🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,206 in Ad Dammam versus $1,215 in Dammam.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,886 in Ad Dammam versus $1,840 in Dammam.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,565 in Ad Dammam versus $2,465 in Dammam.
🙂Living in Ad Dammam costs roughly 1% less than in Dammam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam10% lower, Dammam9% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ad Dammam
Dammam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.36SAR 27.62
$6.68SAR 25.04
10.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.1SAR 203
$39.64SAR 149
36.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.76SAR 29.08
$8.01SAR 30.05
-3.12%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.92SAR 7.21
$1.78SAR 6.68
7.87%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83SAR 6.87
$1.85SAR 6.93
-1.08%
Cappuccino
$3.57SAR 13.39
$3.56SAR 13.36
0.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90SAR 3.39
$0.81SAR 3.03
11.11%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34SAR 1.29
$0.30SAR 1.14
13.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ad Dammam
Dammam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70SAR 6.39
$1.71SAR 6.40
-0.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46SAR 5.48
$1.00SAR 3.76
46.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.08SAR 7.81
$2.37SAR 8.89
-12.24%
Eggs
$2.28SAR 8.53
$2.51SAR 9.41
-9.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.01SAR 22.55
$6.73SAR 25.24
-10.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.43SAR 27.86
$7.53SAR 28.26
-1.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.65SAR 36.19
$12.78SAR 47.94
-24.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.12SAR 7.96
$2.28SAR 8.54
-7.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54SAR 5.79
$1.66SAR 6.23
-7.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45SAR 5.44
$1.59SAR 5.95
-8.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59SAR 5.97
$1.56SAR 5.84
1.92%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.80
$1.23SAR 4.60
4.07%
Onion(1kg)
$1.38SAR 5.19
$1.32SAR 4.96
4.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.31SAR 4.93
$1.30SAR 4.87
0.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58SAR 2.18
$0.63SAR 2.35
-7.94%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.26SAR 15.96
$2.90SAR 10.89
46.90%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.55SAR 5.82
$1.79SAR 6.71
-13.41%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.95SAR 7.31
$2.01SAR 7.52
-2.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.19SAR 30.71
$7.13SAR 26.75
14.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Ad Dammam
Dammam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.94SAR 3.54
$1.10SAR 4.11
-14.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.77SAR 149
$39.58SAR 148
0.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.39SAR 12.73
$2.73SAR 10.23
24.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.69SAR 10.07
$1.92SAR 7.21
40.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.09SAR 49.07
$13.42SAR 50.3
-2.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.65SAR 2.44
$0.64SAR 2.40
1.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KSAR 85.3K
$26.2KSAR 98.2K
-13.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1KSAR 79.1K
$23.1KSAR 86.7K
-8.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ad Dammam
Dammam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117SAR 440
$106SAR 397
10.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.77SAR 145
$33.23SAR 125
16.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.6SAR 238
$70.5SAR 264
-9.83%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ad Dammam
Dammam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$70.4SAR 264
$96.3SAR 361
-26.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.59SAR 115
$36.28SAR 136
-15.68%
Cinema Ticket
$15.53SAR 58.2
$14.86SAR 55.7
4.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ad Dammam
Dammam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$415SAR 1,556
$346SAR 1,298
19.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,100SAR 30.4K
$7,416SAR 27.8K
9.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ad Dammam
Dammam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.6SAR 250
$56.4SAR 212
18.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.1SAR 252
$63.9SAR 240
4.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$93.0SAR 349
$84.5SAR 317
9.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.7SAR 321
$81.8SAR 307
4.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ad Dammam
Dammam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$443SAR 1,661
$428SAR 1,606
3.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$381SAR 1,427
$382SAR 1,434
-0.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$789SAR 2,959
$877SAR 3,288
-10.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$636SAR 2,385
$633SAR 2,374
0.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$899SAR 3,370
$1,776SAR 6,661
-49.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$758SAR 2,843
$1,107SAR 4,150
-31.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ad Dammam
Dammam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,009SAR 7,532
-
-
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: April 19, 2026
Last update for Dammam: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $443 in Ad Dammam and $428 in Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54 in Ad Dammam vs $40 in Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $186 vs $197, 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 Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ad Dammam or Dammam?
Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ad Dammam the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ad Dammam vs Dammam?
You'd need roughly $1,810 in Ad Dammam and $1,823 in Dammam to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ad Dammam vs Dammam?
Rent for a central apartment: $443 in Ad Dammam versus $428 in Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Ad Dammam compared to Dammam?
All in, you'll spend $1,206 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,215 in Dammam – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ad Dammam vs Dammam?
A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 0% less than in Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Ad Dammam or Dammam?
At $1,206 in Ad Dammam versus $1,215 in Dammam, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ad Dammam but tight or insufficient in Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Ad Dammam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Ad Dammam or Dammam?
Both work as nomad bases, but Ad Dammam delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,206 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ad Dammam hard to pass up.
How safe is Ad Dammam compared to Dammam?
Safety-wise, Ad Dammam and Dammam are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ad Dammam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.