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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,198 in Ad Dammam versus $1,736 in Riyadh.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,825 in Ad Dammam versus $2,592 in Riyadh.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,452 in Ad Dammam versus $3,447 in Riyadh.

Living in Ad Dammam costs roughly 31% less than in Riyadh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ad Dammam is 13% below, Riyadh is 26% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.09 SAR 30.38

$7.72 SAR 28.99

4.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.23 SAR 140

$64.3 SAR 241

-42.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.79 SAR 25.50

$8.39 SAR 31.49

-19.07%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.80 SAR 6.76

$1.81 SAR 6.79

-0.55%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 SAR 7.73

$2.84 SAR 10.67

-27.46%

Cappuccino

$3.04 SAR 11.42

$4.38 SAR 16.44

-30.59%

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

$0.77 SAR 2.88

$0.86 SAR 3.23

-10.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 SAR 0.62

$0.34 SAR 1.28

-50.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.77 SAR 6.66

$1.70 SAR 6.40

4.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 SAR 5.00

$1.32 SAR 4.95

0.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.93 SAR 7.25

$2.42 SAR 9.07

-20.25%

Eggs

$2.10 SAR 7.89

$3.27 SAR 12.29

-35.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.34 SAR 27.57

$9.55 SAR 35.87

-23.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.76 SAR 29.13

$9.80 SAR 36.81

-20.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.48 SAR 46.86

$15.00 SAR 56.3

-16.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 SAR 8.20

$2.70 SAR 10.13

-19.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.71 SAR 6.44

$1.90 SAR 7.14

-10.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.64 SAR 6.15

$2.32 SAR 8.72

-29.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 SAR 6.13

$1.72 SAR 6.44

-5.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 SAR 4.04

$1.11 SAR 4.16

-2.70%

Onion (1kg)

$1.19 SAR 4.46

$1.39 SAR 5.21

-14.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.32 SAR 4.96

$1.71 SAR 6.41

-22.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 SAR 2.12

$0.59 SAR 2.22

-5.08%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.20 SAR 15.78

$8.02 SAR 30.12

-47.63%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 SAR 5.59

$1.80 SAR 6.77

-17.22%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 SAR 8.39

$2.46 SAR 9.24

-9.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.51 SAR 28.19

$7.29 SAR 27.38

3.02%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.90 SAR 3.37

$1.05 SAR 3.94

-14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.24 SAR 132

$37.11 SAR 139

-5.04%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 SAR 10.03

$3.26 SAR 12.25

-18.10%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 SAR 9.83

$1.84 SAR 6.89

42.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.43 SAR 50.4

$13.30 SAR 49.94

0.98%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.24

$0.59 SAR 2.20

1.69%

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

$66.9K SAR 251.2K

$35.4K SAR 133.0K

88.93%

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

$20.9K SAR 78.4K

$22.3K SAR 83.8K

-6.43%

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

$126 SAR 472

$95.6 SAR 359

31.56%

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

$33.14 SAR 124

$31.83 SAR 120

4.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$62.7 SAR 235

$70.0 SAR 263

-10.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$76.1 SAR 286

$91.6 SAR 344

-16.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$27.76 SAR 104

$54.8 SAR 206

-49.35%

Cinema Ticket

$13.49 SAR 50.7

$13.76 SAR 51.7

-1.96%

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

$414 SAR 1,554

$539 SAR 2,023

-23.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,996 SAR 30.0K

$11.1K SAR 41.8K

-28.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.25 SAR 155

$59.9 SAR 225

-31.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$48.67 SAR 183

$58.4 SAR 219

-16.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.3 SAR 365

$111 SAR 415

-11.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.8 SAR 345

$104 SAR 391

-11.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$566 SAR 2,126

$1,189 SAR 4,464

-52.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 SAR 1,410

$851 SAR 3,195

-55.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$988 SAR 3,709

$2,177 SAR 8,174

-54.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$672 SAR 2,523

$1,274 SAR 4,782

-47.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,376 SAR 5,167

$2,947 SAR 11.1K

-53.31%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$597 SAR 2,240

$1,891 SAR 7,100

-68.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,528 SAR 5,737

$2,104 SAR 7,902

-27.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.9

5.54

6.50%

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

Last update for Ad Dammam: August 29, 2026

Last update for Riyadh: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $566 in Ad Dammam and $1,189 in Riyadh. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Riyadh pays 38% 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: $37.00 in Ad Dammam vs $64.0 in Riyadh for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $238 per month, with Ad Dammam 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 Riyadh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 45% lower than in Riyadh. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ad Dammam the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 38% lower in Riyadh. 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: $566 in Ad Dammam versus $1,189 in Riyadh. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,198 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,736 in Riyadh – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 5% less than in Riyadh. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,198 in Ad Dammam versus $1,736 in Riyadh, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ad Dammam but tight or insufficient in Riyadh. The gap between the two cities makes Ad Dammam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ad Dammam delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,198 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ad Dammam hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Ad Dammam and Riyadh 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 Ad Dammam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Riyadh. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.