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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,196 in Ad Dammam versus $994 in Yanbu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,860 in Ad Dammam versus $1,525 in Yanbu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,524 in Ad Dammam versus $2,056 in Yanbu.

Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 20% more expensive than in Yanbu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 10% lower, Yanbu 25% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.29 SAR 27.37

$6.51 SAR 24.44

11.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.7 SAR 202

$37.99 SAR 143

41.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.03 SAR 30.16

$6.51 SAR 24.46

23.35%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.82 SAR 6.83

$2.03 SAR 7.64

-10.34%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 SAR 7.14

$1.58 SAR 5.94

20.25%

Cappuccino

$3.73 SAR 14.00

$3.59 SAR 13.49

3.90%

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

$0.92 SAR 3.44

$0.75 SAR 2.83

22.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 SAR 1.30

$0.23 SAR 0.86

52.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 SAR 6.13

$1.67 SAR 6.28

-2.40%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 SAR 5.49

$0.87 SAR 3.28

67.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.09 SAR 7.86

$2.24 SAR 8.42

-6.70%

Eggs

$2.27 SAR 8.53

$2.72 SAR 10.20

-16.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.12 SAR 22.97

$6.04 SAR 22.68

1.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.25 SAR 27.23

$7.76 SAR 29.14

-6.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.70 SAR 36.42

$12.21 SAR 45.86

-20.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 SAR 7.95

$2.07 SAR 7.77

2.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 SAR 5.61

$1.64 SAR 6.17

-9.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 SAR 5.24

$1.38 SAR 5.19

1.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.59 SAR 5.98

$1.54 SAR 5.80

3.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 SAR 4.82

$1.28 SAR 4.79

Onion (1kg)

$1.32 SAR 4.97

$0.96 SAR 3.59

37.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 SAR 5.12

$1.09 SAR 4.11

24.77%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.21

$0.56 SAR 2.09

5.36%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.13 SAR 15.50

$1.29 SAR 4.85

220.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.56 SAR 5.85

$1.31 SAR 4.92

19.08%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.92 SAR 7.22

$1.69 SAR 6.36

13.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.76 SAR 29.13

$6.47 SAR 24.30

19.94%

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

$33.24 SAR 125

18.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.38 SAR 12.70

$3.28 SAR 12.31

3.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 SAR 9.86

$0.78 SAR 2.94

235.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.54 SAR 50.8

$15.10 SAR 56.7

-10.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.25

$0.62 SAR 2.31

-3.23%

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

$23.0K SAR 86.3K

$26.2K SAR 98.3K

-12.16%

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

$21.1K SAR 79.1K

$21.6K SAR 81.0K

-2.37%

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

$115 SAR 432

$105 SAR 396

9.03%

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

$38.60 SAR 145

$22.77 SAR 85.5

69.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$63.5 SAR 239

$69.1 SAR 259

-8.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$70.5 SAR 265

$95.9 SAR 360

-26.44%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$31.26 SAR 117

$35.52 SAR 133

-11.99%

Cinema Ticket

$15.06 SAR 56.6

$13.30 SAR 49.95

13.23%

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

$415 SAR 1,558

$323 SAR 1,214

28.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,157 SAR 30.6K

$3,791 SAR 14.2K

115.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 SAR 258

$22.81 SAR 85.6

200.70%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$66.7 SAR 250

$21.00 SAR 78.9

217.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.6 SAR 348

$66.3 SAR 249

39.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.7 SAR 322

$47.66 SAR 179

79.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$447 SAR 1,677

$314 SAR 1,177

42.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 SAR 1,421

$244 SAR 915

55.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$805 SAR 3,021

$585 SAR 2,198

37.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$626 SAR 2,350

$412 SAR 1,546

52.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,353 SAR 5,082

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$816 SAR 3,063

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,510 SAR 5,669

$3,487 SAR 13.1K

-56.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.33

3.3

31.21%

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

Last update for Ad Dammam: July 26, 2026

Last update for Yanbu: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $447 in Ad Dammam and $314 in Yanbu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yanbu pays 131% 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 $38.00 in Yanbu. Groceries flip the comparison at $184 vs $189, 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 Yanbu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yanbu wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Yanbu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 131% lower in Yanbu. 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 $314 in Yanbu. 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 $994 in Yanbu – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Yanbu runs roughly 19% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $994 in Yanbu versus $1,196 in Ad Dammam, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Yanbu but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Yanbu 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 Yanbu 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 Yanbu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.