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: $1,196 in Ad Dammam versus $1,163 in Unaizah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,860 in Ad Dammam versus $1,764 in Unaizah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,524 in Ad Dammam versus $2,365 in Unaizah.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 10% lower, Unaizah 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.29 SAR 27.37

$6.68 SAR 25.10

9.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.7 SAR 202

$40.60 SAR 152

32.24%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.03 SAR 30.16

$7.15 SAR 26.86

12.31%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.82 SAR 6.83

$1.57 SAR 5.89

15.92%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 SAR 7.14

$1.31 SAR 4.90

45.04%

Cappuccino

$3.73 SAR 14.00

$4.18 SAR 15.70

-10.77%

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

$0.92 SAR 3.44

$0.74 SAR 2.77

24.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 SAR 1.30

$0.28 SAR 1.06

25.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 SAR 6.13

$1.54 SAR 5.80

5.84%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 SAR 5.49

$0.29 SAR 1.07

403.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 SAR 7.86

$2.30 SAR 8.63

-9.13%

Eggs

$2.27 SAR 8.53

$2.53 SAR 9.50

-10.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.12 SAR 22.97

$6.09 SAR 22.87

0.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.25 SAR 27.23

$4.70 SAR 17.66

54.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.70 SAR 36.42

$12.79 SAR 48.03

-24.16%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 SAR 7.95

$2.25 SAR 8.43

-5.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 SAR 5.61

$1.56 SAR 5.86

-4.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 SAR 5.24

$1.74 SAR 6.52

-19.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 SAR 5.98

$1.60 SAR 6.02

-0.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 SAR 4.82

$1.28 SAR 4.79

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 SAR 4.97

$2.58 SAR 9.69

-48.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 SAR 5.12

$1.23 SAR 4.62

10.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.21

$0.66 SAR 2.47

-10.61%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.13 SAR 15.50

$2.60 SAR 9.77

58.85%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 SAR 5.85

$1.72 SAR 6.46

-9.30%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 SAR 7.22

$2.03 SAR 7.64

-5.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.76 SAR 29.13

$6.83 SAR 25.66

13.62%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.95 SAR 3.57

$1.05 SAR 3.93

-9.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.54 SAR 148

$39.78 SAR 149

-0.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 SAR 12.70

$2.71 SAR 10.18

24.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 SAR 9.86

$1.84 SAR 6.92

42.39%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.54 SAR 50.8

$13.08 SAR 49.10

3.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.25

$0.60 SAR 2.24

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

$23.0K SAR 86.3K

$26.5K SAR 99.6K

-13.30%

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

$21.1K SAR 79.1K

$21.9K SAR 82.3K

-3.93%

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

$115 SAR 432

$104 SAR 392

10.06%

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

$38.60 SAR 145

$33.13 SAR 124

16.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 SAR 239

$72.5 SAR 272

-12.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.5 SAR 265

$53.3 SAR 200

32.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$31.26 SAR 117

$35.48 SAR 133

-11.89%

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

$354 SAR 1,329

17.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,157 SAR 30.6K

$6,930 SAR 26.0K

17.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 SAR 258

$59.9 SAR 225

14.51%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.7 SAR 250

$61.1 SAR 229

9.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 SAR 348

$80.7 SAR 303

14.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.7 SAR 322

$82.3 SAR 309

4.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 SAR 1,677

$448 SAR 1,681

-0.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 SAR 1,421

$380 SAR 1,426

-0.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$805 SAR 3,021

$840 SAR 3,156

-4.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$626 SAR 2,350

$622 SAR 2,337

0.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,353 SAR 5,082

$2,481 SAR 9,315

-45.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 SAR 3,063

$1,517 SAR 5,696

-46.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,510 SAR 5,669

$2,500 SAR 9,389

-39.62%

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 Unaizah: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $447 in Ad Dammam and $448 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: $54.0 in Ad Dammam vs $41.00 in Unaizah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $175 per month, with Unaizah 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 Unaizah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Unaizah 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 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: $447 in Ad Dammam versus $448 in Unaizah. 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 $1,163 in Unaizah – a 3% 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 $1,163 in Unaizah versus $1,196 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 3% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.