Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ad Dammam and Rabigh

For one person, living is cheaper in Rabigh: $953 a month against $1,217 in Ad Dammam, rent and utilities included – about $3,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ad Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Rabigh, Saudi Arabia
Ad Dammam
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$1,217
/mo nomad
Rabigh
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$953
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ad Dammam and in Rabigh

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ad Dammam and in Rabigh actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,217 in Ad Dammam versus $953 in Rabigh.

  • Ad Dammam $1,217
  • Rabigh $953

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,838 in Ad Dammam versus $1,456 in Rabigh.

  • Ad Dammam $1,838
  • Rabigh $1,456

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,460 in Ad Dammam versus $1,960 in Rabigh.

  • Ad Dammam $2,460
  • Rabigh $1,960

Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 28% more expensive than in Rabigh, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 11% lower, Rabigh 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ad Dammam
Rabigh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.12 SAR 26.74
$4.66 SAR 17.49
52.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.16 SAR 128
$26.40 SAR 99.1
29.39%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.82 SAR 25.59
$6.97 SAR 26.15
-2.15%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.91 SAR 7.17
$1.52 SAR 5.72
25.66%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.25 SAR 8.45
$1.58 SAR 5.92
42.41%
Cappuccino
$3.02 SAR 11.32
$2.57 SAR 9.63
17.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 SAR 2.94
$0.70 SAR 2.63
11.43%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 SAR 0.63
$0.23 SAR 0.86
-26.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ad Dammam
Rabigh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.73 SAR 6.51
$1.88 SAR 7.06
-7.98%
White Bread (500g)
$1.29 SAR 4.85
$1.02 SAR 3.82
26.47%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.94 SAR 7.29
$2.19 SAR 8.23
-11.42%
Eggs
$2.18 SAR 8.20
$2.56 SAR 9.61
-14.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.60 SAR 28.52
$6.08 SAR 22.80
25.00%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.83 SAR 29.37
$12.04 SAR 45.17
-34.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.77 SAR 47.91
$12.95 SAR 48.60
-1.39%
Apples (1kg)
$2.22 SAR 8.33
$2.08 SAR 7.81
6.73%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 SAR 6.42
$1.62 SAR 6.08
5.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 SAR 6.15
$1.80 SAR 6.76
-8.89%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.58 SAR 5.94
$1.50 SAR 5.62
5.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.12 SAR 4.21
$1.33 SAR 4.99
-15.79%
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 SAR 4.35
$1.51 SAR 5.67
-23.18%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.33 SAR 4.98
$1.06 SAR 3.97
25.47%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 SAR 2.31
$0.74 SAR 2.77
-16.22%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$4.06 SAR 15.23
$2.89 SAR 10.84
40.48%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.51 SAR 5.66
$2.19 SAR 8.22
-31.05%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 SAR 7.96
$1.56 SAR 5.85
35.90%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.58 SAR 28.46
$7.94 SAR 29.80
-4.53%
🚌 Getting Around
Ad Dammam
Rabigh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.91 SAR 3.41
$1.08 SAR 4.06
-15.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$38.54 SAR 145
$33.60 SAR 126
14.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.74 SAR 10.27
$2.41 SAR 9.06
13.69%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.74 SAR 10.28
$2.61 SAR 9.80
4.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.10 SAR 49.15
$13.48 SAR 50.6
-2.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.64 SAR 2.40
$0.61 SAR 2.27
4.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$29.1K SAR 109.1K
$26.6K SAR 99.9K
9.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.5K SAR 80.5K
$21.4K SAR 80.3K
0.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ad Dammam
Rabigh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$131 SAR 493
$66.6 SAR 250
97.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.48 SAR 122
$34.24 SAR 128
-5.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.9 SAR 236
$63.8 SAR 239
-1.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ad Dammam
Rabigh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$72.9 SAR 273
$74.0 SAR 277
-1.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.56 SAR 107
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.54 SAR 50.8
$15.35 SAR 57.6
-11.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ad Dammam
Rabigh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$416 SAR 1,559
$428 SAR 1,606
-2.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,051 SAR 30.2K
$7,737 SAR 29.0K
4.06%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ad Dammam
Rabigh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.09 SAR 158
$13.32 SAR 49.99
215.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$50.5 SAR 189
$55.3 SAR 207
-8.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 SAR 361
$39.72 SAR 149
141.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$92.6 SAR 347
$53.7 SAR 201
72.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ad Dammam
Rabigh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$535 SAR 2,008
$335 SAR 1,258
59.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$387 SAR 1,450
$244 SAR 917
58.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$970 SAR 3,640
$610 SAR 2,290
58.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$670 SAR 2,512
$424 SAR 1,591
57.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$962 SAR 3,610
$1,728 SAR 6,484
-44.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$707 SAR 2,653
$1,478 SAR 5,546
-52.17%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ad Dammam
Rabigh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,475 SAR 5,536
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.9
5.25
12.38%

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

Last update for Ad Dammam: October 24, 2026

Last update for Rabigh: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ad Dammam
$386
Rabigh
$244 36.8% $142
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ad Dammam
$227
Rabigh
$165 27.3% $62
Groceries & Markets
Ad Dammam
$201
Rabigh
$220 9.4% $19
Clothing & Footwear
Ad Dammam
$127
Rabigh
$73 42.4% $54
Eating Out
Ad Dammam
$117
Rabigh
$93 21.1% $25
Sport & Entertainment
Ad Dammam
$100
Rabigh
$105 4.7% $4.7
Getting Around
Ad Dammam
$59
Rabigh
$53 8.9% $5.2

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $535 in Ad Dammam and $335 in Rabigh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $34 in Ad Dammam vs $26 in Rabigh. Groceries flip the comparison at $201 vs $220, with Ad Dammam cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇸🇦 Ad Dammam
🇸🇦 Rabigh
🕒 Local time
16:03 4:03 PM
16:03 4:03 PM
Same time as Ad Dammam
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
903,312
92,072
💱 Currency
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to SAR – Saudi Riyal Converter

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.266 USD). 1 EUR = 4.18 SAR (1 SAR = 0.239 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ad Dammam Rabigh 1,190 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ad Dammam
  • Rabigh

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Rabigh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ad Dammam or Rabigh?
Rabigh wins on cost – living expenses run 22% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Rabigh the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Ad Dammam and in Rabigh?
You’d need roughly $1,825 in Ad Dammam and $1,429 in Rabigh to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ad Dammam compared to Rabigh?
Rent for a central apartment: $535 in Ad Dammam versus $335 in Rabigh. 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 Rabigh?
All in, you’ll spend $1,217 per month in Ad Dammam versus $953 in Rabigh – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ad Dammam compared to Rabigh?
A monthly transit pass in Rabigh runs roughly 13% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you’re watching your budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ad Dammam or Rabigh?
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 Rabigh?
Safety-wise, Ad Dammam and Rabigh are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Ad Dammam vs other spots: cost of living compared

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