAR 6.27
-10.18%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.41SAR 5.28
$1.49SAR 5.60
-5.37%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60SAR 6.01
$1.54SAR 5.79
3.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.22SAR 4.59
$0.64SAR 2.40
90.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.39SAR 5.22
$0.90SAR 3.37
54.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36SAR 5.10
$1.46SAR 5.47
-6.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59SAR 2.22
$0.56SAR 2.09
5.36%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.19SAR 15.71
$2.86SAR 10.73
46.50%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.62SAR 6.08
$1.79SAR 6.73
-9.50%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00SAR 7.49
$2.40SAR 9.02
-16.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.84SAR 29.43
$7.50SAR 28.16
4.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.95SAR 3.56
$1.04SAR 3.92
-8.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.76SAR 153
$40.18SAR 151
1.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.36SAR 12.60
$3.29SAR 12.34
2.13%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.71SAR 10.18
$1.85SAR 6.93
46.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.53SAR 50.8
$13.21SAR 49.56
2.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.61SAR 2.28
$0.59SAR 2.22
3.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.9KSAR 85.8K
$35.3KSAR 132.3K
-35.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7KSAR 77.6K
$23.7KSAR 88.8K
-12.56%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117SAR 440
$104SAR 389
12.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.94SAR 146
$35.28SAR 132
10.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.3SAR 234
$74.6SAR 280
-16.39%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.0SAR 259
$88.7SAR 333
-22.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.82SAR 116
$36.04SAR 135
-14.48%
Cinema Ticket
$15.05SAR 56.5
$16.28SAR 61.1
-7.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$414SAR 1,552
$456SAR 1,711
-9.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,178SAR 30.7K
$9,643SAR 36.2K
-15.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.0SAR 259
$59.2SAR 222
16.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.6SAR 254
$63.4SAR 238
6.54%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.7SAR 340
$106SAR 399
-14.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.9SAR 322
$99.8SAR 374
-13.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$445SAR 1,669
$433SAR 1,624
2.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$385SAR 1,446
$374SAR 1,402
3.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$800SAR 3,002
$856SAR 3,212
-6.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$635SAR 2,382
$631SAR 2,369
0.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,331SAR 4,995
$2,384SAR 8,945
-44.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$804SAR 3,019
$1,322SAR 4,959
-39.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,884SAR 7,071
-
-
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: June 6, 2026
Last update for Al Majma'ah: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $445 in Ad Dammam and $433 in Al Majma'ah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Ad Dammam vs $54.0 in Al Majma'ah. Groceries flip the comparison at $185 vs $183, with Al Majma'ah 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 vs Al Majma'ah?
You'd need roughly $1,811 in Ad Dammam and $1,854 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 vs Al Majma'ah?
Rent for a central apartment: $445 in Ad Dammam versus $433 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 $1,207 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,236 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 vs Al Majma'ah?
A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 1% 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 Al Majma'ah?
At $1,207 in Ad Dammam versus $1,236 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.