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: $1,210 in Ad Dammam versus $1,065 in Mecca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,872 in Ad Dammam versus $1,917 in Mecca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,533 in Ad Dammam versus $2,769 in Mecca.

Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 14% more expensive than Mecca, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 10% lower, Mecca 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.31 SAR 27.42

$4.89 SAR 18.34

49.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.6 SAR 201

$39.53 SAR 148

35.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.98 SAR 29.94

$9.39 SAR 35.23

-15.02%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.83 SAR 6.86

$1.62 SAR 6.08

12.96%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 SAR 6.82

$1.60 SAR 6.00

13.75%

Cappuccino

$3.70 SAR 13.89

$3.16 SAR 11.87

17.09%

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

$0.92 SAR 3.43

$0.87 SAR 3.25

5.75%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 SAR 1.30

$0.29 SAR 1.07

20.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 SAR 6.43

$1.64 SAR 6.16

4.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 SAR 5.43

$0.89 SAR 3.34

62.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 SAR 7.85

$2.24 SAR 8.41

-6.70%

Eggs

$2.24 SAR 8.42

$2.98 SAR 11.19

-24.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.06 SAR 22.73

$7.04 SAR 26.43

-13.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.15 SAR 26.85

$8.39 SAR 31.48

-14.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.62 SAR 36.12

$13.38 SAR 50.2

-28.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 SAR 7.93

$2.31 SAR 8.69

-8.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 SAR 5.62

$1.61 SAR 6.06

-6.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.38 SAR 5.20

$1.77 SAR 6.65

-22.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 SAR 6.24

$2.04 SAR 7.66

-18.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 SAR 4.80

$1.26 SAR 4.73

1.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 SAR 4.99

$1.24 SAR 4.67

7.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.35 SAR 5.06

$1.06 SAR 3.96

27.36%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 SAR 2.07

$0.68 SAR 2.56

-19.12%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.19 SAR 15.73

$4.04 SAR 15.18

3.71%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 SAR 6.01

$2.00 SAR 7.52

-20.00%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 SAR 7.44

$2.07 SAR 7.76

-4.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.92 SAR 29.73

$8.01 SAR 30.06

-1.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 SAR 3.36

$1.31 SAR 4.92

-32.06%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.16 SAR 151

$40.59 SAR 152

-1.06%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 SAR 12.35

$2.44 SAR 9.14

34.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.65 SAR 9.96

$1.83 SAR 6.89

44.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.28 SAR 49.85

$10.59 SAR 39.74

25.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.42

$0.60 SAR 2.26

6.67%

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

$23.1K SAR 86.6K

$26.8K SAR 100.4K

-13.80%

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

$21.3K SAR 79.8K

$21.4K SAR 80.5K

-0.85%

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

$117 SAR 438

$77.7 SAR 291

50.24%

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

$38.34 SAR 144

$35.25 SAR 132

8.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 SAR 238

$65.8 SAR 247

-3.54%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.9 SAR 266

$87.6 SAR 329

-19.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.51 SAR 114

$34.97 SAR 131

-12.75%

Cinema Ticket

$15.54 SAR 58.3

$18.59 SAR 69.8

-16.41%

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

$415 SAR 1,559

$404 SAR 1,517

2.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,170 SAR 30.7K

$4,604 SAR 17.3K

77.45%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.9 SAR 251

$22.51 SAR 84.5

197.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$68.2 SAR 256

$62.5 SAR 235

9.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.8 SAR 341

$58.8 SAR 221

54.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.5 SAR 321

$51.1 SAR 192

67.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 SAR 1,678

$231 SAR 867

93.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$375 SAR 1,408

$282 SAR 1,058

33.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$800 SAR 3,002

$669 SAR 2,509

19.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$641 SAR 2,407

$1,026 SAR 3,851

-37.51%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,309 SAR 4,914

$6,512 SAR 24.4K

-79.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$805 SAR 3,020

$2,238 SAR 8,399

-64.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,895 SAR 7,110

$1,075 SAR 4,034

76.25%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.33

5.5

-21.27%

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

Last update for Ad Dammam: May 30, 2026

Last update for Mecca: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $447 in Ad Dammam and $231 in Mecca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ad Dammam pays 76% 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: $54.0 in Ad Dammam vs $40.00 in Mecca. Groceries flip the comparison at $184 vs $207, 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 Mecca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mecca wins on cost – living expenses run 14% 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.

Ad Dammam pays 76% more on average, 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: $447 in Ad Dammam versus $231 in Mecca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,210 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,065 in Mecca – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Mecca runs roughly 1% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,065 in Mecca versus $1,210 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 14% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.