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: $1,237 in Ad Dammam versus $1,055 in Qatif.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,905 in Ad Dammam versus $1,678 in Qatif.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,574 in Ad Dammam versus $2,301 in Qatif.

Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 17% more expensive than Qatif, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 8% lower, Qatif 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.31 SAR 27.41

$3.39 SAR 12.71

115.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.9 SAR 202

$48.21 SAR 181

11.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.13 SAR 30.50

$8.10 SAR 30.38

0.37%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.86 SAR 6.97

$1.88 SAR 7.05

-1.06%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 SAR 6.91

$1.84 SAR 6.89

Cappuccino

$3.67 SAR 13.78

$3.53 SAR 13.23

3.97%

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

$0.84 SAR 3.15

$0.77 SAR 2.89

9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 SAR 1.39

$0.26 SAR 0.97

42.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 SAR 6.45

$1.65 SAR 6.18

4.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.47 SAR 5.50

$0.80 SAR 3.01

83.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 SAR 7.91

$2.10 SAR 7.89

0.48%

Eggs

$2.29 SAR 8.58

$2.33 SAR 8.73

-1.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.28 SAR 23.54

$6.20 SAR 23.26

1.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.43 SAR 27.85

$7.16 SAR 26.83

3.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.11 SAR 37.91

$10.02 SAR 37.58

0.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.21 SAR 8.27

$2.14 SAR 8.01

3.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.48 SAR 5.57

$1.54 SAR 5.76

-3.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.45 SAR 5.43

$1.44 SAR 5.38

0.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.67 SAR 6.25

$0.72 SAR 2.68

131.94%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 SAR 4.82

$1.28 SAR 4.78

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 SAR 4.98

$1.33 SAR 4.99

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.30 SAR 4.88

$1.11 SAR 4.15

17.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.22

$0.51 SAR 1.90

15.69%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.24 SAR 15.88

$2.60 SAR 9.73

63.08%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.57 SAR 5.87

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.02 SAR 7.56

$1.99 SAR 7.48

1.51%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$8.04 SAR 30.17

$7.51 SAR 28.17

7.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 SAR 3.33

$1.09 SAR 4.08

-18.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.57 SAR 148

$39.91 SAR 150

-0.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.31 SAR 12.42

$3.12 SAR 11.71

6.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.73 SAR 10.22

$1.57 SAR 5.88

73.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.14 SAR 49.27

$13.41 SAR 50.3

-2.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.40

$0.63 SAR 2.37

1.59%

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

$22.7K SAR 85.3K

$22.5K SAR 84.3K

1.20%

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

$20.9K SAR 78.2K

$19.6K SAR 73.5K

6.35%

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

$117 SAR 438

$103 SAR 387

13.19%

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

$38.51 SAR 144

$37.05 SAR 139

3.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.3 SAR 237

$58.9 SAR 221

7.40%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.6 SAR 261

$95.3 SAR 357

-26.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.63 SAR 115

$57.2 SAR 214

-46.44%

Cinema Ticket

$15.02 SAR 56.3

$15.22 SAR 57.1

-1.31%

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

$425 SAR 1,592

$392 SAR 1,470

8.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,339 SAR 31.3K

$8,106 SAR 30.4K

2.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$67.0 SAR 251

$52.4 SAR 196

27.92%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.0 SAR 248

$50.8 SAR 190

30.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 SAR 347

$91.5 SAR 343

1.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$87.2 SAR 327

$85.4 SAR 320

2.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$445 SAR 1,670

$356 SAR 1,333

25.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$377 SAR 1,414

$282 SAR 1,058

33.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$799 SAR 2,997

$710 SAR 2,661

12.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$640 SAR 2,398

$495 SAR 1,855

29.29%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$894 SAR 3,352

$943 SAR 3,537

-5.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$778 SAR 2,917

$776 SAR 2,910

0.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,974 SAR 7,403

$1,869 SAR 7,009

5.61%

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Qatif: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $445 in Ad Dammam and $356 in Qatif. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ad Dammam pays 6% 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 $48.00 in Qatif for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $189 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 17% 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.

Ad Dammam pays 6% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $445 in Ad Dammam versus $356 in Qatif. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,237 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,055 in Qatif – a 17% 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 $1,055 in Qatif versus $1,237 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 17% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.