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: $1,211 in Ad Dammam versus $1,270 in Al Mubarraz.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,857 in Ad Dammam versus $1,965 in Al Mubarraz.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,503 in Ad Dammam versus $2,660 in Al Mubarraz.

Living in Ad Dammam costs roughly 5% less than in Al Mubarraz, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 9% lower, Al Mubarraz 5% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.45 SAR 27.99

$7.48 SAR 28.08

-0.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.0 SAR 199

$37.94 SAR 142

39.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 SAR 29.72

$7.12 SAR 26.72

11.24%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.88 SAR 7.07

$1.72 SAR 6.44

9.30%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 SAR 6.95

$2.18 SAR 8.18

-15.14%

Cappuccino

$3.55 SAR 13.33

$4.00 SAR 15.03

-11.25%

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

$0.92 SAR 3.44

$0.66 SAR 2.47

39.39%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 SAR 1.42

$0.19 SAR 0.72

100.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 SAR 6.15

$1.68 SAR 6.29

-2.38%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 SAR 5.32

$1.26 SAR 4.73

12.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 SAR 7.96

$2.43 SAR 9.11

-12.76%

Eggs

$2.31 SAR 8.68

$2.65 SAR 9.93

-12.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.99 SAR 22.48

$8.36 SAR 31.38

-28.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.32 SAR 27.49

$10.16 SAR 38.15

-27.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.07 SAR 37.80

$14.49 SAR 54.4

-30.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.09 SAR 7.85

$2.31 SAR 8.69

-9.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 SAR 5.82

$1.67 SAR 6.28

-7.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.39 SAR 5.23

$1.86 SAR 6.99

-25.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 SAR 6.20

$1.55 SAR 5.80

6.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 SAR 4.79

$1.28 SAR 4.80

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 SAR 5.15

$1.51 SAR 5.67

-9.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 SAR 4.86

$1.44 SAR 5.42

-10.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 SAR 2.08

$0.53 SAR 1.97

3.77%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.12 SAR 15.47

$2.79 SAR 10.48

47.67%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 SAR 6.05

$1.80 SAR 6.75

-10.56%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 SAR 7.47

$2.43 SAR 9.13

-18.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.76 SAR 29.14

$7.52 SAR 28.24

3.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 SAR 3.51

$1.09 SAR 4.08

-13.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.30 SAR 148

$40.33 SAR 151

-2.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 SAR 12.42

$3.29 SAR 12.37

0.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.73 SAR 10.26

$1.91 SAR 7.19

42.93%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.58 SAR 51.0

$13.45 SAR 50.5

0.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 SAR 2.29

$0.54 SAR 2.04

12.96%

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

$22.2K SAR 83.5K

$19.8K SAR 74.4K

12.15%

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

$20.9K SAR 78.3K

$23.6K SAR 88.5K

-11.50%

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

$118 SAR 444

$104 SAR 392

13.28%

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

$38.60 SAR 145

$35.57 SAR 134

8.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.4 SAR 238

$75.3 SAR 283

-15.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.7 SAR 266

$87.7 SAR 329

-19.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.89 SAR 116

$35.03 SAR 132

-11.82%

Cinema Ticket

$15.30 SAR 57.5

$15.69 SAR 58.9

-2.49%

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

$427 SAR 1,602

$452 SAR 1,697

-5.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,216 SAR 30.8K

$9,474 SAR 35.6K

-13.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 SAR 255

$59.6 SAR 224

14.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.8 SAR 255

$63.5 SAR 238

6.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.5 SAR 340

$107 SAR 401

-15.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.1 SAR 323

$99.6 SAR 374

-13.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$452 SAR 1,697

$438 SAR 1,644

3.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 SAR 1,413

$381 SAR 1,429

-1.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$792 SAR 2,975

$848 SAR 3,184

-6.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 SAR 2,387

$632 SAR 2,375

0.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,320 SAR 4,956

$2,117 SAR 7,947

-37.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$812 SAR 3,051

$1,437 SAR 5,397

-43.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,502 SAR 5,639

$1,073 SAR 4,027

40.02%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Al Mubarraz: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $452 in Ad Dammam and $438 in Al Mubarraz. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ad Dammam pays 40% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $53.0 in Ad Dammam vs $38.00 in Al Mubarraz. Groceries flip the comparison at $185 vs $225, 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

Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 5% 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 40% 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: $452 in Ad Dammam versus $438 in Al Mubarraz. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,211 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,270 in Al Mubarraz – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 3% less than in Al Mubarraz. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,211 in Ad Dammam versus $1,270 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 5% less than in Al Mubarraz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.