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: $1,205 in Ad Dammam versus $1,168 in Umluj.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,828 in Ad Dammam versus $1,752 in Umluj.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,450 in Ad Dammam versus $2,336 in Umluj.

Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 3% more expensive than in Umluj, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 12% lower, Umluj 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.90 SAR 29.66

$6.71 SAR 25.22

17.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.27 SAR 132

$36.73 SAR 138

-3.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.78 SAR 25.48

$8.07 SAR 30.30

-15.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 SAR 7.23

$1.85 SAR 6.94

3.78%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 SAR 8.33

$2.09 SAR 7.87

6.22%

Cappuccino

$2.98 SAR 11.18

$3.48 SAR 13.06

-14.37%

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

$0.77 SAR 2.90

$0.90 SAR 3.38

-14.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.77

$0.26 SAR 0.98

-23.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 SAR 6.77

$1.67 SAR 6.26

7.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 SAR 4.78

$1.16 SAR 4.34

9.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 SAR 7.02

$2.16 SAR 8.11

-13.43%

Eggs

$2.18 SAR 8.19

$2.39 SAR 8.97

-8.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 SAR 27.26

$7.34 SAR 27.58

-1.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 SAR 29.06

$7.99 SAR 30.01

-3.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 SAR 48.63

$12.98 SAR 48.77

-0.23%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 SAR 8.23

$2.08 SAR 7.82

5.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 SAR 6.24

$1.71 SAR 6.40

-2.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.92

$1.57 SAR 5.89

0.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 SAR 5.84

$1.63 SAR 6.14

-4.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 SAR 4.18

$1.14 SAR 4.28

-2.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 SAR 4.37

$1.30 SAR 4.88

-10.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 SAR 4.75

$1.14 SAR 4.27

11.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 SAR 2.19

$0.55 SAR 2.06

5.45%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.20 SAR 15.77

$2.87 SAR 10.80

46.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 SAR 5.70

$1.68 SAR 6.31

-9.52%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 SAR 8.31

$2.08 SAR 7.81

6.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.58 SAR 28.45

$6.47 SAR 24.30

17.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 SAR 3.69

$1.05 SAR 3.96

-6.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.71 SAR 134

$35.76 SAR 134

-0.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 SAR 10.28

$2.96 SAR 11.14

-7.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 SAR 9.82

$1.83 SAR 6.86

43.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.54 SAR 50.8

$13.29 SAR 49.91

1.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.27

$0.65 SAR 2.44

-7.69%

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

$66.7K SAR 250.4K

$45.8K SAR 172.1K

45.52%

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

$21.0K SAR 79.0K

$21.7K SAR 81.5K

-2.98%

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

$127 SAR 478

$98.6 SAR 371

28.94%

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

$32.69 SAR 123

$32.02 SAR 120

2.09%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.4 SAR 242

$68.1 SAR 256

-5.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 SAR 292

$84.1 SAR 316

-7.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.77 SAR 108

$37.21 SAR 140

-22.68%

Cinema Ticket

$13.58 SAR 51.0

$13.07 SAR 49.10

3.90%

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

$419 SAR 1,574

$341 SAR 1,279

23.05%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,803 SAR 29.3K

$6,614 SAR 24.8K

17.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.01 SAR 158

$49.91 SAR 187

-15.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.62 SAR 186

$58.3 SAR 219

-14.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 SAR 368

$97.0 SAR 364

1.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.6 SAR 344

$87.9 SAR 330

4.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 SAR 2,193

$588 SAR 2,210

-0.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 SAR 1,385

$349 SAR 1,311

5.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 SAR 3,701

$883 SAR 3,315

11.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 SAR 2,529

$553 SAR 2,078

21.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,416 SAR 5,319

$2,391 SAR 8,982

-40.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$600 SAR 2,253

$1,395 SAR 5,240

-56.99%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,520 SAR 5,709

$4,205 SAR 15.8K

-63.85%

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 Umluj: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $584 in Ad Dammam and $588 in Umluj. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Umluj pays 177% 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 Umluj 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 Umluj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Umluj wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Umluj the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 177% 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: $584 in Ad Dammam versus $588 in Umluj. 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 $1,168 in Umluj – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Umluj 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 $1,168 in Umluj versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Umluj but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Umluj 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 Umluj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.