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: $1,205 in Ad Dammam versus $1,232 in Buraydah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,828 in Ad Dammam versus $2,019 in Buraydah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,450 in Ad Dammam versus $2,805 in Buraydah.

Living in Ad Dammam costs roughly 2% less than in Buraydah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 12% lower, Buraydah 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.90 SAR 29.66

$13.18 SAR 49.51

-40.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.27 SAR 132

$40.32 SAR 151

-12.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.78 SAR 25.48

$8.07 SAR 30.30

-15.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 SAR 7.23

$1.85 SAR 6.94

3.78%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 SAR 8.33

$1.36 SAR 5.12

63.24%

Cappuccino

$2.98 SAR 11.18

$3.57 SAR 13.43

-16.53%

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

$0.77 SAR 2.90

$0.75 SAR 2.82

2.67%

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

$1.66 SAR 6.23

8.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 SAR 4.78

$1.16 SAR 4.36

9.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 SAR 7.02

$2.48 SAR 9.31

-24.60%

Eggs

$2.18 SAR 8.19

$2.87 SAR 10.78

-24.04%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 SAR 27.26

$8.51 SAR 31.97

-14.69%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 SAR 29.06

$6.74 SAR 25.30

14.84%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 SAR 48.63

$13.57 SAR 51.0

-4.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 SAR 8.23

$2.35 SAR 8.83

-6.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 SAR 6.24

$1.84 SAR 6.93

-9.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.92

$1.69 SAR 6.33

-6.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 SAR 5.84

$1.68 SAR 6.32

-7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 SAR 4.18

$1.46 SAR 5.49

-23.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 SAR 4.37

$1.35 SAR 5.08

-14.07%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 SAR 4.75

$1.09 SAR 4.11

16.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 SAR 2.19

$0.66 SAR 2.48

-12.12%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.20 SAR 15.77

$1.87 SAR 7.04

124.60%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 SAR 5.70

$1.47 SAR 5.53

3.40%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 SAR 8.31

$2.57 SAR 9.66

-14.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.58 SAR 28.45

$6.53 SAR 24.52

16.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 SAR 3.69

$1.09 SAR 4.08

-10.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.71 SAR 134

$35.90 SAR 135

-0.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 SAR 10.28

$2.63 SAR 9.86

4.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 SAR 9.82

$2.58 SAR 9.70

1.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.54 SAR 50.8

$16.34 SAR 61.4

-17.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.27

$0.64 SAR 2.39

-6.25%

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

$66.7K SAR 250.4K

$41.9K SAR 157.3K

59.25%

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

$21.0K SAR 79.0K

$23.0K SAR 86.3K

-8.39%

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

$127 SAR 478

$70.8 SAR 266

79.75%

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

$32.69 SAR 123

$31.23 SAR 117

4.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.4 SAR 242

$71.2 SAR 267

-9.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 SAR 292

$134 SAR 505

-42.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.77 SAR 108

$36.51 SAR 137

-21.20%

Cinema Ticket

$13.58 SAR 51.0

$15.51 SAR 58.3

-12.44%

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

$419 SAR 1,574

$261 SAR 980

60.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,803 SAR 29.3K

$3,795 SAR 14.3K

105.59%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.01 SAR 158

$51.7 SAR 194

-18.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.62 SAR 186

$57.2 SAR 215

-13.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 SAR 368

$82.7 SAR 311

18.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.6 SAR 344

$71.7 SAR 269

27.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 SAR 2,193

$683 SAR 2,566

-14.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 SAR 1,385

$342 SAR 1,284

7.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 SAR 3,700

$869 SAR 3,263

13.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 SAR 2,529

$831 SAR 3,121

-18.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,416 SAR 5,319

$2,347 SAR 8,816

-39.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$600 SAR 2,253

$1,366 SAR 5,133

-56.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,520 SAR 5,708

$2,509 SAR 9,425

-39.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.9

3.98

48.24%

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

Last update for Ad Dammam: September 13, 2026

Last update for Buraydah: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $584 in Ad Dammam and $683 in Buraydah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Buraydah pays 65% 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: $35.00 in Ad Dammam vs $40.00 in Buraydah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $207 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 Buraydah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 2% 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 65% 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: $584 in Ad Dammam versus $683 in Buraydah. 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 $1,232 in Buraydah – a 2% 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 $1,205 in Ad Dammam versus $1,232 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 2% less than in Buraydah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.