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: $1,211 in Ad Dammam versus $1,041 in Mecca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,857 in Ad Dammam versus $1,881 in Mecca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,503 in Ad Dammam versus $2,721 in Mecca.

Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 16% more expensive than in Mecca, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 9% lower, Mecca 22% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.45 SAR 27.99

$4.88 SAR 18.32

52.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.0 SAR 199

$40.07 SAR 150

32.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.92 SAR 29.72

$9.21 SAR 34.60

-14.01%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.88 SAR 7.07

$1.59 SAR 5.95

18.24%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.85 SAR 6.95

$1.58 SAR 5.95

17.09%

Cappuccino

$3.55 SAR 13.33

$3.19 SAR 11.98

11.29%

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

$0.92 SAR 3.44

$0.91 SAR 3.41

1.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 SAR 1.42

$0.29 SAR 1.08

31.03%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 SAR 6.15

$1.67 SAR 6.25

-1.80%

White Bread (500g)

$1.42 SAR 5.32

$0.89 SAR 3.34

59.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.12 SAR 7.96

$2.26 SAR 8.49

-6.19%

Eggs

$2.31 SAR 8.68

$2.97 SAR 11.17

-22.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.99 SAR 22.48

$6.92 SAR 25.99

-13.44%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.32 SAR 27.49

$8.58 SAR 32.23

-14.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.07 SAR 37.80

$13.57 SAR 50.9

-25.79%

Apples (1kg)

$2.09 SAR 7.85

$2.31 SAR 8.67

-9.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 SAR 5.82

$1.57 SAR 5.88

-1.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.39 SAR 5.23

$1.87 SAR 7.02

-25.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 SAR 6.20

$2.03 SAR 7.63

-18.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 SAR 4.79

$1.20 SAR 4.49

6.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 SAR 5.15

$1.22 SAR 4.57

12.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.29 SAR 4.86

$1.05 SAR 3.94

22.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 SAR 2.08

$0.66 SAR 2.46

-16.67%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.12 SAR 15.47

$4.25 SAR 15.95

-3.06%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 SAR 6.05

$2.00 SAR 7.52

-19.50%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.99 SAR 7.47

$2.16 SAR 8.12

-7.87%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.76 SAR 29.14

$7.94 SAR 29.81

-2.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.94 SAR 3.51

$1.37 SAR 5.14

-31.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.30 SAR 148

$39.83 SAR 150

-1.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 SAR 12.42

$2.35 SAR 8.83

40.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.73 SAR 10.26

$1.83 SAR 6.87

49.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.58 SAR 51.0

$10.56 SAR 39.64

28.60%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 SAR 2.29

$0.59 SAR 2.22

3.39%

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

$22.2K SAR 83.5K

$26.3K SAR 98.8K

-15.52%

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

$20.9K SAR 78.3K

$20.9K SAR 78.6K

-0.32%

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

$118 SAR 444

$77.1 SAR 289

53.58%

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

$38.60 SAR 145

$35.21 SAR 132

9.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.4 SAR 238

$67.3 SAR 253

-5.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.7 SAR 266

$84.8 SAR 318

-16.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.89 SAR 116

$34.89 SAR 131

-11.46%

Cinema Ticket

$15.30 SAR 57.5

$18.68 SAR 70.1

-18.09%

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

$427 SAR 1,602

$399 SAR 1,500

6.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,216 SAR 30.8K

$4,631 SAR 17.4K

77.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.0 SAR 255

$22.32 SAR 83.8

204.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$67.8 SAR 255

$63.5 SAR 239

6.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.5 SAR 340

$59.2 SAR 222

52.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.1 SAR 323

$51.3 SAR 192

67.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$452 SAR 1,697

$226 SAR 849

99.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 SAR 1,413

$290 SAR 1,090

29.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$792 SAR 2,975

$686 SAR 2,576

15.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$636 SAR 2,387

$1,041 SAR 3,909

-38.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,320 SAR 4,956

$6,389 SAR 24.0K

-79.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$812 SAR 3,051

$2,305 SAR 8,656

-64.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,502 SAR 5,639

$1,089 SAR 4,088

37.95%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Mecca: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $452 in Ad Dammam and $226 in Mecca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ad Dammam pays 38% 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 Mecca. Groceries flip the comparison at $185 vs $208, 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 16% 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 38% 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: $452 in Ad Dammam versus $226 in Mecca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,211 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,041 in Mecca – a 16% 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 $1,041 in Mecca versus $1,211 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 16% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.