🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,210 in Ad Dammam versus $1,301 in Al Mubarraz.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,872 in Ad Dammam versus $1,968 in Al Mubarraz.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,533 in Ad Dammam versus $2,635 in Al Mubarraz.
🙂Living in Ad Dammam costs roughly 7% less than in Al Mubarraz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam10% lower, Al Mubarraz3% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ad Dammam
Al Mubarraz
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.31SAR 27.42
$7.48SAR 28.08
-2.27%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.6SAR 201
$39.01SAR 146
37.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.98SAR 29.94
$7.10SAR 26.64
12.39%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.83SAR 6.86
$1.77SAR 6.66
3.39%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82SAR 6.82
$2.17SAR 8.14
-16.13%
Cappuccino
$3.70SAR 13.89
$4.12SAR 15.47
-10.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92SAR 3.43
$0.64SAR 2.39
43.75%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35SAR 1.30
$0.17SAR 0.65
105.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ad Dammam
Al Mubarraz
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71SAR 6.43
$1.69SAR 6.34
1.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45SAR 5.43
$1.33SAR 4.97
9.02%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.09SAR 7.85
$2.39SAR 8.98
-12.55%
Eggs
$2.24SAR 8.42
$2.61SAR 9.81
-14.18%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.06SAR 22.73
$8.63SAR 32.40
-29.78%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.15SAR 26.85
$10.14SAR 38.05
-29.49%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.62SAR 36.12
$14.87SAR 55.8
-35.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.11SAR 7.93
$2.24SAR 8.43
-5.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50SAR 5.62
$1.74SAR 6.54
-13.79%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.38SAR 5.20
$1.79SAR 6.73
-22.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.66SAR 6.24
$1.55SAR 5.82
7.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.80
$1.24SAR 4.64
3.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.33SAR 4.99
$1.45SAR 5.44
-8.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35SAR 5.06
$1.41SAR 5.28
-4.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55SAR 2.07
$0.53SAR 1.98
3.77%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.19SAR 15.73
$2.81SAR 10.53
49.11%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60SAR 6.01
$1.79SAR 6.73
-10.61%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98SAR 7.44
$2.40SAR 9.01
-17.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.92SAR 29.73
$7.44SAR 27.92
6.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Ad Dammam
Al Mubarraz
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89SAR 3.36
$1.09SAR 4.07
-18.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.16SAR 151
$40.01SAR 150
0.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.29SAR 12.35
$3.25SAR 12.20
1.23%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.65SAR 9.96
$1.85SAR 6.95
43.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.28SAR 49.85
$13.56SAR 50.9
-2.06%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64SAR 2.42
$0.54SAR 2.01
18.52%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1KSAR 86.6K
$19.9KSAR 74.7K
15.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3KSAR 79.8K
$23.5KSAR 88.0K
-9.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ad Dammam
Al Mubarraz
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117SAR 438
$105SAR 395
10.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.34SAR 144
$35.26SAR 132
8.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.5SAR 238
$75.4SAR 283
-15.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ad Dammam
Al Mubarraz
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$70.9SAR 266
$89.1SAR 334
-20.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.51SAR 114
$35.02SAR 131
-12.88%
Cinema Ticket
$15.54SAR 58.3
$15.68SAR 58.9
-0.89%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ad Dammam
Al Mubarraz
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$415SAR 1,559
$464SAR 1,742
-10.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,170SAR 30.7K
$9,567SAR 35.9K
-14.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ad Dammam
Al Mubarraz
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.9SAR 251
$59.4SAR 223
12.63%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.2SAR 256
$65.1SAR 244
4.82%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.8SAR 341
$107SAR 402
-15.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.5SAR 321
$98.6SAR 370
-13.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ad Dammam
Al Mubarraz
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$447SAR 1,678
$439SAR 1,649
1.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$375SAR 1,408
$374SAR 1,404
0.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$800SAR 3,002
$843SAR 3,163
-5.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$641SAR 2,407
$611SAR 2,295
4.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,309SAR 4,914
$2,358SAR 8,850
-44.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$805SAR 3,020
$1,336SAR 5,012
-39.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ad Dammam
Al Mubarraz
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,895SAR 7,110
$1,047SAR 3,930
80.94%
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: May 30, 2026
Last update for Al Mubarraz: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $447 in Ad Dammam and $439 in Al Mubarraz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ad Dammam pays 81% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Ad Dammam vs $39.00 in Al Mubarraz. Groceries flip the comparison at $184 vs $227, 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 Mubarraz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ad Dammam or Al Mubarraz?
Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Al Mubarraz. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ad Dammam the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ad Dammam or Al Mubarraz?
Ad Dammam pays 81% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ad Dammam vs Al Mubarraz?
Rent for a central apartment: $447 in Ad Dammam versus $439 in Al Mubarraz. 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 Mubarraz?
All in, you'll spend $1,210 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,301 in Al Mubarraz – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ad Dammam vs Al Mubarraz?
A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 0% less than in Al Mubarraz. 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 Mubarraz?
At $1,210 in Ad Dammam versus $1,301 in Al Mubarraz, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ad Dammam but tight or insufficient in Al Mubarraz. 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 Mubarraz?
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 Mubarraz?
Safety-wise, Ad Dammam and Al Mubarraz 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 7% less than in Al Mubarraz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.