Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Dammam and Qatif Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Dammam and Qatif

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,196 in Ad Dammam versus $1,087 in Qatif.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,860 in Ad Dammam versus $1,707 in Qatif.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,524 in Ad Dammam versus $2,328 in Qatif.

Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 10% more expensive than in Qatif, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 10% lower, Qatif 18% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.29 SAR 27.36

$3.44 SAR 12.93

111.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.7 SAR 202

$47.42 SAR 178

13.22%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.03 SAR 30.16

$8.05 SAR 30.22

-0.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.82 SAR 6.83

$1.86 SAR 6.97

-2.15%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 SAR 7.14

$1.82 SAR 6.83

4.40%

Cappuccino

$3.73 SAR 14.00

$3.66 SAR 13.72

1.91%

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

$0.92 SAR 3.44

$0.77 SAR 2.91

19.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 SAR 1.30

$0.26 SAR 0.97

34.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 SAR 6.13

$1.65 SAR 6.20

-1.21%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 SAR 5.49

$0.81 SAR 3.04

80.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 SAR 7.86

$2.03 SAR 7.64

2.96%

Eggs

$2.27 SAR 8.53

$2.32 SAR 8.73

-2.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.12 SAR 22.97

$6.03 SAR 22.63

1.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.25 SAR 27.23

$7.38 SAR 27.72

-1.76%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.70 SAR 36.41

$9.67 SAR 36.29

0.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 SAR 7.95

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 SAR 5.61

$1.48 SAR 5.56

0.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 SAR 5.24

$1.44 SAR 5.42

-2.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 SAR 5.98

$0.75 SAR 2.83

112.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 SAR 4.82

$1.26 SAR 4.74

1.59%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 SAR 4.97

$1.35 SAR 5.05

-2.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 SAR 5.12

$1.10 SAR 4.13

23.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.21

$0.55 SAR 2.08

7.27%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.13 SAR 15.50

$2.73 SAR 10.27

51.28%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 SAR 5.84

$1.58 SAR 5.93

-1.27%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 SAR 7.22

$2.02 SAR 7.57

-4.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.76 SAR 29.12

$7.68 SAR 28.83

1.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 SAR 3.57

$1.10 SAR 4.14

-13.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.54 SAR 148

$39.26 SAR 147

0.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 SAR 12.70

$3.12 SAR 11.71

8.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 SAR 9.85

$1.63 SAR 6.13

60.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.54 SAR 50.8

$13.22 SAR 49.64

2.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.25

$0.65 SAR 2.43

-7.69%

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

$23.0K SAR 86.3K

$22.6K SAR 84.7K

1.87%

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

$21.1K SAR 79.1K

$19.7K SAR 73.8K

7.18%

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

$115 SAR 432

$104 SAR 392

10.26%

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

$38.60 SAR 145

$37.20 SAR 140

3.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 SAR 239

$59.6 SAR 224

6.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.5 SAR 265

$94.2 SAR 354

-25.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$31.26 SAR 117

$56.9 SAR 214

-45.04%

Cinema Ticket

$15.06 SAR 56.6

$15.36 SAR 57.7

-1.95%

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

$415 SAR 1,558

$405 SAR 1,521

2.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,157 SAR 30.6K

$8,110 SAR 30.5K

0.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 SAR 258

$51.3 SAR 192

33.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.7 SAR 250

$50.9 SAR 191

30.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 SAR 347

$91.5 SAR 343

1.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.7 SAR 322

$85.8 SAR 322

-0.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 SAR 1,677

$360 SAR 1,351

24.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 SAR 1,421

$281 SAR 1,054

34.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$805 SAR 3,021

$717 SAR 2,692

12.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$626 SAR 2,350

$486 SAR 1,826

28.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,353 SAR 5,081

$949 SAR 3,562

42.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 SAR 3,062

$796 SAR 2,990

2.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,510 SAR 5,668

$2,248 SAR 8,439

-32.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.33

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Ad Dammam: July 26, 2026

Last update for Qatif: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $447 in Ad Dammam and $360 in Qatif. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Qatif pays 49% 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 Qatif for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $173 per month, with Qatif 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 Qatif: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Qatif wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Qatif the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 49% lower in Qatif. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $447 in Ad Dammam versus $360 in Qatif. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,196 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,087 in Qatif – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Qatif 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 $1,087 in Qatif versus $1,196 in Ad Dammam, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Qatif but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Qatif 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 Qatif 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 Qatif gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.