😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,205 in Ad Dammam versus $1,184 in Najran.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,828 in Ad Dammam versus $1,826 in Najran.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,450 in Ad Dammam versus $2,468 in Najran.
🌍Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 2% more expensive than in Najran, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam12% lower, Najran13% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ad Dammam
Najran
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.90SAR 29.66
$8.10SAR 30.42
-2.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.27SAR 132
$36.98SAR 139
-4.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.78SAR 25.48
$8.57SAR 32.21
-20.89%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.92SAR 7.23
$1.76SAR 6.62
9.09%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.22SAR 8.33
$1.36SAR 5.12
63.24%
Cappuccino
$2.98SAR 11.18
$4.28SAR 16.08
-30.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77SAR 2.90
$0.78SAR 2.92
-1.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20SAR 0.77
$0.30SAR 1.11
-33.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ad Dammam
Najran
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.80SAR 6.77
$2.61SAR 9.79
-31.03%
White Bread(500g)
$1.27SAR 4.78
$1.16SAR 4.36
9.48%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87SAR 7.02
$2.14SAR 8.03
-12.62%
Eggs
$2.18SAR 8.19
$2.42SAR 9.09
-9.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.26SAR 27.26
$7.44SAR 27.95
-2.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.74SAR 29.06
$6.08SAR 22.83
27.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.95SAR 48.63
$14.38SAR 54.0
-9.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.19SAR 8.23
$2.07SAR 7.79
5.80%
Banana(1kg)
$1.66SAR 6.24
$1.68SAR 6.32
-1.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.58SAR 5.92
$1.61SAR 6.04
-1.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56SAR 5.84
$1.66SAR 6.25
-6.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11SAR 4.18
$1.13SAR 4.24
-1.77%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16SAR 4.37
$1.31SAR 4.93
-11.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.27SAR 4.75
$1.37SAR 5.14
-7.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58SAR 2.19
$0.64SAR 2.40
-9.38%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.20SAR 15.77
$2.73SAR 10.24
53.85%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.52SAR 5.70
$1.62SAR 6.07
-6.17%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21SAR 8.31
$2.14SAR 8.05
3.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.58SAR 28.45
$6.70SAR 25.16
13.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Ad Dammam
Najran
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.98SAR 3.69
$1.04SAR 3.91
-5.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.71SAR 134
$36.42SAR 137
-1.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.74SAR 10.28
$3.00SAR 11.27
-8.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.62SAR 9.82
$1.75SAR 6.58
49.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.54SAR 50.8
$13.41SAR 50.4
0.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60SAR 2.27
$0.50SAR 1.86
20.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$66.7KSAR 250.4K
$45.4KSAR 170.7K
46.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.0KSAR 79.0K
$21.5KSAR 80.8K
-2.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ad Dammam
Najran
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$127SAR 478
$99.8SAR 375
27.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.69SAR 123
$32.08SAR 120
1.90%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$64.4SAR 242
$67.0SAR 252
-3.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ad Dammam
Najran
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$77.7SAR 292
$83.9SAR 315
-7.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.77SAR 108
$37.65SAR 141
-23.59%
Cinema Ticket
$13.58SAR 51.0
$13.52SAR 50.8
0.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ad Dammam
Najran
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$419SAR 1,574
$346SAR 1,298
21.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,803SAR 29.3K
$6,731SAR 25.3K
15.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ad Dammam
Najran
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.01SAR 158
$50.0SAR 188
-15.98%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.62SAR 186
$57.2SAR 215
-13.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.9SAR 368
$96.7SAR 363
1.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.6SAR 344
$90.0SAR 338
1.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ad Dammam
Najran
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584SAR 2,193
$585SAR 2,196
-0.14%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$369SAR 1,385
$345SAR 1,294
7.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$985SAR 3,701
$894SAR 3,359
10.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$673SAR 2,529
$551SAR 2,070
22.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,416SAR 5,319
$2,403SAR 9,025
-41.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$600SAR 2,253
$1,387SAR 5,209
-56.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ad Dammam
Najran
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,520SAR 5,709
$1,703SAR 6,398
-10.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.9
5.47
7.86%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ad Dammam: September 13, 2026
Last update for Najran: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $584 in Ad Dammam and $585 in Najran. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Najran pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $35.00 in Ad Dammam vs $37.00 in Najran for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $206 per month, with Ad Dammam 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 Najran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ad Dammam or Najran?
Najran wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Najran the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ad Dammam or in Najran?
On paper, salaries run 12% lower in Najran. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ad Dammam compared to Najran?
Rent for a central apartment: $584 in Ad Dammam versus $585 in Najran. 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 Najran?
All in, you'll spend $1,205 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,184 in Najran – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ad Dammam compared to Najran?
A monthly transit pass in Najran runs roughly 2% less than in Ad Dammam. 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 Najran?
At $1,184 in Najran versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Najran but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Najran the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ad Dammam or Najran?
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 Najran?
Safety-wise, Ad Dammam and Najran 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 Najran gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.