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: $1,205 in Ad Dammam versus $1,038 in Yanbu.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,828 in Ad Dammam versus $1,626 in Yanbu.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,450 in Ad Dammam versus $2,214 in Yanbu.

Living in Ad Dammam is roughly 16% more expensive than in Yanbu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ad Dammam 12% lower, Yanbu 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.90 SAR 29.66

$6.51 SAR 24.47

21.35%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.27 SAR 132

$37.19 SAR 140

-5.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.78 SAR 25.48

$6.85 SAR 25.73

-1.02%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 SAR 7.23

$1.63 SAR 6.12

17.79%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.22 SAR 8.33

$1.59 SAR 5.96

39.62%

Cappuccino

$2.98 SAR 11.18

$3.57 SAR 13.40

-16.53%

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

$0.77 SAR 2.90

$0.79 SAR 2.97

-2.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.77

Milk (1 liter)

$1.80 SAR 6.77

$1.70 SAR 6.40

5.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 SAR 4.78

$0.88 SAR 3.32

44.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.87 SAR 7.02

$2.16 SAR 8.10

-13.43%

Eggs

$2.18 SAR 8.19

$2.39 SAR 8.97

-8.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.26 SAR 27.26

$6.34 SAR 23.82

14.51%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.74 SAR 29.06

$8.25 SAR 30.98

-6.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.95 SAR 48.63

$13.30 SAR 49.97

-2.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 SAR 8.23

$2.09 SAR 7.86

4.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 SAR 6.24

$1.72 SAR 6.45

-3.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.92

$1.51 SAR 5.67

4.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 SAR 5.84

$1.67 SAR 6.29

-6.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.11 SAR 4.18

$1.17 SAR 4.38

-5.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 SAR 4.37

$1.09 SAR 4.11

6.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.27 SAR 4.75

$1.04 SAR 3.92

22.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 SAR 2.19

$0.53 SAR 2.00

9.43%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.20 SAR 15.77

$1.36 SAR 5.12

208.82%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 SAR 5.70

$1.36 SAR 5.10

11.76%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.21 SAR 8.31

$2.11 SAR 7.93

4.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.58 SAR 28.45

$6.72 SAR 25.24

12.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 SAR 3.69

$1.04 SAR 3.92

-5.77%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.71 SAR 134

$26.14 SAR 98.2

36.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 SAR 10.28

$3.21 SAR 12.07

-14.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.62 SAR 9.82

$0.78 SAR 2.93

235.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.54 SAR 50.8

$13.61 SAR 51.1

-0.51%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.27

$0.62 SAR 2.33

-3.23%

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

$66.7K SAR 250.4K

$46.4K SAR 174.3K

43.66%

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

$21.0K SAR 79.0K

$21.4K SAR 80.6K

-1.89%

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

$127 SAR 478

$102 SAR 384

24.48%

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

$32.69 SAR 123

$22.45 SAR 84.3

45.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.4 SAR 242

$67.4 SAR 253

-4.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.7 SAR 292

$95.1 SAR 357

-18.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$28.77 SAR 108

$26.16 SAR 98.2

9.98%

Cinema Ticket

$13.58 SAR 51.0

$11.96 SAR 44.91

13.55%

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

$419 SAR 1,574

$266 SAR 998

57.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,803 SAR 29.3K

$3,837 SAR 14.4K

103.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.01 SAR 158

$67.1 SAR 252

-37.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.62 SAR 186

$60.9 SAR 229

-18.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.9 SAR 368

0.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$91.6 SAR 344

$97.9 SAR 368

-6.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 SAR 2,193

$313 SAR 1,176

86.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 SAR 1,385

$210 SAR 790

75.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$985 SAR 3,700

$595 SAR 2,234

65.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$673 SAR 2,529

$425 SAR 1,597

58.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,416 SAR 5,319

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$600 SAR 2,253

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,520 SAR 5,708

$3,470 SAR 13.0K

-56.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.9

5.39

9.46%

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

Last update for Ad Dammam: September 13, 2026

Last update for Yanbu: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $584 in Ad Dammam and $313 in Yanbu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Yanbu pays 128% 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 Yanbu. Groceries flip the comparison at $199 vs $196, with Yanbu 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 16% 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 128% 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: $584 in Ad Dammam versus $313 in Yanbu. 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 $1,038 in Yanbu – a 16% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Yanbu runs roughly 37% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,038 in Yanbu versus $1,205 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 16% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.