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: $1,205 in Ad Dammam versus $1,343 in Dhahran.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,828 in Ad Dammam versus $1,701 in Dhahran.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,450 in Ad Dammam versus $2,060 in Dhahran.

Living in Ad Dammam costs roughly 10% less than in Dhahran, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 12% lower, Dhahran 2% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.90 SAR 29.66

$5.42 SAR 20.36

45.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.27 SAR 132

$40.35 SAR 152

-12.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.78 SAR 25.47

$6.17 SAR 23.18

9.89%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 SAR 7.22

$1.82 SAR 6.82

5.49%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 SAR 8.33

$1.55 SAR 5.83

43.23%

Cappuccino

$2.98 SAR 11.18

$3.93 SAR 14.75

-24.17%

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

$0.77 SAR 2.89

$0.72 SAR 2.70

6.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.77

$0.20 SAR 0.75

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 SAR 6.77

$1.63 SAR 6.11

10.43%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 SAR 4.78

$1.01 SAR 3.78

25.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 SAR 7.02

$1.92 SAR 7.20

-2.60%

Eggs

$2.18 SAR 8.19

$3.93 SAR 14.75

-44.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 SAR 27.26

$8.77 SAR 32.92

-17.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 SAR 29.06

$11.24 SAR 42.22

-31.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 SAR 48.62

$13.99 SAR 52.5

-7.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 SAR 8.22

$2.15 SAR 8.06

1.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 SAR 6.24

$1.38 SAR 5.18

20.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.92

$1.79 SAR 6.73

-11.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 SAR 5.84

$1.74 SAR 6.52

-10.34%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 SAR 4.18

$1.54 SAR 5.79

-27.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 SAR 4.37

$0.99 SAR 3.72

17.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 SAR 4.75

$1.91 SAR 7.17

-33.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 SAR 2.19

$0.93 SAR 3.50

-37.63%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.20 SAR 15.76

$4.76 SAR 17.86

-11.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 SAR 5.70

$1.63 SAR 6.11

-6.75%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 SAR 8.31

$2.48 SAR 9.31

-10.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.58 SAR 28.45

$5.77 SAR 21.66

31.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 SAR 3.69

$0.78 SAR 2.91

25.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.71 SAR 134

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 SAR 10.28

$1.31 SAR 4.90

109.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 SAR 9.82

$3.23 SAR 12.15

-18.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.54 SAR 50.8

$9.42 SAR 35.38

43.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.27

$0.65 SAR 2.44

-7.69%

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

$66.7K SAR 250.4K

$52.0K SAR 195.1K

28.32%

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

$21.0K SAR 79.0K

$20.2K SAR 75.7K

4.34%

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

$127 SAR 478

$59.5 SAR 224

113.69%

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

$32.69 SAR 123

$42.58 SAR 160

-23.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.4 SAR 242

$66.4 SAR 249

-3.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 SAR 292

$197 SAR 738

-60.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.77 SAR 108

$94.8 SAR 356

-69.66%

Cinema Ticket

$13.58 SAR 51.0

$10.81 SAR 40.61

25.62%

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

$419 SAR 1,574

$65.3 SAR 245

541.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,803 SAR 29.3K

$13.5K SAR 50.9K

-42.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.01 SAR 158

$50.7 SAR 190

-17.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.62 SAR 186

$43.44 SAR 163

14.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 SAR 368

$77.0 SAR 289

27.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.6 SAR 344

$87.5 SAR 329

4.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 SAR 2,193

$354 SAR 1,328

65.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 SAR 1,385

$444 SAR 1,669

-17.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 SAR 3,700

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 SAR 2,529

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,416 SAR 5,318

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$600 SAR 2,253

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,520 SAR 5,707

$2,811 SAR 10.6K

-45.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.9

4.5

31.11%

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

Last update for Ad Dammam: September 13, 2026

Last update for Dhahran: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $584 in Ad Dammam and $354 in Dhahran. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dhahran pays 85% 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 Dhahran for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $234 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 Dhahran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 11% 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, salaries run 85% lower in Dhahran. 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 $354 in Dhahran. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 18% higher in Dhahran. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,205 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,343 in Dhahran – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,205 in Ad Dammam versus $1,343 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 11% less than in Dhahran. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.