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: $1,205 in Ad Dammam versus $1,080 in Qatif.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,828 in Ad Dammam versus $1,638 in Qatif.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,450 in Ad Dammam versus $2,196 in Qatif.

Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 12% more expensive than in Qatif, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 12% lower, Qatif 21% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.90 SAR 29.66

$3.56 SAR 13.38

121.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.27 SAR 132

$35.17 SAR 132

0.28%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.78 SAR 25.48

$6.67 SAR 25.07

1.65%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 SAR 7.23

$1.89 SAR 7.10

1.59%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 SAR 8.33

$2.20 SAR 8.27

0.91%

Cappuccino

$2.98 SAR 11.18

$2.95 SAR 11.07

1.02%

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

$0.77 SAR 2.90

$0.73 SAR 2.73

5.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.77

$0.15 SAR 0.58

33.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 SAR 6.77

$1.76 SAR 6.61

2.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 SAR 4.78

$0.94 SAR 3.53

35.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 SAR 7.02

$1.95 SAR 7.31

-4.10%

Eggs

$2.18 SAR 8.19

$2.11 SAR 7.93

3.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 SAR 27.26

$5.70 SAR 21.42

27.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 SAR 29.06

$7.80 SAR 29.31

-0.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 SAR 48.63

$12.98 SAR 48.76

-0.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 SAR 8.23

$2.18 SAR 8.20

0.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 SAR 6.24

$1.72 SAR 6.45

-3.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.92

$1.59 SAR 5.96

-0.63%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 SAR 5.84

$0.64 SAR 2.39

143.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 SAR 4.18

$1.12 SAR 4.21

-0.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 SAR 4.37

$1.10 SAR 4.12

5.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 SAR 4.75

$0.91 SAR 3.41

39.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 SAR 2.19

$0.50 SAR 1.89

16.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.20 SAR 15.77

$2.63 SAR 9.87

59.70%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 SAR 5.70

$1.49 SAR 5.61

2.01%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 SAR 8.31

$2.17 SAR 8.14

1.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.58 SAR 28.45

$6.62 SAR 24.85

14.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 SAR 3.69

$1.04 SAR 3.91

-5.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.71 SAR 134

$36.12 SAR 136

-1.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 SAR 10.28

$2.36 SAR 8.86

16.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 SAR 9.82

$0.51 SAR 1.92

413.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.54 SAR 50.8

$13.10 SAR 49.20

3.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.27

$0.61 SAR 2.30

-1.64%

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

$66.7K SAR 250.4K

$35.8K SAR 134.6K

86.06%

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

$21.0K SAR 79.0K

$20.8K SAR 78.2K

1.07%

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

$127 SAR 478

$103 SAR 388

23.19%

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

$32.69 SAR 123

$33.42 SAR 126

-2.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.4 SAR 242

$58.3 SAR 219

10.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 SAR 292

$82.7 SAR 311

-6.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.77 SAR 108

$37.55 SAR 141

-23.38%

Cinema Ticket

$13.58 SAR 51.0

$13.21 SAR 49.60

2.80%

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

$419 SAR 1,574

$270 SAR 1,015

55.03%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,803 SAR 29.3K

$7,795 SAR 29.3K

0.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.01 SAR 158

$31.48 SAR 118

33.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.62 SAR 186

$20.90 SAR 78.5

137.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 SAR 368

$94.6 SAR 355

3.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.6 SAR 344

$90.4 SAR 340

1.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 SAR 2,193

$574 SAR 2,157

1.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 SAR 1,385

$346 SAR 1,298

6.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 SAR 3,700

$873 SAR 3,281

12.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 SAR 2,529

$547 SAR 2,055

23.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,416 SAR 5,319

$951 SAR 3,573

48.86%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$600 SAR 2,253

$783 SAR 2,942

-23.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,520 SAR 5,708

$2,249 SAR 8,448

-32.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.9

5.5

7.27%

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

Last update for Ad Dammam: September 13, 2026

Last update for Qatif: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $584 in Ad Dammam and $574 in Qatif. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Qatif pays 48% 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 $35.00 in Qatif. Groceries flip the comparison at $199 vs $184, with Qatif 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 Qatif: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Qatif wins on cost – living expenses run 12% 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 48% 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: $584 in Ad Dammam versus $574 in Qatif. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,205 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,080 in Qatif – a 12% 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 $1,080 in Qatif versus $1,205 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 12% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.