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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,205 in Ad Dammam versus $1,244 in Tabuk.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,828 in Ad Dammam versus $1,848 in Tabuk.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,450 in Ad Dammam versus $2,453 in Tabuk.

Living in Ad Dammam costs roughly 3% less than in Tabuk, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 12% lower, Tabuk 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.90 SAR 29.66

$7.55 SAR 28.33

4.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.27 SAR 132

$32.11 SAR 121

9.84%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.78 SAR 25.47

$7.70 SAR 28.92

-11.95%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 SAR 7.22

$1.37 SAR 5.14

40.15%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 SAR 8.33

$1.59 SAR 5.97

39.62%

Cappuccino

$2.98 SAR 11.18

$3.13 SAR 11.76

-4.79%

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

$0.77 SAR 2.89

$0.72 SAR 2.72

6.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.77

$0.26 SAR 0.97

-23.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 SAR 6.77

$1.98 SAR 7.44

-9.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 SAR 4.78

$0.92 SAR 3.46

38.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 SAR 7.02

$2.71 SAR 10.18

-31.00%

Eggs

$2.18 SAR 8.19

$2.82 SAR 10.60

-22.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 SAR 27.26

$12.47 SAR 46.83

-41.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 SAR 29.06

$6.82 SAR 25.62

13.49%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 SAR 48.62

$13.20 SAR 49.57

-1.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 SAR 8.22

$1.95 SAR 7.31

12.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 SAR 6.24

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.92

$1.74 SAR 6.53

-9.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 SAR 5.84

$2.24 SAR 8.40

-30.36%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 SAR 4.18

$1.75 SAR 6.57

-36.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 SAR 4.37

$2.06 SAR 7.72

-43.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 SAR 4.75

$1.92 SAR 7.21

-33.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 SAR 2.19

$0.55 SAR 2.08

5.45%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.20 SAR 15.76

$2.72 SAR 10.21

54.41%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 SAR 5.70

$1.69 SAR 6.35

-10.06%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 SAR 8.31

$2.09 SAR 7.86

5.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.58 SAR 28.45

$6.73 SAR 25.29

12.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 SAR 3.69

$1.10 SAR 4.12

-10.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.71 SAR 134

$35.75 SAR 134

-0.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 SAR 10.28

$2.98 SAR 11.20

-8.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 SAR 9.82

$1.76 SAR 6.61

48.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.54 SAR 50.8

$13.11 SAR 49.22

3.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.27

$0.66 SAR 2.49

-9.09%

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

$66.7K SAR 250.4K

$45.7K SAR 171.8K

45.77%

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

$21.0K SAR 79.0K

$21.7K SAR 81.5K

-2.99%

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

$127 SAR 478

$101 SAR 379

26.09%

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

$32.69 SAR 123

$36.18 SAR 136

-9.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.4 SAR 242

$76.6 SAR 288

-15.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 SAR 292

$84.8 SAR 319

-8.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.77 SAR 108

$37.50 SAR 141

-23.28%

Cinema Ticket

$13.58 SAR 51.0

$13.26 SAR 49.78

2.41%

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

$419 SAR 1,574

$351 SAR 1,316

19.54%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,803 SAR 29.3K

$8,364 SAR 31.4K

-6.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.01 SAR 158

$50.7 SAR 190

-17.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.62 SAR 186

$57.1 SAR 214

-13.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 SAR 368

$95.7 SAR 359

2.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.6 SAR 344

$87.0 SAR 327

5.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 SAR 2,193

$337 SAR 1,267

73.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 SAR 1,385

$371 SAR 1,392

-0.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 SAR 3,700

$631 SAR 2,368

56.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 SAR 2,529

$610 SAR 2,289

10.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,416 SAR 5,318

$2,335 SAR 8,768

-39.35%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$600 SAR 2,253

$1,399 SAR 5,254

-57.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,520 SAR 5,707

$1,697 SAR 6,372

-10.43%

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 Tabuk: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $584 in Ad Dammam and $337 in Tabuk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tabuk pays 12% 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 $32.00 in Tabuk. Groceries flip the comparison at $199 vs $224, with Ad Dammam 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 Tabuk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Tabuk. 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 12% lower in Tabuk. 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 $337 in Tabuk. 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 $1,244 in Tabuk – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 0% less than in Tabuk. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,205 in Ad Dammam versus $1,244 in Tabuk, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ad Dammam but tight or insufficient in Tabuk. The gap between the two cities makes Ad Dammam 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 Tabuk 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 3% less than in Tabuk. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.