Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Dammam and Ar-rass

For one person, living costs are similar in Ad Dammam and in Ar-rass: $1,188 and $1,162 a month, rent and utilities included.

Ad Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Ar-rass, Saudi Arabia
Ad Dammam
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$1,188
/mo nomad
Ar-rass
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$1,162
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ad Dammam and in Ar-rass

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ad Dammam and in Ar-rass actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,188 in Ad Dammam versus $1,162 in Ar-rass.

  • Ad Dammam $1,188
  • Ar-rass $1,162

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,803 in Ad Dammam versus $1,717 in Ar-rass.

  • Ad Dammam $1,803
  • Ar-rass $1,717

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,418 in Ad Dammam versus $2,272 in Ar-rass.

  • Ad Dammam $2,418
  • Ar-rass $2,272

Monthly costs are close between Ad Dammam and Ar-rass; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 12% lower, Ar-rass 14% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ad Dammam
Ar-rass
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.74 SAR 25.28
$6.73 SAR 25.27
0.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.35 SAR 129
$37.53 SAR 141
-8.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.62 SAR 24.84
$8.20 SAR 30.79
-19.27%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.84 SAR 6.89
$1.81 SAR 6.79
1.66%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22 SAR 8.32
$2.19 SAR 8.23
1.37%
Cappuccino
$3.02 SAR 11.33
$3.29 SAR 12.36
-8.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 SAR 2.88
$0.88 SAR 3.30
-12.50%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.16 SAR 0.59
$0.27 SAR 1.01
-40.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ad Dammam
Ar-rass
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.72 SAR 6.47
$1.81 SAR 6.81
-4.97%
White Bread (500g)
$1.29 SAR 4.84
$0.38 SAR 1.43
239.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.88 SAR 7.07
$1.82 SAR 6.85
3.30%
Eggs
$2.12 SAR 7.96
$3.67 SAR 13.78
-42.23%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.47 SAR 28.04
$6.77 SAR 25.40
10.34%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.70 SAR 28.91
$7.99 SAR 29.97
-3.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.77 SAR 47.94
$12.90 SAR 48.43
-1.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 SAR 8.59
$2.14 SAR 8.03
7.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 SAR 6.13
$1.73 SAR 6.48
-5.78%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 SAR 6.16
$1.64 SAR 6.17
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 SAR 5.83
$1.56 SAR 5.84
-0.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.08 SAR 4.04
$1.25 SAR 4.68
-13.60%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 SAR 4.37
$1.33 SAR 5.01
-12.03%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.25 SAR 4.71
$1.26 SAR 4.73
-0.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56 SAR 2.12
$0.58 SAR 2.17
-3.45%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$4.21 SAR 15.81
$3.01 SAR 11.29
39.87%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 SAR 5.49
$1.95 SAR 7.33
-25.13%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11 SAR 7.92
$2.12 SAR 7.94
-0.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.80 SAR 29.29
$7.88 SAR 29.58
-1.02%
🚌 Getting Around
Ad Dammam
Ar-rass
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 SAR 3.30
$0.96 SAR 3.60
-8.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.25 SAR 144
$42.22 SAR 158
-9.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.28 SAR 8.57
$2.61 SAR 9.78
-12.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 SAR 5.08
$1.49 SAR 5.60
-9.40%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.89 SAR 52.1
$13.93 SAR 52.3
-0.29%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.61 SAR 2.28
$0.61 SAR 2.27
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K SAR 109.2K
$25.3K SAR 95.1K
14.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.2K SAR 79.7K
$21.7K SAR 81.4K
-2.11%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ad Dammam
Ar-rass
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$130 SAR 489
$94.9 SAR 356
37.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.31 SAR 121
$24.18 SAR 90.7
33.62%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.2 SAR 241
$60.3 SAR 226
6.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ad Dammam
Ar-rass
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$70.4 SAR 264
$43.79 SAR 164
60.70%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.59 SAR 107
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.39 SAR 50.3
$13.26 SAR 49.79
0.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ad Dammam
Ar-rass
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$414 SAR 1,554
$417 SAR 1,565
-0.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.5K SAR 39.4K
$11.2K SAR 42.1K
-6.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ad Dammam
Ar-rass
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.50 SAR 160
$42.38 SAR 159
0.28%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.93 SAR 184
$55.8 SAR 209
-12.30%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.0 SAR 360
$97.9 SAR 368
-1.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.0 SAR 345
$74.6 SAR 280
23.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ad Dammam
Ar-rass
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$531 SAR 1,993
$562 SAR 2,110
-5.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 SAR 1,410
$416 SAR 1,560
-9.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$947 SAR 3,553
$383 SAR 1,439
146.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 SAR 2,495
$620 SAR 2,327
7.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,479 SAR 5,553
$1,915 SAR 7,189
-22.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$779 SAR 2,925
$1,353 SAR 5,078
-42.40%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ad Dammam
Ar-rass
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,508 SAR 5,659
$1,732 SAR 6,502
-12.96%
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: November 3, 2026

Last update for Ar-rass: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ad Dammam
$376
Ar-rass
$416 10.6% $40
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ad Dammam
$227
Ar-rass
$179 20.9% $47
Groceries & Markets
Ad Dammam
$198
Ar-rass
$197 0.8% $1.6
Clothing & Footwear
Ad Dammam
$126
Ar-rass
$122 3.1% $3.9
Eating Out
Ad Dammam
$114
Ar-rass
$123 7.8% $8.9
Sport & Entertainment
Ad Dammam
$97
Ar-rass
$70 27.6% $27
Getting Around
Ad Dammam
$51
Ar-rass
$56 10.5% $5.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $531 in Ad Dammam and $562 in Ar-rass. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ar-rass pays 15% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $34 in Ad Dammam vs $38 in Ar-rass. Groceries flip the comparison at $198 vs $197, with Ar-rass cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇸🇦 Ad Dammam
🇸🇦 Ar-rass
🕒 Local time
06:18 6:18 AM
06:18 6:18 AM
Same time as Ad Dammam
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
903,312
121,359
💱 Currency
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to SAR – Saudi Riyal Converter

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.266 USD). 1 EUR = 4.23 SAR (1 SAR = 0.237 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ad Dammam Ar-rass 660 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Ad Dammam
  • Ar-rass

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Ar-rass: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Are salaries higher in Ad Dammam or in Ar-rass?
On paper, salaries run 13% lower in Ad Dammam. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ad Dammam compared to Ar-rass?
Rent for a central apartment: $531 in Ad Dammam versus $562 in Ar-rass. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Ad Dammam compared to Ar-rass?
A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 9% less than in Ar-rass. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
How do dining costs compare in Ad Dammam and in Ar-rass?
Dining out is cheaper in Ad Dammam – a meal for two runs $34 versus $38 in Ar-rass. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Ad Dammam or in Ar-rass?
Either city works on $2,000 a month, though Ar-rass gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ad Dammam or Ar-rass?
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.

Ad Dammam vs other spots: cost of living compared

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