🙂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 Dammam12% lower, Al Majma'ah10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.90SAR 29.66
$7.89SAR 29.64
0.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.27SAR 132
$64.7SAR 243
-45.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.78SAR 25.48
$8.89SAR 33.39
-23.73%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.92SAR 7.23
$1.90SAR 7.15
1.05%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22SAR 8.33
$3.01SAR 11.30
-26.25%
Cappuccino
$2.98SAR 11.18
$4.41SAR 16.55
-32.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77SAR 2.90
$0.95SAR 3.58
-18.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20SAR 0.77
$0.31SAR 1.18
-35.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80SAR 6.77
$1.66SAR 6.24
8.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.27SAR 4.78
$1.33SAR 4.98
-4.51%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87SAR 7.02
$2.38SAR 8.94
-21.43%
Eggs
$2.18SAR 8.19
$3.24SAR 12.18
-32.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.26SAR 27.26
$9.63SAR 36.16
-24.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.74SAR 29.06
$9.56SAR 35.91
-19.04%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.95SAR 48.63
$15.60SAR 58.6
-16.99%
Apples(1kg)
$2.19SAR 8.23
$2.72SAR 10.22
-19.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66SAR 6.24
$1.94SAR 7.27
-14.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.58SAR 5.92
$2.38SAR 8.96
-33.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56SAR 5.84
$1.75SAR 6.56
-10.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11SAR 4.18
$1.19SAR 4.46
-6.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16SAR 4.37
$1.35SAR 5.07
-14.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.27SAR 4.75
$1.71SAR 6.44
-25.73%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58SAR 2.19
$0.56SAR 2.10
3.57%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.20SAR 15.77
$2.75SAR 10.34
52.73%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52SAR 5.70
$1.82SAR 6.85
-16.48%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21SAR 8.31
$2.45SAR 9.20
-9.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.58SAR 28.45
$7.43SAR 27.91
2.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.98SAR 3.69
$1.05SAR 3.93
-6.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.71SAR 134
$35.52SAR 133
0.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.74SAR 10.28
$3.15SAR 11.84
-13.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.62SAR 9.82
$1.82SAR 6.84
43.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.54SAR 50.8
$13.52SAR 50.8
0.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60SAR 2.27
$0.64SAR 2.40
-6.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$66.7KSAR 250.4K
$35.9KSAR 135.0K
85.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0KSAR 79.0K
$22.7KSAR 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)
$127SAR 478
$94.3SAR 354
34.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.69SAR 123
$32.85SAR 123
-0.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.4SAR 242
$69.0SAR 259
-6.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$77.7SAR 292
$83.9SAR 315
-7.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.77SAR 108
$37.05SAR 139
-22.35%
Cinema Ticket
$13.58SAR 51.0
$13.26SAR 49.82
2.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$419SAR 1,574
$540SAR 2,028
-22.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,803SAR 29.3K
$11.1KSAR 41.6K
-29.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.01SAR 158
$59.2SAR 222
-28.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.62SAR 186
$57.2SAR 215
-13.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.9SAR 368
$106SAR 398
-7.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.6SAR 344
$108SAR 407
-15.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584SAR 2,193
$581SAR 2,182
0.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$369SAR 1,385
$351SAR 1,317
5.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$985SAR 3,701
$877SAR 3,294
12.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$673SAR 2,529
$540SAR 2,027
24.78%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,416SAR 5,319
$2,320SAR 8,716
-38.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$600SAR 2,253
$1,378SAR 5,176
-56.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ad Dammam
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,520SAR 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.