Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Dammam and Khamis Mushayt Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Dammam and Khamis Mushayt

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,205 in Ad Dammam versus $1,120 in Khamis Mushayt.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,828 in Ad Dammam versus $1,663 in Khamis Mushayt.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,450 in Ad Dammam versus $2,206 in Khamis Mushayt.

Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 8% more expensive than in Khamis Mushayt, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 12% lower, Khamis Mushayt 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.90 SAR 29.66

$4.74 SAR 17.80

66.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.27 SAR 132

$32.27 SAR 121

9.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.78 SAR 25.48

$6.76 SAR 25.41

0.30%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 SAR 7.23

$1.61 SAR 6.05

19.25%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 SAR 8.33

$1.89 SAR 7.09

17.46%

Cappuccino

$2.98 SAR 11.18

$2.87 SAR 10.80

3.83%

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

$0.77 SAR 2.90

$0.66 SAR 2.47

16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.77

$0.23 SAR 0.87

-13.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 SAR 6.77

$1.57 SAR 5.88

14.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 SAR 4.78

$0.42 SAR 1.58

202.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 SAR 7.02

$3.17 SAR 11.89

-41.01%

Eggs

$2.18 SAR 8.19

$2.41 SAR 9.04

-9.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 SAR 27.26

$6.29 SAR 23.64

15.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 SAR 29.06

$5.59 SAR 20.98

38.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 SAR 48.63

$14.25 SAR 53.5

-9.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 SAR 8.23

$2.15 SAR 8.09

1.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 SAR 6.24

$1.74 SAR 6.55

-4.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.92

$1.57 SAR 5.90

0.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 SAR 5.84

$1.68 SAR 6.33

-7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 SAR 4.18

$1.16 SAR 4.35

-4.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 SAR 4.37

$1.33 SAR 4.99

-12.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 SAR 4.75

$1.23 SAR 4.61

3.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 SAR 2.19

$0.58 SAR 2.20

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.20 SAR 15.77

$2.49 SAR 9.34

68.67%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 SAR 5.70

$1.54 SAR 5.79

-1.30%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 SAR 8.31

$2.15 SAR 8.09

2.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.58 SAR 28.45

$6.52 SAR 24.47

16.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 SAR 3.69

$1.03 SAR 3.85

-4.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.71 SAR 134

$31.41 SAR 118

13.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 SAR 10.28

$2.88 SAR 10.83

-4.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 SAR 9.82

$1.57 SAR 5.88

66.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.54 SAR 50.8

$13.70 SAR 51.5

-1.17%

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

$42.1K SAR 158.2K

58.34%

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

$21.0K SAR 79.0K

$20.2K SAR 75.9K

4.12%

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

$127 SAR 478

$101 SAR 381

25.43%

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

$32.69 SAR 123

$32.89 SAR 124

-0.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.4 SAR 242

$63.7 SAR 239

1.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 SAR 292

$85.8 SAR 322

-9.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.77 SAR 108

$40.26 SAR 151

-28.54%

Cinema Ticket

$13.58 SAR 51.0

$13.47 SAR 50.6

0.82%

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

$419 SAR 1,574

$324 SAR 1,218

29.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,803 SAR 29.3K

$6,702 SAR 25.2K

16.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.01 SAR 158

$54.6 SAR 205

-23.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.62 SAR 186

$52.9 SAR 199

-6.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 SAR 368

0.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.6 SAR 344

$86.7 SAR 326

5.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 SAR 2,193

$518 SAR 1,947

12.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 SAR 1,385

$301 SAR 1,131

22.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 SAR 3,701

$798 SAR 2,998

23.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 SAR 2,529

$588 SAR 2,208

14.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,416 SAR 5,319

$2,478 SAR 9,306

-42.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$600 SAR 2,253

$1,443 SAR 5,420

-58.43%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,520 SAR 5,709

$1,573 SAR 5,908

-3.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.9

5.47

7.86%

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

Last update for Ad Dammam: September 13, 2026

Last update for Khamis Mushayt: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $584 in Ad Dammam and $518 in Khamis Mushayt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Khamis Mushayt pays 3% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35.00 in Ad Dammam vs $32.00 in Khamis Mushayt for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $186 per month, with Khamis Mushayt 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 Khamis Mushayt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Khamis Mushayt wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Khamis Mushayt the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 3% lower in Khamis Mushayt. 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 $518 in Khamis Mushayt. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,205 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,120 in Khamis Mushayt – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Khamis Mushayt runs roughly 14% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,120 in Khamis Mushayt versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Khamis Mushayt but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Khamis Mushayt 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 Khamis Mushayt 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 Khamis Mushayt gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.