🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,110 in Al Hufuf versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,694 in Al Hufuf versus $1,828 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,277 in Al Hufuf versus $2,450 in Ad Dammam.
🌍Living in Al Hufuf costs roughly 8% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Al Hufuf19% lower, Ad Dammam12% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.57SAR 24.69
$7.90SAR 29.66
-16.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.1SAR 203
$35.27SAR 132
53.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.29SAR 27.40
$6.78SAR 25.48
7.52%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.85SAR 6.93
$1.92SAR 7.23
-3.65%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56SAR 5.87
$2.22SAR 8.33
-29.73%
Cappuccino
$3.82SAR 14.35
$2.98SAR 11.18
28.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70SAR 2.63
$0.77SAR 2.90
-9.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28SAR 1.04
$0.20SAR 0.77
40.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.67SAR 6.27
$1.80SAR 6.77
-7.22%
White Bread(500g)
$0.78SAR 2.91
$1.27SAR 4.78
-38.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.36SAR 8.87
$1.87SAR 7.02
26.20%
Eggs
$2.18SAR 8.18
$2.18SAR 8.19
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.57SAR 24.69
$7.26SAR 27.26
-9.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.94SAR 29.84
$7.74SAR 29.06
2.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.10SAR 56.7
$12.95SAR 48.63
16.60%
Apples(1kg)
$1.58SAR 5.93
$2.19SAR 8.23
-27.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.70SAR 6.39
$1.66SAR 6.24
2.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.34SAR 5.05
$1.58SAR 5.92
-15.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.09SAR 4.11
$1.56SAR 5.84
-30.13%
Potato(1kg)
$1.05SAR 3.95
$1.11SAR 4.18
-5.41%
Onion(1kg)
$0.84SAR 3.15
$1.16SAR 4.37
-27.59%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30SAR 4.90
$1.27SAR 4.75
2.36%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55SAR 2.05
$0.58SAR 2.19
-5.17%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.96SAR 11.12
$4.20SAR 15.77
-29.52%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78SAR 6.69
$1.52SAR 5.70
17.11%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56SAR 9.61
$2.21SAR 8.31
15.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.71SAR 25.21
$7.58SAR 28.45
-11.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05SAR 3.96
$0.98SAR 3.69
7.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.77SAR 134
$35.71SAR 134
0.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.28SAR 12.30
$2.74SAR 10.28
19.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.84SAR 6.89
$2.62SAR 9.82
-29.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.53SAR 50.8
$13.54SAR 50.8
-0.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64SAR 2.40
$0.60SAR 2.27
6.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.4KSAR 133.0K
$66.7KSAR 250.4K
-46.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.5KSAR 84.7K
$21.0KSAR 79.0K
7.15%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$97.8SAR 367
$127SAR 478
-23.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.93SAR 120
$32.69SAR 123
-2.32%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.6SAR 258
$64.4SAR 242
6.49%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$107SAR 401
$77.7SAR 292
37.27%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.30SAR 140
$28.77SAR 108
29.65%
Cinema Ticket
$13.46SAR 50.6
$13.58SAR 51.0
-0.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$536SAR 2,013
$419SAR 1,574
27.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5KSAR 43.1K
$7,803SAR 29.3K
47.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.16SAR 64.4
$42.01SAR 158
-59.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.88SAR 70.9
$49.62SAR 186
-61.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$42.50SAR 160
$97.9SAR 368
-56.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$32.50SAR 122
$91.6SAR 344
-64.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$574SAR 2,155
$584SAR 2,193
-1.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$340SAR 1,277
$369SAR 1,385
-7.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$895SAR 3,362
$985SAR 3,701
-9.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$549SAR 2,061
$673SAR 2,529
-18.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,353SAR 8,839
$1,416SAR 5,319
66.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,374SAR 5,162
$600SAR 2,253
129.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,994SAR 7,488
$1,520SAR 5,709
31.17%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.54
5.9
-6.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al Hufuf: September 13, 2026
Last update for Ad Dammam: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $574 in Al Hufuf and $584 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Al Hufuf pays 31% 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 Al Hufuf vs $35.00 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $193 vs $199, with Al Hufuf 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
Al Hufuf vs Ad Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Al Hufuf or Ad Dammam?
Al Hufuf 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 Al Hufuf the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Al Hufuf or in Ad Dammam?
Average pay runs 31% higher in Al Hufuf, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Al Hufuf compared to Ad Dammam?
Rent for a central apartment: $574 in Al Hufuf versus $584 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Al Hufuf compared to Ad Dammam?
All in, you'll spend $1,110 per month in Al Hufuf versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Al Hufuf compared to Ad Dammam?
A monthly transit pass in Al Hufuf runs roughly 0% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Al Hufuf or in Ad Dammam?
At $1,110 in Al Hufuf versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Al Hufuf but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Al Hufuf the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Al Hufuf or Ad Dammam?
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.
How safe is Al Hufuf compared to Ad Dammam?
Safety-wise, Al Hufuf and Ad Dammam are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Al Hufuf 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.