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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,205 in Ad Dammam versus $978 in Mecca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,828 in Ad Dammam versus $1,472 in Mecca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,450 in Ad Dammam versus $1,965 in Mecca.

Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 23% more expensive than in Mecca, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 12% lower, Mecca 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.90 SAR 29.66

$4.55 SAR 17.08

73.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.27 SAR 132

$27.00 SAR 101

30.63%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.78 SAR 25.48

$6.94 SAR 26.07

-2.31%

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

$1.61 SAR 6.04

37.89%

Cappuccino

$2.98 SAR 11.18

$2.62 SAR 9.83

13.74%

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

$0.77 SAR 2.90

$0.72 SAR 2.70

6.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.77

$0.23 SAR 0.86

-13.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 SAR 6.77

$1.69 SAR 6.35

6.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 SAR 4.78

$1.01 SAR 3.80

25.74%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 SAR 7.02

$2.29 SAR 8.59

-18.34%

Eggs

$2.18 SAR 8.19

$2.42 SAR 9.09

-9.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 SAR 27.26

$6.45 SAR 24.23

12.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 SAR 29.06

$8.03 SAR 30.17

-3.61%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 SAR 48.63

$12.76 SAR 47.92

1.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 SAR 8.23

$2.04 SAR 7.67

7.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 SAR 6.24

$1.66 SAR 6.23

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.92

$1.61 SAR 6.04

-1.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 SAR 5.84

$1.63 SAR 6.13

-4.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 SAR 4.18

$1.13 SAR 4.26

-1.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 SAR 4.37

$1.31 SAR 4.90

-11.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 SAR 4.75

$1.10 SAR 4.14

15.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 SAR 2.19

$0.50 SAR 1.86

16.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.20 SAR 15.77

$4.20 SAR 15.76

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 SAR 5.70

$1.85 SAR 6.95

-17.84%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 SAR 8.31

$2.08 SAR 7.80

6.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.58 SAR 28.45

$6.71 SAR 25.20

12.97%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 SAR 3.69

$1.36 SAR 5.11

-27.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.71 SAR 134

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 SAR 10.28

$1.90 SAR 7.14

44.21%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 SAR 9.82

$1.72 SAR 6.46

52.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.54 SAR 50.8

$13.53 SAR 50.8

0.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.27

$0.61 SAR 2.29

-1.64%

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

$66.7K SAR 250.4K

$48.0K SAR 180.4K

38.85%

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

$21.0K SAR 79.0K

$21.3K SAR 80.0K

-1.17%

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

$127 SAR 478

$74.4 SAR 279

71.05%

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

$32.69 SAR 123

$34.06 SAR 128

-4.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.4 SAR 242

$67.9 SAR 255

-5.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 SAR 292

$77.4 SAR 291

0.34%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.77 SAR 108

$34.11 SAR 128

-15.66%

Cinema Ticket

$13.58 SAR 51.0

$12.06 SAR 45.31

12.60%

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

$419 SAR 1,574

$398 SAR 1,494

5.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,803 SAR 29.3K

$4,586 SAR 17.2K

70.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.01 SAR 158

$22.97 SAR 86.3

82.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.62 SAR 186

$58.8 SAR 221

-15.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 SAR 368

$49.77 SAR 187

96.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.6 SAR 344

$51.0 SAR 192

79.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 SAR 2,193

$597 SAR 2,241

-2.15%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 SAR 1,385

$313 SAR 1,175

17.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 SAR 3,700

$1,531 SAR 5,749

-35.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 SAR 2,529

$514 SAR 1,931

31.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,416 SAR 5,319

$6,400 SAR 24.0K

-77.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$600 SAR 2,253

$2,281 SAR 8,568

-73.70%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,520 SAR 5,708

$1,093 SAR 4,107

39.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.9

5.25

12.38%

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

Last update for Ad Dammam: September 13, 2026

Last update for Mecca: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $584 in Ad Dammam and $597 in Mecca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ad Dammam pays 39% 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 $27.00 in Mecca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $195 per month, with Mecca 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 Mecca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mecca wins on cost – living expenses run 23% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mecca the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 39% 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $584 in Ad Dammam versus $597 in Mecca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 2% higher in Ad Dammam. 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 $978 in Mecca – a 23% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $978 in Mecca versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mecca but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Mecca 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 Mecca 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 Mecca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 23% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.