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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,196 in Ad Dammam versus $1,203 in Umluj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,860 in Ad Dammam versus $1,846 in Umluj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,524 in Ad Dammam versus $2,489 in Umluj.

Living in Ad Dammam costs roughly 1% less than in Umluj, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 10% lower, Umluj 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.29 SAR 27.37

$6.57 SAR 24.67

10.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.7 SAR 202

$44.50 SAR 167

20.65%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.03 SAR 30.16

$7.94 SAR 29.83

1.13%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.82 SAR 6.83

$1.69 SAR 6.36

7.69%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 SAR 7.14

$1.82 SAR 6.85

4.40%

Cappuccino

$3.73 SAR 14.00

$3.74 SAR 14.03

-0.27%

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

$0.92 SAR 3.44

$0.80 SAR 3.00

15.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 SAR 1.30

$0.29 SAR 1.07

20.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 SAR 6.13

$1.71 SAR 6.41

-4.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 SAR 5.49

$0.94 SAR 3.51

55.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 SAR 7.86

$2.28 SAR 8.56

-8.33%

Eggs

$2.27 SAR 8.53

$2.44 SAR 9.16

-6.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.12 SAR 22.97

$6.84 SAR 25.67

-10.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.25 SAR 27.23

$7.63 SAR 28.65

-4.98%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.70 SAR 36.42

$12.88 SAR 48.37

-24.69%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 SAR 7.95

$2.25 SAR 8.46

-5.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 SAR 5.61

$1.65 SAR 6.21

-9.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 SAR 5.24

$1.72 SAR 6.47

-18.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 SAR 5.98

$1.55 SAR 5.81

2.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 SAR 4.82

$1.25 SAR 4.69

2.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 SAR 4.97

$1.28 SAR 4.81

3.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 SAR 5.12

$1.19 SAR 4.49

14.29%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.21

$0.56 SAR 2.10

5.36%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.13 SAR 15.50

$2.73 SAR 10.24

51.28%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 SAR 5.85

$1.71 SAR 6.44

-8.77%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 SAR 7.22

$2.00 SAR 7.51

-4.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.76 SAR 29.13

$7.06 SAR 26.51

9.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 SAR 3.57

$1.08 SAR 4.06

-12.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.54 SAR 148

$40.31 SAR 151

-1.91%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 SAR 12.70

$2.69 SAR 10.11

25.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 SAR 9.86

$1.88 SAR 7.07

39.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.54 SAR 50.8

$13.34 SAR 50.1

1.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.25

$0.65 SAR 2.44

-7.69%

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

$23.0K SAR 86.3K

$26.5K SAR 99.4K

-13.17%

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

$21.1K SAR 79.1K

$21.9K SAR 82.4K

-3.99%

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

$115 SAR 432

$107 SAR 402

7.53%

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

$38.60 SAR 145

$34.12 SAR 128

13.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 SAR 239

$71.5 SAR 269

-11.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.5 SAR 265

$87.1 SAR 327

-18.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$31.26 SAR 117

$36.17 SAR 136

-13.57%

Cinema Ticket

$15.06 SAR 56.6

$15.56 SAR 58.4

-3.21%

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

$415 SAR 1,558

$353 SAR 1,324

17.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,157 SAR 30.6K

$6,914 SAR 26.0K

17.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 SAR 258

$60.0 SAR 225

14.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.7 SAR 250

$59.7 SAR 224

11.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 SAR 348

$79.9 SAR 300

15.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.7 SAR 322

$82.1 SAR 308

4.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 SAR 1,677

$438 SAR 1,644

2.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 SAR 1,421

$380 SAR 1,428

-0.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$805 SAR 3,021

$836 SAR 3,139

-3.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$626 SAR 2,350

$621 SAR 2,331

0.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,353 SAR 5,082

$2,392 SAR 8,983

-43.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 SAR 3,063

$1,226 SAR 4,605

-33.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,510 SAR 5,669

$4,239 SAR 15.9K

-64.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.33

4.42

-2.04%

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

Last update for Ad Dammam: July 26, 2026

Last update for Umluj: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $447 in Ad Dammam and $438 in Umluj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Umluj pays 181% 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: $54.0 in Ad Dammam vs $44.00 in Umluj. Groceries flip the comparison at $184 vs $196, 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 Umluj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Umluj. 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 181% lower in Umluj. 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: $447 in Ad Dammam versus $438 in Umluj. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,196 per month in Ad Dammam versus $1,203 in Umluj – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 2% less than in Umluj. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,196 in Ad Dammam versus $1,203 in Umluj, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ad Dammam but tight or insufficient in Umluj. 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 Umluj 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 1% less than in Umluj. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.