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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,205 in Ad Dammam versus $1,101 in Unaizah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,828 in Ad Dammam versus $1,694 in Unaizah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,450 in Ad Dammam versus $2,286 in Unaizah.

Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 9% more expensive than in Unaizah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 12% lower, Unaizah 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.90 SAR 29.66

$6.62 SAR 24.85

19.34%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.27 SAR 132

$39.80 SAR 149

-11.38%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.78 SAR 25.48

$6.98 SAR 26.23

-2.87%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 SAR 7.23

$1.65 SAR 6.19

16.36%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 SAR 8.33

$1.37 SAR 5.13

62.04%

Cappuccino

$2.98 SAR 11.18

$3.99 SAR 14.99

-25.31%

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

$0.77 SAR 2.90

$0.74 SAR 2.77

4.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.77

$0.28 SAR 1.06

-28.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 SAR 6.77

$1.47 SAR 5.54

22.45%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 SAR 4.78

$0.31 SAR 1.17

309.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 SAR 7.02

$2.14 SAR 8.03

-12.62%

Eggs

$2.18 SAR 8.19

$2.40 SAR 9.02

-9.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 SAR 27.26

$5.92 SAR 22.23

22.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 SAR 29.06

$4.60 SAR 17.26

68.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 SAR 48.63

$12.73 SAR 47.81

1.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 SAR 8.23

$2.15 SAR 8.08

1.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 SAR 6.24

$1.58 SAR 5.95

5.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.92

$1.54 SAR 5.80

2.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 SAR 5.84

$1.68 SAR 6.33

-7.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 SAR 4.18

$1.18 SAR 4.44

-5.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 SAR 4.37

$2.62 SAR 9.85

-55.73%

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

$0.64 SAR 2.42

-9.38%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.20 SAR 15.77

$2.84 SAR 10.66

47.89%

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

$2.17 SAR 8.14

1.84%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.58 SAR 28.45

$6.56 SAR 24.63

15.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 SAR 3.69

$1.06 SAR 3.98

-7.55%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.71 SAR 134

$36.06 SAR 135

-0.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 SAR 10.28

$2.86 SAR 10.72

-4.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 SAR 9.82

$1.81 SAR 6.80

44.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.54 SAR 50.8

$13.51 SAR 50.7

0.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.27

$0.64 SAR 2.42

-6.25%

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

$66.7K SAR 250.4K

$46.3K SAR 174.1K

43.88%

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

$21.0K SAR 79.0K

$21.5K SAR 80.9K

-2.28%

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

$127 SAR 478

$99.6 SAR 374

27.70%

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

$32.69 SAR 123

$31.98 SAR 120

2.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.4 SAR 242

$68.1 SAR 256

-5.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 SAR 292

$53.8 SAR 202

44.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.77 SAR 108

$36.87 SAR 139

-21.97%

Cinema Ticket

$13.58 SAR 51.0

$13.10 SAR 49.22

3.66%

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

$419 SAR 1,574

$347 SAR 1,303

20.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,803 SAR 29.3K

$6,702 SAR 25.2K

16.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.01 SAR 158

$50.7 SAR 190

-17.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.62 SAR 186

$59.1 SAR 222

-16.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 SAR 368

$96.8 SAR 364

1.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.6 SAR 344

$89.2 SAR 335

2.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 SAR 2,193

$576 SAR 2,163

1.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 SAR 1,385

$339 SAR 1,275

8.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 SAR 3,700

$893 SAR 3,353

10.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 SAR 2,529

$556 SAR 2,087

21.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,416 SAR 5,319

$2,401 SAR 9,020

-41.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$600 SAR 2,253

$1,380 SAR 5,182

-56.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,520 SAR 5,708

$2,517 SAR 9,453

-39.61%

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 Unaizah: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $584 in Ad Dammam and $576 in Unaizah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Unaizah pays 66% 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 $40.00 in Unaizah. Groceries flip the comparison at $199 vs $171, with Unaizah 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 Unaizah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Unaizah wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Unaizah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 66% lower in Unaizah. 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 $576 in Unaizah. 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 $1,101 in Unaizah – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Unaizah 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 $1,101 in Unaizah versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Unaizah but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Unaizah 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 Unaizah 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 Unaizah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.