🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,210 in Ad Dammam versus $1,883 in Montijo.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,872 in Ad Dammam versus $2,639 in Montijo.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,533 in Ad Dammam versus $3,394 in Montijo.
🙂Living in Ad Dammam costs roughly 36% less than in Montijo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Ad Dammam is 10% below, Montijo is 41% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ad Dammam
Montijo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.31SAR 27.42
$12.58€10.82
-41.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.6SAR 201
$47.21€40.61
13.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.98SAR 29.94
$9.17€7.89
-12.98%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.83SAR 6.86
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.82SAR 6.82
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.70SAR 13.89
$2.58€2.22
43.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92SAR 3.43
$1.80€1.54
-48.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35SAR 1.30
$1.28€1.10
-72.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.32€2.00
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.43€2.95
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ad Dammam
Montijo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.71SAR 6.43
$1.14€0.98
50.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45SAR 5.43
$1.45€1.24
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.09SAR 7.85
$2.10€1.80
-0.48%
Eggs
$2.24SAR 8.42
$3.37€2.90
-33.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.06SAR 22.73
$11.36€9.77
-46.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.15SAR 26.85
$7.94€6.83
-9.95%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.62SAR 36.12
$14.53€12.50
-33.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.11SAR 7.93
$2.65€2.28
-20.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50SAR 5.62
$1.50€1.29
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.38SAR 5.20
$1.69€1.46
-18.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.66SAR 6.24
$3.07€2.64
-45.93%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.80
$1.45€1.25
-11.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.33SAR 4.99
$2.23€1.92
-40.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.35SAR 5.06
$1.56€1.34
-13.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55SAR 2.07
$0.88€0.76
-37.50%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.19SAR 15.73
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60SAR 6.01
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98SAR 7.44
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.92SAR 29.73
$5.90€5.07
34.24%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$7.13€6.14
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.26€1.08
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.10€0.95
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ad Dammam
Montijo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89SAR 3.36
$2.04€1.75
-56.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.16SAR 151
$47.05€40.47
-14.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.29SAR 12.35
$3.72€3.20
-11.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.65SAR 9.96
$1.26€1.08
110.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.28SAR 49.85
$17.38€14.95
-23.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64SAR 2.42
$1.95€1.68
-67.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1KSAR 86.6K
$34.2K€29.4K
-32.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.3KSAR 79.8K
$39.2K€33.7K
-45.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ad Dammam
Montijo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117SAR 438
$133€114
-12.16%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.34SAR 144
$21.37€18.38
79.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.5SAR 238
$51.1€43.96
24.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ad Dammam
Montijo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$70.9SAR 266
$22.84€19.65
210.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.51SAR 114
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.54SAR 58.3
$7.94€6.83
95.72%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ad Dammam
Montijo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$415SAR 1,559
$473€407
-12.27%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,170SAR 30.7K
$7,376€6,345
10.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ad Dammam
Montijo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$66.9SAR 251
$69.7€60.0
-4.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.2SAR 256
$38.38€33.01
77.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.8SAR 341
$72.3€62.2
25.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$85.5SAR 321
$93.8€80.7
-8.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ad Dammam
Montijo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$447SAR 1,678
$1,382€1,188
-67.63%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$375SAR 1,408
$968€832
-61.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$800SAR 3,002
$1,802€1,550
-55.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$641SAR 2,407
$1,444€1,242
-55.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,309SAR 4,914
$3,217€2,767
-59.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$805SAR 3,020
$2,321€1,997
-65.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ad Dammam
Montijo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,895SAR 7,110
$1,170€1,006
61.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.33
5.01
-13.57%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ad Dammam: May 30, 2026
Last update for Montijo: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $447 in Ad Dammam and $1,382 in Montijo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ad Dammam pays 62% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Ad Dammam vs $47.00 in Montijo. Groceries flip the comparison at $184 vs $258, 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 Montijo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ad Dammam or Montijo?
Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 56% lower than in Montijo. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ad Dammam the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ad Dammam or Montijo?
Ad Dammam pays 62% more on average, 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 vs Montijo?
Rent for a central apartment: $447 in Ad Dammam versus $1,382 in Montijo. 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 Montijo?
All in, you'll spend $1,210 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,883 in Montijo – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ad Dammam vs Montijo?
A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 17% less than in Montijo. 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 Montijo?
At $1,210 in Ad Dammam versus $1,883 in Montijo, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ad Dammam but tight or insufficient in Montijo. The gap between the two cities makes Ad Dammam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ad Dammam or Montijo?
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 Montijo?
Safety-wise, Ad Dammam and Montijo 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 Ad Dammam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Montijo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.