Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Dammam and Al Mubarraz Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Dammam and Al Mubarraz

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,205 in Ad Dammam versus $1,240 in Al Mubarraz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,828 in Ad Dammam versus $1,880 in Al Mubarraz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,450 in Ad Dammam versus $2,519 in Al Mubarraz.

Living in Ad Dammam costs roughly 3% less than in Al Mubarraz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 12% lower, Al Mubarraz 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.90 SAR 29.66

$7.62 SAR 28.62

3.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.27 SAR 132

$36.77 SAR 138

-4.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.78 SAR 25.48

$8.03 SAR 30.15

-15.57%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 SAR 7.23

$2.05 SAR 7.71

-6.34%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 SAR 8.33

$2.07 SAR 7.79

7.25%

Cappuccino

$2.98 SAR 11.18

$4.34 SAR 16.29

-31.34%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 SAR 2.90

$0.68 SAR 2.56

13.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.77

$0.28 SAR 1.06

-28.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 SAR 6.77

$1.72 SAR 6.44

4.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 SAR 4.78

$1.31 SAR 4.91

-3.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 SAR 7.02

$2.34 SAR 8.79

-20.09%

Eggs

$2.18 SAR 8.19

$3.20 SAR 12.01

-31.87%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 SAR 27.26

$9.73 SAR 36.56

-25.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 SAR 29.06

$9.65 SAR 36.25

-19.79%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 SAR 48.63

$15.49 SAR 58.2

-16.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 SAR 8.23

$2.75 SAR 10.32

-20.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 SAR 6.24

$1.94 SAR 7.27

-14.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.92

$2.27 SAR 8.51

-30.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 SAR 5.84

$1.74 SAR 6.53

-10.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 SAR 4.18

$1.19 SAR 4.47

-6.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 SAR 4.37

$1.37 SAR 5.15

-15.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 SAR 4.75

$1.66 SAR 6.22

-23.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 SAR 2.19

$0.60 SAR 2.24

-3.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.20 SAR 15.77

$2.78 SAR 10.44

51.08%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 SAR 5.70

$1.75 SAR 6.59

-13.14%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 SAR 8.31

$2.46 SAR 9.25

-10.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.58 SAR 28.45

$7.48 SAR 28.09

1.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 SAR 3.69

$1.05 SAR 3.94

-6.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.71 SAR 134

$36.55 SAR 137

-2.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 SAR 10.28

$3.28 SAR 12.30

-16.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 SAR 9.82

$1.88 SAR 7.05

39.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.54 SAR 50.8

$13.26 SAR 49.82

2.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.27

$0.61 SAR 2.28

-1.64%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$66.7K SAR 250.4K

$36.3K SAR 136.5K

83.43%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$21.0K SAR 79.0K

$22.6K SAR 84.8K

-6.82%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$127 SAR 478

$96.1 SAR 361

32.41%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$32.69 SAR 123

$32.18 SAR 121

1.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.4 SAR 242

$70.1 SAR 263

-8.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 SAR 292

$85.7 SAR 322

-9.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.77 SAR 108

$36.68 SAR 138

-21.56%

Cinema Ticket

$13.58 SAR 51.0

$13.52 SAR 50.8

0.44%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$419 SAR 1,574

$551 SAR 2,070

-23.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,803 SAR 29.3K

$11.2K SAR 42.2K

-30.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.01 SAR 158

$58.1 SAR 218

-27.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.62 SAR 186

$57.2 SAR 215

-13.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 SAR 368

$110 SAR 413

-10.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.6 SAR 344

$108 SAR 404

-14.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 SAR 2,193

$574 SAR 2,157

1.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 SAR 1,385

$347 SAR 1,302

6.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 SAR 3,701

$886 SAR 3,330

11.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 SAR 2,529

$550 SAR 2,066

22.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,416 SAR 5,319

$2,371 SAR 8,904

-40.26%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$600 SAR 2,253

$1,396 SAR 5,243

-57.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,520 SAR 5,709

$1,063 SAR 3,992

43.01%

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 Mubarraz: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $584 in Ad Dammam and $574 in Al Mubarraz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ad Dammam pays 43% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35.00 in Ad Dammam vs $37.00 in Al Mubarraz for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $240 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 Mubarraz: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 3% 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.

Average pay runs 43% higher in Ad Dammam, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $584 in Ad Dammam versus $574 in Al Mubarraz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,205 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,240 in Al Mubarraz – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 2% less than in Al Mubarraz. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,205 in Ad Dammam versus $1,240 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.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Ad Dammam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Al Mubarraz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.