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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,205 in Ad Dammam versus $1,137 in Sakakah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,828 in Ad Dammam versus $1,769 in Sakakah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,450 in Ad Dammam versus $2,400 in Sakakah.

Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 6% more expensive than in Sakakah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 12% lower, Sakakah 17% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.90 SAR 29.66

$5.76 SAR 21.64

37.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.27 SAR 132

$37.38 SAR 140

-5.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.78 SAR 25.48

$8.12 SAR 30.50

-16.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 SAR 7.23

$2.15 SAR 8.09

-10.70%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 SAR 8.33

$1.57 SAR 5.89

41.40%

Cappuccino

$2.98 SAR 11.18

$3.53 SAR 13.25

-15.58%

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

$0.77 SAR 2.90

$0.70 SAR 2.64

10.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.77

$0.31 SAR 1.18

-35.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 SAR 6.77

$1.72 SAR 6.47

4.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 SAR 4.78

$1.11 SAR 4.16

14.41%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 SAR 7.02

$2.21 SAR 8.32

-15.38%

Eggs

$2.18 SAR 8.19

$2.35 SAR 8.83

-7.23%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 SAR 27.26

$7.58 SAR 28.47

-4.22%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 SAR 29.06

$7.88 SAR 29.59

-1.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 SAR 48.63

$12.71 SAR 47.75

1.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 SAR 8.23

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 SAR 6.24

$1.69 SAR 6.34

-1.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.92

$1.60 SAR 6.02

-1.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 SAR 5.84

$1.68 SAR 6.32

-7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 SAR 4.18

$1.13 SAR 4.23

-1.77%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 SAR 4.37

$1.32 SAR 4.96

-12.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 SAR 4.75

$1.14 SAR 4.30

11.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 SAR 2.19

$0.56 SAR 2.10

3.57%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.20 SAR 15.77

$2.77 SAR 10.39

51.62%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 SAR 5.70

$1.68 SAR 6.32

-9.52%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 SAR 8.31

$2.19 SAR 8.21

0.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.58 SAR 28.45

$6.53 SAR 24.54

16.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 SAR 3.69

$1.08 SAR 4.07

-9.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.71 SAR 134

$35.35 SAR 133

1.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 SAR 10.28

$2.96 SAR 11.10

-7.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 SAR 9.82

$1.78 SAR 6.68

47.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.54 SAR 50.8

$13.12 SAR 49.28

3.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.27

$0.62 SAR 2.34

-3.23%

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

$66.7K SAR 250.4K

$45.4K SAR 170.6K

46.83%

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

$21.0K SAR 79.0K

$21.2K SAR 79.7K

-0.81%

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

$127 SAR 478

$102 SAR 383

24.57%

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

$32.69 SAR 123

$32.65 SAR 123

0.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.4 SAR 242

$66.4 SAR 249

-3.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 SAR 292

$83.6 SAR 314

-7.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.77 SAR 108

$36.48 SAR 137

-21.13%

Cinema Ticket

$13.58 SAR 51.0

$13.47 SAR 50.6

0.82%

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

$419 SAR 1,574

$343 SAR 1,286

22.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,803 SAR 29.3K

$6,627 SAR 24.9K

17.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.01 SAR 158

$50.6 SAR 190

-17.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.62 SAR 186

$58.3 SAR 219

-14.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 SAR 368

$96.8 SAR 364

1.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.6 SAR 344

$90.3 SAR 339

1.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 SAR 2,193

$586 SAR 2,201

-0.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 SAR 1,385

$340 SAR 1,276

8.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 SAR 3,700

$867 SAR 3,257

13.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 SAR 2,529

$541 SAR 2,034

24.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,416 SAR 5,319

$2,314 SAR 8,693

-38.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$600 SAR 2,253

$1,398 SAR 5,249

-57.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,520 SAR 5,708

$934 SAR 3,508

62.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.9

5.47

7.86%

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

Last update for Ad Dammam: September 13, 2026

Last update for Sakakah: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $584 in Ad Dammam and $586 in Sakakah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ad Dammam pays 63% 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: $35.00 in Ad Dammam vs $37.00 in Sakakah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $200 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 Sakakah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Sakakah wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Sakakah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 63% higher in Ad Dammam, 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: $584 in Ad Dammam versus $586 in Sakakah. 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 $1,137 in Sakakah – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Sakakah 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 $1,137 in Sakakah versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Sakakah but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Sakakah 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 Sakakah 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 Sakakah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.