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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,210 in Ad Dammam versus $1,332 in Dhahran.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,872 in Ad Dammam versus $2,029 in Dhahran.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,533 in Ad Dammam versus $2,725 in Dhahran.

Living in Ad Dammam costs roughly 9% less than in Dhahran, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 10% lower, Dhahran 1% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.31 SAR 27.42

$5.23 SAR 19.64

39.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.6 SAR 201

$40.50 SAR 152

32.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.98 SAR 29.94

$7.14 SAR 26.78

11.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.83 SAR 6.86

$2.05 SAR 7.68

-10.73%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 SAR 6.82

$1.61 SAR 6.06

13.04%

Cappuccino

$3.70 SAR 13.89

$3.77 SAR 14.14

-1.86%

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

$0.92 SAR 3.43

$0.74 SAR 2.78

24.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 SAR 1.30

$0.17 SAR 0.63

105.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 SAR 6.43

$1.49 SAR 5.60

14.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 SAR 5.43

$1.17 SAR 4.39

23.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 SAR 7.85

$2.18 SAR 8.18

-4.13%

Eggs

$2.24 SAR 8.42

$2.39 SAR 8.98

-6.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 SAR 22.73

$6.83 SAR 25.62

-11.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.15 SAR 26.85

$8.84 SAR 33.18

-19.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.62 SAR 36.12

$13.50 SAR 50.7

-28.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 SAR 7.93

$2.24 SAR 8.41

-5.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 SAR 5.62

$1.38 SAR 5.20

8.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.38 SAR 5.20

$1.63 SAR 6.11

-15.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 SAR 6.24

$1.37 SAR 5.13

21.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 SAR 4.80

$1.23 SAR 4.63

4.07%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 SAR 4.99

$0.89 SAR 3.34

49.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 SAR 5.06

$1.10 SAR 4.14

22.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 SAR 2.07

$0.57 SAR 2.15

-3.51%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.19 SAR 15.73

$4.84 SAR 18.16

-13.43%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 SAR 6.01

$1.98 SAR 7.43

-19.19%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 SAR 7.44

$1.56 SAR 5.86

26.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.92 SAR 29.73

$9.52 SAR 35.72

-16.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 SAR 3.36

$1.05 SAR 3.93

-15.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.16 SAR 151

$40.72 SAR 153

-1.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 SAR 12.35

$1.35 SAR 5.08

143.70%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.65 SAR 9.96

$2.45 SAR 9.18

8.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.28 SAR 49.85

$13.53 SAR 50.8

-1.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.42

$0.65 SAR 2.43

-1.54%

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

$23.1K SAR 86.6K

$32.4K SAR 121.8K

-28.92%

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

$21.3K SAR 79.8K

$24.3K SAR 91.1K

-12.40%

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

$117 SAR 438

$104 SAR 391

12.03%

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

$38.34 SAR 144

$36.18 SAR 136

5.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 SAR 238

$73.6 SAR 276

-13.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.9 SAR 266

$183 SAR 688

-61.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.51 SAR 114

$36.00 SAR 135

-15.25%

Cinema Ticket

$15.54 SAR 58.3

$11.90 SAR 44.66

30.59%

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

$415 SAR 1,559

$414 SAR 1,553

0.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,170 SAR 30.7K

$9,909 SAR 37.2K

-17.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.9 SAR 251

$59.4 SAR 223

12.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.2 SAR 256

$76.7 SAR 288

-11.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 SAR 341

$84.4 SAR 317

7.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.5 SAR 321

$97.8 SAR 367

-12.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 SAR 1,678

$439 SAR 1,648

1.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$375 SAR 1,408

$383 SAR 1,436

-1.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$800 SAR 3,002

$836 SAR 3,138

-4.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 SAR 2,407

$615 SAR 2,308

4.26%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,309 SAR 4,914

$1,110 SAR 4,166

17.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$805 SAR 3,020

$1,066 SAR 3,999

-24.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,895 SAR 7,110

$2,893 SAR 10.9K

-34.52%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Dhahran: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $447 in Ad Dammam and $439 in Dhahran. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dhahran pays 53% 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 $41.00 in Dhahran. Groceries flip the comparison at $184 vs $200, 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 Dhahran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Dhahran. 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, Dhahran earns 53% less. 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 $439 in Dhahran. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,210 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,332 in Dhahran – a 10% 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 Dhahran. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,210 in Ad Dammam versus $1,332 in Dhahran, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ad Dammam but tight or insufficient in Dhahran. 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 Dhahran 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 10% less than in Dhahran. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.