😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,237 in Ad Dammam versus $1,056 in Najran.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,905 in Ad Dammam versus $1,657 in Najran.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,574 in Ad Dammam versus $2,259 in Najran.
😐Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 17% more expensive than Najran, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam8% lower, Najran21% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ad Dammam
Najran
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.31SAR 27.41
$8.08SAR 30.30
-9.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.9SAR 202
$22.81SAR 85.5
136.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.13SAR 30.50
$8.70SAR 32.62
-6.55%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.86SAR 6.97
$1.62SAR 6.08
14.81%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84SAR 6.91
$1.29SAR 4.85
42.64%
Cappuccino
$3.67SAR 13.78
$4.39SAR 16.47
-16.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84SAR 3.15
$0.79SAR 2.94
6.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37SAR 1.39
$0.26SAR 0.97
42.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ad Dammam
Najran
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.72SAR 6.45
$2.33SAR 8.72
-26.18%
White Bread(500g)
$1.47SAR 5.50
$0.94SAR 3.51
56.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.11SAR 7.91
$2.31SAR 8.64
-8.66%
Eggs
$2.29SAR 8.58
$2.11SAR 7.90
8.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.28SAR 23.54
$6.82SAR 25.59
-7.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.43SAR 27.85
$5.88SAR 22.03
26.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$10.11SAR 37.91
$14.81SAR 55.5
-31.74%
Apples(1kg)
$2.21SAR 8.27
$1.75SAR 6.58
26.29%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48SAR 5.57
$2.06SAR 7.71
-28.16%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.45SAR 5.43
$1.69SAR 6.34
-14.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.67SAR 6.25
$1.60SAR 6.01
4.37%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.82
$1.28SAR 4.81
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.33SAR 4.98
$1.27SAR 4.78
4.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30SAR 4.88
$1.36SAR 5.10
-4.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59SAR 2.22
$0.66SAR 2.46
-10.61%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.24SAR 15.88
$2.88SAR 10.80
47.22%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.57SAR 5.87
$1.57SAR 5.88
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02SAR 7.56
$2.01SAR 7.52
0.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.04SAR 30.17
$8.16SAR 30.60
-1.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Ad Dammam
Najran
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89SAR 3.33
$1.09SAR 4.07
-18.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.57SAR 148
$40.24SAR 151
-1.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.31SAR 12.42
$2.72SAR 10.20
21.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.73SAR 10.22
$1.89SAR 7.07
44.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.14SAR 49.27
$13.51SAR 50.7
-2.74%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64SAR 2.40
$0.57SAR 2.14
12.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7KSAR 85.3K
$26.2KSAR 98.4K
-13.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9KSAR 78.2K
$22.2KSAR 83.4K
-6.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ad Dammam
Najran
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$117SAR 438
$106SAR 399
9.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.51SAR 144
$33.82SAR 127
13.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$63.3SAR 237
$72.6SAR 272
-12.86%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ad Dammam
Najran
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$69.6SAR 261
$87.6SAR 329
-20.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.63SAR 115
$35.23SAR 132
-13.06%
Cinema Ticket
$15.02SAR 56.3
$15.87SAR 59.5
-5.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ad Dammam
Najran
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$425SAR 1,592
$355SAR 1,333
19.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,339SAR 31.3K
$6,854SAR 25.7K
21.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ad Dammam
Najran
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$67.0SAR 251
$58.7SAR 220
14.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$66.0SAR 248
$59.4SAR 223
11.16%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$92.6SAR 347
$78.6SAR 295
17.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.2SAR 327
$80.3SAR 301
8.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ad Dammam
Najran
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$445SAR 1,670
$333SAR 1,249
33.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$377SAR 1,414
$197SAR 738
91.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$799SAR 2,997
$607SAR 2,276
31.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$640SAR 2,398
$419SAR 1,572
52.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$894SAR 3,352
$2,391SAR 8,967
-62.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$778SAR 2,917
$1,316SAR 4,935
-40.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ad Dammam
Najran
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,974SAR 7,403
$1,714SAR 6,429
15.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.33
4.42
-2.04%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ad Dammam: April 27, 2026
Last update for Najran: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $445 in Ad Dammam and $333 in Najran. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ad Dammam pays 15% 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 $23.00 in Najran. Groceries flip the comparison at $189 vs $200, 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 Najran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ad Dammam or Najran?
Najran wins on cost – living expenses run 17% 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 Najran?
Ad Dammam pays 15% 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 Najran?
Rent for a central apartment: $445 in Ad Dammam versus $333 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 $1,237 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,056 in Najran – a 17% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ad Dammam vs 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 Najran?
At $1,056 in Najran versus $1,237 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 17% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.