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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,198 in Ad Dammam versus $1,362 in Jeddah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,825 in Ad Dammam versus $2,108 in Jeddah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,452 in Ad Dammam versus $2,855 in Jeddah.

Living in Ad Dammam costs roughly 12% less than in Jeddah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 13% lower, Jeddah 1% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.09 SAR 30.38

$6.69 SAR 25.13

20.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.23 SAR 140

$53.1 SAR 199

-29.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.79 SAR 25.50

$8.16 SAR 30.63

-16.79%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 SAR 6.76

$2.51 SAR 9.42

-28.29%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 SAR 7.73

$2.70 SAR 10.14

-23.70%

Cappuccino

$3.04 SAR 11.42

$3.54 SAR 13.28

-14.12%

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

$0.77 SAR 2.88

$1.00 SAR 3.77

-23.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 SAR 0.62

$0.24 SAR 0.89

-29.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 SAR 6.66

$1.71 SAR 6.42

3.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 SAR 5.00

$1.01 SAR 3.80

31.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.93 SAR 7.25

$2.20 SAR 8.27

-12.27%

Eggs

$2.10 SAR 7.89

$2.37 SAR 8.91

-11.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.34 SAR 27.57

$6.36 SAR 23.86

15.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.76 SAR 29.13

$8.30 SAR 31.17

-6.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.48 SAR 46.85

$13.08 SAR 49.12

-4.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 SAR 8.20

$1.95 SAR 7.33

11.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 SAR 6.44

$1.66 SAR 6.25

3.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 SAR 6.15

$1.52 SAR 5.71

7.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 SAR 6.13

$1.66 SAR 6.23

-1.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 SAR 4.04

$1.16 SAR 4.37

-6.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 SAR 4.46

$1.29 SAR 4.83

-7.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.32 SAR 4.96

$1.06 SAR 3.98

24.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 SAR 2.12

$0.54 SAR 2.02

3.70%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.20 SAR 15.78

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 SAR 5.59

$1.82 SAR 6.84

-18.13%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 SAR 8.39

$2.48 SAR 9.31

-10.08%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.51 SAR 28.19

$6.45 SAR 24.21

16.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 SAR 3.37

$1.09 SAR 4.11

-17.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.24 SAR 132

$54.9 SAR 206

-35.79%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 SAR 10.03

$3.14 SAR 11.79

-14.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 SAR 9.82

$1.75 SAR 6.58

49.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.43 SAR 50.4

$13.91 SAR 52.2

-3.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.24

$0.60 SAR 2.25

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

$66.9K SAR 251.2K

$48.0K SAR 180.1K

39.49%

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

$20.9K SAR 78.4K

$21.3K SAR 80.0K

-1.96%

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

$126 SAR 472

$102 SAR 384

22.96%

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

$33.14 SAR 124

$38.54 SAR 145

-14.01%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.7 SAR 235

$67.6 SAR 254

-7.19%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 SAR 286

$87.1 SAR 327

-12.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.76 SAR 104

$41.18 SAR 155

-32.59%

Cinema Ticket

$13.49 SAR 50.7

$11.87 SAR 44.56

13.65%

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

$414 SAR 1,554

$728 SAR 2,733

-43.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,996 SAR 30.0K

$16.3K SAR 61.1K

-50.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.25 SAR 155

$68.9 SAR 259

-40.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.67 SAR 183

$59.8 SAR 224

-18.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 SAR 365

$96.4 SAR 362

1.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.8 SAR 345

$97.4 SAR 366

-5.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$566 SAR 2,126

$773 SAR 2,904

-26.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 SAR 1,410

$531 SAR 1,994

-29.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$988 SAR 3,708

$1,464 SAR 5,496

-32.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$672 SAR 2,523

$831 SAR 3,121

-19.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,376 SAR 5,166

$1,746 SAR 6,554

-21.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$597 SAR 2,240

$1,145 SAR 4,301

-47.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,528 SAR 5,736

$1,664 SAR 6,248

-8.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.9

5.39

9.46%

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

Last update for Ad Dammam: August 29, 2026

Last update for Jeddah: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $566 in Ad Dammam and $773 in Jeddah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jeddah pays 9% 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: $37.00 in Ad Dammam vs $53.0 in Jeddah. Groceries flip the comparison at $199 vs $196, with Jeddah 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 Jeddah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Jeddah. 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 9% lower in Jeddah. 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: $566 in Ad Dammam versus $773 in Jeddah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,198 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,362 in Jeddah – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 56% less than in Jeddah. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,198 in Ad Dammam versus $1,362 in Jeddah, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ad Dammam but tight or insufficient in Jeddah. 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 Jeddah 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 14% less than in Jeddah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.