Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Dammam and Buraydah Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Dammam and Buraydah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,196 in Ad Dammam versus $1,212 in Buraydah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,860 in Ad Dammam versus $1,961 in Buraydah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,524 in Ad Dammam versus $2,711 in Buraydah.

Living in Ad Dammam costs roughly 1% less than in Buraydah, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 10% lower, Buraydah 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.29 SAR 27.37

$12.70 SAR 47.69

-42.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.7 SAR 202

$39.24 SAR 147

36.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.03 SAR 30.16

$7.22 SAR 27.11

11.22%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.82 SAR 6.83

$1.63 SAR 6.11

11.66%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 SAR 7.14

$1.45 SAR 5.45

31.03%

Cappuccino

$3.73 SAR 14.00

$3.68 SAR 13.81

1.36%

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

$0.92 SAR 3.44

$0.74 SAR 2.76

24.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 SAR 1.30

$0.28 SAR 1.06

25.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 SAR 6.13

$1.64 SAR 6.15

-0.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 SAR 5.49

$1.05 SAR 3.93

39.05%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 SAR 7.86

$2.45 SAR 9.20

-14.69%

Eggs

$2.27 SAR 8.53

$2.51 SAR 9.44

-9.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.12 SAR 22.97

$8.53 SAR 32.03

-28.25%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.25 SAR 27.23

$6.63 SAR 24.90

9.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.70 SAR 36.42

$13.90 SAR 52.2

-30.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 SAR 7.95

$2.57 SAR 9.66

-17.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 SAR 5.61

$1.82 SAR 6.84

-18.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 SAR 5.24

$1.40 SAR 5.26

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 SAR 5.98

$1.74 SAR 6.53

-8.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 SAR 4.82

$1.42 SAR 5.32

-9.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 SAR 4.97

$1.54 SAR 5.79

-14.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 SAR 5.12

$1.16 SAR 4.36

17.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.21

$0.70 SAR 2.61

-15.71%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.13 SAR 15.50

$1.92 SAR 7.22

115.10%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 SAR 5.85

$1.48 SAR 5.57

5.41%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 SAR 7.22

$2.50 SAR 9.40

-23.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.76 SAR 29.13

$6.26 SAR 23.51

23.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 SAR 3.57

$1.10 SAR 4.11

-13.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.54 SAR 148

$39.27 SAR 147

0.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 SAR 12.70

$2.67 SAR 10.04

26.59%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 SAR 9.86

$1.91 SAR 7.19

37.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.54 SAR 50.8

$16.48 SAR 61.9

-17.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.25

$0.63 SAR 2.37

-4.76%

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

$23.0K SAR 86.3K

$26.5K SAR 99.5K

-13.22%

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

$21.1K SAR 79.1K

$24.2K SAR 90.7K

-12.78%

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

$115 SAR 432

$77.9 SAR 293

47.57%

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

$38.60 SAR 145

$30.14 SAR 113

28.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 SAR 239

$71.6 SAR 269

-11.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.5 SAR 265

$101 SAR 380

-30.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$31.26 SAR 117

$36.35 SAR 137

-14.00%

Cinema Ticket

$15.06 SAR 56.6

$15.67 SAR 58.9

-3.89%

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

$415 SAR 1,558

$267 SAR 1,003

55.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,157 SAR 30.6K

$3,749 SAR 14.1K

117.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 SAR 258

$52.0 SAR 195

31.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.7 SAR 250

$72.8 SAR 274

-8.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 SAR 348

$80.5 SAR 302

14.91%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.7 SAR 322

$70.8 SAR 266

21.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 SAR 1,677

$637 SAR 2,393

-29.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 SAR 1,421

$343 SAR 1,289

10.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$805 SAR 3,021

$751 SAR 2,818

7.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$626 SAR 2,350

$786 SAR 2,953

-20.43%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,353 SAR 5,082

$2,399 SAR 9,009

-43.59%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 SAR 3,063

$1,357 SAR 5,095

-39.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,510 SAR 5,669

$2,555 SAR 9,594

-40.91%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.33

4.42

-2.04%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ad Dammam: July 26, 2026

Last update for Buraydah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $447 in Ad Dammam and $637 in Buraydah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Buraydah pays 69% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $54.0 in Ad Dammam vs $39.00 in Buraydah. Groceries flip the comparison at $184 vs $206, 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 Buraydah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Buraydah. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ad Dammam the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 69% lower in Buraydah. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $447 in Ad Dammam versus $637 in Buraydah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,196 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,212 in Buraydah – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 1% less than in Buraydah. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,196 in Ad Dammam versus $1,212 in Buraydah, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ad Dammam but tight or insufficient in Buraydah. 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 Buraydah 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 1% less than in Buraydah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.