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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,205 in Ad Dammam versus $1,150 in Taif.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,828 in Ad Dammam versus $1,631 in Taif.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,450 in Ad Dammam versus $2,113 in Taif.

Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 5% more expensive than in Taif, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 12% lower, Taif 16% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.90 SAR 29.66

$4.63 SAR 17.39

70.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.27 SAR 132

$37.25 SAR 140

-5.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.78 SAR 25.47

$6.87 SAR 25.79

-1.31%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 SAR 7.22

$1.84 SAR 6.90

4.35%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 SAR 8.33

$1.63 SAR 6.13

36.20%

Cappuccino

$2.98 SAR 11.18

$2.96 SAR 11.13

0.68%

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

$0.77 SAR 2.89

$0.69 SAR 2.57

11.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.77

$0.21 SAR 0.79

-4.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 SAR 6.77

$1.45 SAR 5.46

24.14%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 SAR 4.78

$0.28 SAR 1.06

353.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 SAR 7.02

$2.39 SAR 8.97

-21.76%

Eggs

$2.18 SAR 8.19

$2.53 SAR 9.51

-13.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 SAR 27.26

$7.29 SAR 27.38

-0.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 SAR 29.06

$6.27 SAR 23.55

23.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 SAR 48.62

$10.58 SAR 39.73

22.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 SAR 8.22

$2.21 SAR 8.30

-0.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 SAR 6.24

$1.80 SAR 6.77

-7.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.92

$1.79 SAR 6.73

-11.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 SAR 5.84

$1.83 SAR 6.88

-14.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 SAR 4.18

$1.52 SAR 5.72

-26.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 SAR 4.37

$1.72 SAR 6.45

-32.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 SAR 4.75

$0.83 SAR 3.14

53.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 SAR 2.19

$0.96 SAR 3.59

-39.58%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.20 SAR 15.76

$2.76 SAR 10.38

52.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 SAR 5.70

$1.77 SAR 6.66

-14.12%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 SAR 8.31

$1.49 SAR 5.61

48.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.58 SAR 28.45

$6.85 SAR 25.72

10.66%

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

$35.56 SAR 134

0.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 SAR 10.28

$1.31 SAR 4.92

109.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 SAR 9.82

$2.70 SAR 10.16

-2.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.54 SAR 50.8

$13.42 SAR 50.4

0.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.27

$0.61 SAR 2.29

-1.64%

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

$66.7K SAR 250.4K

$44.9K SAR 168.6K

48.51%

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

$21.0K SAR 79.0K

$19.0K SAR 71.3K

10.83%

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

$127 SAR 478

$110 SAR 412

16.06%

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

$32.69 SAR 123

$27.79 SAR 104

17.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.4 SAR 242

$85.5 SAR 321

-24.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 SAR 292

$122 SAR 459

-36.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.77 SAR 108

$30.23 SAR 114

-4.83%

Cinema Ticket

$13.58 SAR 51.0

$17.24 SAR 64.8

-21.23%

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

$419 SAR 1,574

$244 SAR 918

71.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,803 SAR 29.3K

$4,487 SAR 16.9K

73.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.01 SAR 158

$20.26 SAR 76.1

107.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.62 SAR 186

$56.8 SAR 213

-12.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 SAR 368

$94.7 SAR 355

3.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.6 SAR 344

$46.33 SAR 174

97.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 SAR 2,193

$1,250 SAR 4,693

-53.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 SAR 1,385

$340 SAR 1,279

8.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 SAR 3,700

$869 SAR 3,264

13.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 SAR 2,529

$336 SAR 1,262

100.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,416 SAR 5,318

$2,386 SAR 8,959

-40.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$600 SAR 2,253

$1,366 SAR 5,131

-56.10%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,520 SAR 5,707

$1,790 SAR 6,723

-15.10%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.9

3.6

63.89%

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

Last update for Ad Dammam: September 13, 2026

Last update for Taif: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $584 in Ad Dammam and $1,250 in Taif. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Taif pays 18% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35.00 in Ad Dammam vs $37.00 in Taif. Groceries flip the comparison at $199 vs $183, with Taif 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 Taif: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Taif wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Taif the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 18% lower in Taif. 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 $1,250 in Taif. 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 $1,150 in Taif – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

At $1,150 in Taif versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Taif but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Taif 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 Taif 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 Taif gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.