😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,227 in Ad Dammam versus $1,049 in Jubail.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,876 in Ad Dammam versus $1,657 in Jubail.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,526 in Ad Dammam versus $2,264 in Jubail.
🌍Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 17% more expensive than in Jubail, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam8% lower, Jubail21% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ad Dammam
Jubail
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.39SAR 27.72
$6.59SAR 24.74
12.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.2SAR 200
$39.56SAR 148
34.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.09SAR 30.37
$9.35SAR 35.10
-13.48%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.83SAR 6.86
$1.82SAR 6.83
0.55%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82SAR 6.84
$2.91SAR 10.91
-37.46%
Cappuccino
$3.54SAR 13.27
$3.23SAR 12.14
9.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86SAR 3.24
$0.78SAR 2.92
10.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37SAR 1.39
$0.26SAR 0.97
42.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ad Dammam
Jubail
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66SAR 6.23
$1.79SAR 6.71
-7.26%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45SAR 5.43
$1.01SAR 3.78
43.56%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.11SAR 7.92
$1.61SAR 6.03
31.06%
Eggs
$2.22SAR 8.33
$2.50SAR 9.38
-11.20%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.33SAR 23.77
$8.20SAR 30.76
-22.80%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.48SAR 28.08
$6.89SAR 25.86
8.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.18SAR 38.21
$10.98SAR 41.21
-7.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.20SAR 8.25
$2.37SAR 8.89
-7.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49SAR 5.59
$1.64SAR 6.16
-9.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46SAR 5.48
$1.58SAR 5.93
-7.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.64SAR 6.17
$1.35SAR 5.08
21.48%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23SAR 4.63
$1.18SAR 4.44
4.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.33SAR 4.98
$1.34SAR 5.03
-0.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35SAR 5.05
$1.41SAR 5.29
-4.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54SAR 2.03
$0.60SAR 2.26
-10.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.08SAR 15.29
$2.88SAR 10.80
41.67%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63SAR 6.10
$2.02SAR 7.56
-19.31%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00SAR 7.49
$2.38SAR 8.95
-15.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.21SAR 30.80
$7.26SAR 27.25
13.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Ad Dammam
Jubail
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.96SAR 3.59
$0.91SAR 3.43
5.49%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.01SAR 150
$26.04SAR 97.7
53.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.28SAR 12.29
$4.09SAR 15.36
-19.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.61SAR 9.79
$1.86SAR 6.97
40.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.47SAR 50.6
$17.44SAR 65.5
-22.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64SAR 2.39
$0.59SAR 2.23
8.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KSAR 85.6K
$19.9KSAR 74.6K
14.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.7KSAR 77.6K
$24.1KSAR 90.6K
-14.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ad Dammam
Jubail
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$118SAR 441
$98.4SAR 369
19.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.53SAR 145
$31.88SAR 120
20.86%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.0SAR 237
$65.1SAR 244
-3.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ad Dammam
Jubail
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$71.0SAR 266
$88.0SAR 330
-19.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.70SAR 119
$35.61SAR 134
-10.98%
Cinema Ticket
$15.55SAR 58.4
$14.00SAR 52.6
11.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ad Dammam
Jubail
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$414SAR 1,554
$205SAR 770
101.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,136SAR 30.5K
$8,430SAR 31.6K
-3.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ad Dammam
Jubail
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.1SAR 260
$38.03SAR 143
81.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.4SAR 249
$62.8SAR 236
5.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.6SAR 344
$81.7SAR 307
12.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1SAR 316
$78.4SAR 294
7.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ad Dammam
Jubail
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$447SAR 1,679
$406SAR 1,525
10.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$371SAR 1,393
$278SAR 1,044
33.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$779SAR 2,925
$639SAR 2,400
21.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$626SAR 2,349
$493SAR 1,850
26.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,309SAR 4,914
$2,528SAR 9,487
-48.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$798SAR 2,993
$1,314SAR 4,932
-39.31%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ad Dammam
Jubail
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,882SAR 7,063
$1,593SAR 5,980
18.11%
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: June 15, 2026
Last update for Jubail: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $447 in Ad Dammam and $406 in Jubail. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ad Dammam pays 18% 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: $53.0 in Ad Dammam vs $40.00 in Jubail. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 vs $190, 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 17% 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?
Average pay runs 18% higher in Ad Dammam, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ad Dammam compared to Jubail?
Rent for a central apartment: $447 in Ad Dammam versus $406 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 $1,227 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,049 in Jubail – a 17% 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 $1,049 in Jubail versus $1,227 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 17% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.