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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,215 in Ad Dammam versus $1,090 in Rabigh.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,866 in Ad Dammam versus $1,731 in Rabigh.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,516 in Ad Dammam versus $2,372 in Rabigh.

Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 11% more expensive than in Rabigh, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.09 SAR 30.39

$6.63 SAR 24.91

22.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$34.39 SAR 129

$54.0 SAR 203

-36.27%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.57 SAR 24.69

$8.49 SAR 31.87

-22.61%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.91 SAR 7.17

$2.52 SAR 9.46

-24.21%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 SAR 8.37

$2.59 SAR 9.72

-13.90%

Cappuccino

$3.10 SAR 11.65

$3.70 SAR 13.91

-16.22%

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

$0.79 SAR 2.95

$1.04 SAR 3.89

-24.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.75

$0.24 SAR 0.90

-16.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 SAR 6.84

$1.75 SAR 6.57

4.00%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 SAR 5.01

$1.28 SAR 4.80

3.91%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.92 SAR 7.21

$2.23 SAR 8.38

-13.90%

Eggs

$2.13 SAR 7.98

$2.40 SAR 9.01

-11.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.39 SAR 27.77

$6.27 SAR 23.56

17.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.82 SAR 29.36

$8.03 SAR 30.15

-2.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.72 SAR 47.79

$13.15 SAR 49.40

-3.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 SAR 8.17

$2.03 SAR 7.63

7.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 SAR 6.11

$1.69 SAR 6.33

-3.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 SAR 5.96

$1.57 SAR 5.90

1.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 SAR 6.09

$1.62 SAR 6.10

Potato (1kg)

$1.07 SAR 4.02

$1.12 SAR 4.21

-4.46%

Onion (1kg)

$1.20 SAR 4.52

$1.34 SAR 5.04

-10.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.28 SAR 4.80

$1.07 SAR 4.02

19.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 SAR 2.18

$0.50 SAR 1.89

16.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.09 SAR 15.37

$4.21 SAR 15.82

-2.85%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.45 SAR 5.46

$1.85 SAR 6.95

-21.62%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 SAR 8.14

$2.60 SAR 9.78

-16.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.80 SAR 29.30

$6.52 SAR 24.48

19.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 SAR 3.63

$1.00 SAR 3.77

-3.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.89 SAR 135

$30.97 SAR 116

15.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 SAR 9.75

$3.16 SAR 11.86

-17.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.60 SAR 9.78

$1.69 SAR 6.34

53.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.41 SAR 50.4

$13.67 SAR 51.4

-1.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.42

$0.64 SAR 2.40

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

$67.7K SAR 254.2K

$48.0K SAR 180.2K

41.09%

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

$21.3K SAR 79.9K

$21.8K SAR 81.8K

-2.33%

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

$128 SAR 482

$100 SAR 376

28.15%

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

$33.46 SAR 126

$38.76 SAR 146

-13.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.1 SAR 233

$67.2 SAR 252

-7.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.8 SAR 292

$79.9 SAR 300

-2.53%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.85 SAR 108

$32.10 SAR 121

-10.12%

Cinema Ticket

$13.40 SAR 50.3

$12.12 SAR 45.50

10.56%

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

$417 SAR 1,566

$730 SAR 2,740

-42.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,868 SAR 29.5K

$16.2K SAR 60.7K

-51.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.40 SAR 155

$68.9 SAR 259

-39.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.15 SAR 185

$59.1 SAR 222

-16.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$95.8 SAR 360

$96.8 SAR 364

-1.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.5 SAR 340

$98.1 SAR 368

-7.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$567 SAR 2,128

$327 SAR 1,227

73.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 SAR 1,388

$240 SAR 902

53.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,007 SAR 3,781

$609 SAR 2,287

65.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 SAR 2,490

$424 SAR 1,592

56.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,379 SAR 5,179

$2,584 SAR 9,704

-46.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$595 SAR 2,235

$1,180 SAR 4,430

-49.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,532 SAR 5,754

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.9

5.39

9.46%

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

Last update for Ad Dammam: September 6, 2026

Last update for Rabigh: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $567 in Ad Dammam and $327 in Rabigh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $34.00 in Ad Dammam vs $54.0 in Rabigh. Groceries flip the comparison at $200 vs $198, with Rabigh 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 Rabigh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rabigh wins on cost – living expenses run 11% 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.

You'd need roughly $1,823 in Ad Dammam and $1,635 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $567 in Ad Dammam versus $327 in Rabigh. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,215 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,090 in Rabigh – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Rabigh runs roughly 16% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,090 in Rabigh versus $1,215 in Ad Dammam, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Rabigh but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Rabigh 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 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.

Expats usually find Rabigh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.