🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,211 in Ad Dammam versus $1,882 in Montijo.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,857 in Ad Dammam versus $2,641 in Montijo.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,503 in Ad Dammam versus $3,399 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 9% below, Montijo is 41% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ad Dammam
Montijo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.45SAR 27.99
$12.51€10.93
-40.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.0SAR 199
$46.48€40.61
14.09%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92SAR 29.73
$9.12€7.97
-13.16%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.88SAR 7.07
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.85SAR 6.95
-
-
Cappuccino
$3.55SAR 13.34
$2.65€2.32
33.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92SAR 3.44
$1.82€1.59
-49.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38SAR 1.42
$1.22€1.07
-68.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$2.37€2.07
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$3.55€3.10
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ad Dammam
Montijo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.64SAR 6.15
$1.12€0.98
46.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.42SAR 5.32
$1.45€1.26
-2.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.12SAR 7.96
$2.10€1.83
0.95%
Eggs
$2.31SAR 8.68
$3.55€3.10
-34.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.99SAR 22.48
$11.38€9.94
-47.36%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.32SAR 27.49
$7.67€6.70
-4.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.07SAR 37.81
$14.08€12.30
-28.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.09SAR 7.85
$2.67€2.33
-21.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55SAR 5.82
$1.46€1.27
6.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.39SAR 5.23
$1.76€1.54
-21.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.65SAR 6.20
$3.08€2.69
-46.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.79
$1.47€1.29
-12.93%
Onion(1kg)
$1.37SAR 5.15
$2.27€1.99
-39.65%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.29SAR 4.86
$1.62€1.41
-20.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55SAR 2.08
$0.83€0.72
-33.73%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.12SAR 15.47
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.61SAR 6.05
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.99SAR 7.47
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.76SAR 29.14
$6.11€5.34
27.00%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$6.89€6.02
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.26€1.11
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.14€0.99
-
🚌 Getting Around
Ad Dammam
Montijo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.94SAR 3.51
$2.06€1.80
-54.37%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.30SAR 148
$46.97€41.04
-16.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.31SAR 12.42
$3.84€3.35
-13.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.73SAR 10.26
$1.24€1.08
120.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.58SAR 51.0
$17.39€15.19
-21.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.61SAR 2.29
$1.93€1.69
-68.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.2KSAR 83.5K
$35.4K€30.9K
-37.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9KSAR 78.3K
$40.0K€35.0K
-47.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ad Dammam
Montijo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$118SAR 444
$133€117
-11.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.60SAR 145
$21.50€18.78
79.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.4SAR 238
$50.5€44.08
25.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ad Dammam
Montijo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$70.7SAR 266
$23.37€20.42
202.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.89SAR 116
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$15.30SAR 57.5
$7.92€6.92
93.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ad Dammam
Montijo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$427SAR 1,602
$482€421
-11.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,216SAR 30.9K
$7,224€6,312
13.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ad Dammam
Montijo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$68.0SAR 255
$70.5€61.6
-3.46%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$67.8SAR 255
$39.47€34.49
71.83%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$90.5SAR 340
$72.0€62.9
25.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.1SAR 323
$92.9€81.2
-7.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ad Dammam
Montijo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$452SAR 1,697
$1,364€1,192
-66.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376SAR 1,413
$990€865
-62.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$792SAR 2,976
$1,763€1,540
-55.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$636SAR 2,388
$1,418€1,239
-55.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,320SAR 4,956
$3,183€2,781
-58.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$812SAR 3,051
$2,394€2,092
-66.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ad Dammam
Montijo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,502SAR 5,640
$1,154€1,009
30.09%
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: July 12, 2026
Last update for Montijo: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $452 in Ad Dammam and $1,364 in Montijo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ad Dammam pays 30% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Ad Dammam vs $46.00 in Montijo. Groceries flip the comparison at $185 vs $255, 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 55% 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 in Montijo?
Average pay runs 30% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ad Dammam compared to Montijo?
Rent for a central apartment: $452 in Ad Dammam versus $1,364 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 $1,211 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,882 in Montijo – a 55% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ad Dammam compared to Montijo?
A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 20% 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 in Montijo?
At $1,211 in Ad Dammam versus $1,882 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 55% less than in Montijo. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.