😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,196 in Ad Dammam versus $1,054 in Jubail.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,860 in Ad Dammam versus $1,650 in Jubail.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,524 in Ad Dammam versus $2,247 in Jubail.
🌍Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 13% more expensive than in Jubail, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam10% lower, Jubail21% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ad Dammam
Jubail
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.29SAR 27.37
$6.74SAR 25.30
8.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.7SAR 202
$39.37SAR 148
36.37%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.03SAR 30.16
$9.41SAR 35.35
-14.67%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.82SAR 6.83
$1.92SAR 7.20
-5.21%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90SAR 7.14
$2.91SAR 10.94
-34.71%
Cappuccino
$3.73SAR 14.00
$3.34SAR 12.55
11.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92SAR 3.44
$0.76SAR 2.86
21.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35SAR 1.30
$0.28SAR 1.05
25.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ad Dammam
Jubail
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63SAR 6.13
$1.82SAR 6.84
-10.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46SAR 5.49
$0.99SAR 3.70
47.47%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.09SAR 7.86
$1.68SAR 6.30
24.40%
Eggs
$2.27SAR 8.53
$2.51SAR 9.44
-9.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.12SAR 22.97
$8.19SAR 30.74
-25.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.25SAR 27.23
$6.86SAR 25.76
5.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.70SAR 36.42
$11.08SAR 41.61
-12.45%
Apples(1kg)
$2.12SAR 7.95
$2.31SAR 8.68
-8.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49SAR 5.61
$1.66SAR 6.23
-10.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.40SAR 5.24
$1.58SAR 5.92
-11.39%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59SAR 5.98
$1.41SAR 5.29
12.77%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.82
$1.12SAR 4.19
14.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.32SAR 4.97
$1.37SAR 5.13
-3.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.36SAR 5.12
$1.41SAR 5.29
-3.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59SAR 2.21
$0.60SAR 2.24
-1.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.13SAR 15.50
$2.98SAR 11.18
38.59%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.56SAR 5.85
$2.01SAR 7.54
-22.39%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92SAR 7.22
$2.33SAR 8.76
-17.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.76SAR 29.13
$7.26SAR 27.27
6.89%
🚌 Getting Around
Ad Dammam
Jubail
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.95SAR 3.57
$0.91SAR 3.42
4.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.54SAR 148
$25.68SAR 96.4
53.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.38SAR 12.70
$4.05SAR 15.20
-16.54%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.62SAR 9.86
$1.82SAR 6.84
43.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.54SAR 50.8
$16.99SAR 63.8
-20.31%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60SAR 2.25
$0.64SAR 2.41
-6.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0KSAR 86.3K
$19.7KSAR 73.9K
16.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.1KSAR 79.1K
$24.3KSAR 91.1K
-13.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ad Dammam
Jubail
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115SAR 432
$102SAR 381
13.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.60SAR 145
$31.84SAR 120
21.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.5SAR 239
$64.4SAR 242
-1.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ad Dammam
Jubail
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$70.5SAR 265
$89.4SAR 336
-21.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.26SAR 117
$35.40SAR 133
-11.69%
Cinema Ticket
$15.06SAR 56.6
$14.00SAR 52.6
7.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ad Dammam
Jubail
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$415SAR 1,558
$202SAR 757
105.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,157SAR 30.6K
$8,592SAR 32.3K
-5.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ad Dammam
Jubail
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.6SAR 258
$37.51SAR 141
82.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.7SAR 250
$61.2SAR 230
8.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.6SAR 348
$84.6SAR 318
9.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.7SAR 322
$80.4SAR 302
6.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ad Dammam
Jubail
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$447SAR 1,677
$403SAR 1,514
10.77%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$378SAR 1,421
$273SAR 1,025
38.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$805SAR 3,021
$636SAR 2,390
26.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$626SAR 2,350
$497SAR 1,868
25.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,353SAR 5,082
$2,545SAR 9,556
-46.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$816SAR 3,063
$1,317SAR 4,945
-38.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ad Dammam
Jubail
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,510SAR 5,669
$1,627SAR 6,109
-7.20%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.33
5.33
-18.76%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ad Dammam: July 26, 2026
Last update for Jubail: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $447 in Ad Dammam and $403 in Jubail. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jubail pays 8% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Ad Dammam vs $39.00 in Jubail. Groceries flip the comparison at $184 vs $191, 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 Jubail: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ad Dammam or Jubail?
Jubail wins on cost – living expenses run 13% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Jubail the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ad Dammam or in Jubail?
On paper, salaries run 8% lower in Jubail. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ad Dammam compared to Jubail?
Rent for a central apartment: $447 in Ad Dammam versus $403 in Jubail. 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 Jubail?
All in, you'll spend $1,196 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,054 in Jubail – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ad Dammam compared to Jubail?
A monthly transit pass in Jubail runs roughly 54% less than in Ad 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 in Jubail?
At $1,054 in Jubail versus $1,196 in Ad Dammam, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Jubail but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Jubail the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ad Dammam or Jubail?
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.
How safe is Ad Dammam compared to Jubail?
Safety-wise, Ad Dammam and Jubail 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 Jubail gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.