Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Dammam and Al Majma'ah Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Dammam and Al Majma'ah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,205 in Ad Dammam versus $1,232 in Al Majma'ah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,828 in Ad Dammam versus $1,961 in Al Majma'ah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,450 in Ad Dammam versus $2,690 in Al Majma'ah.

Living in Ad Dammam costs roughly 2% less than in Al Majma'ah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 12% lower, Al Majma'ah 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.90 SAR 29.66
$7.89 SAR 29.64
0.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.27 SAR 132
$64.7 SAR 243
-45.49%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.78 SAR 25.48
$8.89 SAR 33.39
-23.73%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.92 SAR 7.23
$1.90 SAR 7.15
1.05%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 SAR 8.33
$3.01 SAR 11.30
-26.25%
Cappuccino
$2.98 SAR 11.18
$4.41 SAR 16.55
-32.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 SAR 2.90
$0.95 SAR 3.58
-18.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 SAR 0.77
$0.31 SAR 1.18
-35.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.80 SAR 6.77
$1.66 SAR 6.24
8.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.27 SAR 4.78
$1.33 SAR 4.98
-4.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.87 SAR 7.02
$2.38 SAR 8.94
-21.43%
Eggs
$2.18 SAR 8.19
$3.24 SAR 12.18
-32.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.26 SAR 27.26
$9.63 SAR 36.16
-24.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.74 SAR 29.06
$9.56 SAR 35.91
-19.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.95 SAR 48.63
$15.60 SAR 58.6
-16.99%
Apples (1kg)
$2.19 SAR 8.23
$2.72 SAR 10.22
-19.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.66 SAR 6.24
$1.94 SAR 7.27
-14.43%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.58 SAR 5.92
$2.38 SAR 8.96
-33.61%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 SAR 5.84
$1.75 SAR 6.56
-10.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 SAR 4.18
$1.19 SAR 4.46
-6.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 SAR 4.37
$1.35 SAR 5.07
-14.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.27 SAR 4.75
$1.71 SAR 6.44
-25.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 SAR 2.19
$0.56 SAR 2.10
3.57%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$4.20 SAR 15.77
$2.75 SAR 10.34
52.73%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 SAR 5.70
$1.82 SAR 6.85
-16.48%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 SAR 8.31
$2.45 SAR 9.20
-9.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.58 SAR 28.45
$7.43 SAR 27.91
2.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.98 SAR 3.69
$1.05 SAR 3.93
-6.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.71 SAR 134
$35.52 SAR 133
0.53%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.74 SAR 10.28
$3.15 SAR 11.84
-13.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.62 SAR 9.82
$1.82 SAR 6.84
43.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.54 SAR 50.8
$13.52 SAR 50.8
0.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.60 SAR 2.27
$0.64 SAR 2.40
-6.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$66.7K SAR 250.4K
$35.9K SAR 135.0K
85.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0K SAR 79.0K
$22.7K SAR 85.4K
-7.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$127 SAR 478
$94.3 SAR 354
34.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.69 SAR 123
$32.85 SAR 123
-0.49%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.4 SAR 242
$69.0 SAR 259
-6.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$77.7 SAR 292
$83.9 SAR 315
-7.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.77 SAR 108
$37.05 SAR 139
-22.35%
Cinema Ticket
$13.58 SAR 51.0
$13.26 SAR 49.82
2.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$419 SAR 1,574
$540 SAR 2,028
-22.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,803 SAR 29.3K
$11.1K SAR 41.6K
-29.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.01 SAR 158
$59.2 SAR 222
-28.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.62 SAR 186
$57.2 SAR 215
-13.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$97.9 SAR 368
$106 SAR 398
-7.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.6 SAR 344
$108 SAR 407
-15.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$584 SAR 2,193
$581 SAR 2,182
0.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$369 SAR 1,385
$351 SAR 1,317
5.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$985 SAR 3,701
$877 SAR 3,294
12.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$673 SAR 2,529
$540 SAR 2,027
24.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,416 SAR 5,319
$2,320 SAR 8,716
-38.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$600 SAR 2,253
$1,378 SAR 5,176
-56.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,520 SAR 5,709
-
-
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 13, 2026

Last update for Al Majma'ah: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $584 in Ad Dammam and $581 in Al Majma'ah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $35.00 in Ad Dammam vs $65.0 in Al Majma'ah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $239 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 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 $1,808 in Ad Dammam and $1,848 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: $584 in Ad Dammam versus $581 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 $1,205 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,232 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 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 in Al Majma'ah?
At $1,205 in Ad Dammam versus $1,232 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.

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