🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,049 in Al Hufuf versus $1,207 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,596 in Al Hufuf versus $1,891 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Al Hufuf versus $2,575 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Living in Al Hufuf costs roughly 13% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Al Hufuf22% lower, Ad Dammam10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.61SAR 24.81
$7.49SAR 28.11
-11.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.42SAR 185
$54.1SAR 203
-8.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.79SAR 29.23
$7.78SAR 29.21
0.13%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72SAR 6.45
$1.91SAR 7.16
-9.95%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58SAR 5.93
$1.82SAR 6.82
-13.19%
Cappuccino
$4.09SAR 15.35
$3.60SAR 13.51
13.61%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64SAR 2.42
$0.89SAR 3.34
-28.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20SAR 0.75
$0.35SAR 1.31
-42.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65SAR 6.17
$1.66SAR 6.24
-0.60%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03SAR 3.86
$1.45SAR 5.45
-28.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.39SAR 8.95
$2.00SAR 7.52
19.50%
Eggs
$2.03SAR 7.60
$2.24SAR 8.41
-9.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.79SAR 21.71
$6.01SAR 22.56
-3.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.46SAR 24.22
$7.22SAR 27.11
-10.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.58SAR 51.0
$9.97SAR 37.41
36.21%
Apples(1kg)
$1.74SAR 6.53
$2.17SAR 8.16
-19.82%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63SAR 6.10
$1.50SAR 5.61
8.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.32SAR 4.94
$1.41SAR 5.28
-6.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.17SAR 4.39
$1.60SAR 6.01
-26.88%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97SAR 3.63
$1.22SAR 4.59
-20.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00SAR 3.77
$1.39SAR 5.22
-28.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30SAR 4.88
$1.36SAR 5.10
-4.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57SAR 2.13
$0.59SAR 2.22
-3.39%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$3.00SAR 11.27
$4.19SAR 15.71
-28.40%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71SAR 6.42
$1.62SAR 6.08
5.56%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.14SAR 4.28
$2.00SAR 7.49
-43.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.22SAR 23.32
$7.84SAR 29.43
-20.66%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.09SAR 4.10
$0.95SAR 3.56
14.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.35SAR 151
$40.76SAR 153
-1.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.70SAR 10.12
$3.36SAR 12.60
-19.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.88SAR 7.07
$2.71SAR 10.18
-30.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.44SAR 50.4
$13.53SAR 50.8
-0.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.59SAR 2.21
$0.61SAR 2.28
-3.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.3KSAR 128.6K
$22.9KSAR 85.8K
49.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KSAR 86.6K
$20.7KSAR 77.6K
11.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3SAR 305
$117SAR 440
-30.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.03SAR 120
$38.94SAR 146
-17.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$75.4SAR 283
$62.3SAR 234
21.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$145SAR 543
$69.0SAR 259
109.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.92SAR 127
$30.82SAR 116
10.06%
Cinema Ticket
$13.10SAR 49.16
$15.05SAR 56.5
-12.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$295SAR 1,106
$414SAR 1,552
-28.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,187SAR 15.7K
$8,178SAR 30.7K
-48.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$12.75SAR 47.83
$69.0SAR 259
-81.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.78SAR 59.2
$67.6SAR 254
-76.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$41.71SAR 157
$90.7SAR 340
-54.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.72SAR 127
$85.9SAR 322
-60.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$363SAR 1,362
$445SAR 1,669
-18.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$270SAR 1,014
$385SAR 1,446
-29.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$728SAR 2,730
$800SAR 3,002
-9.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$407SAR 1,526
$635SAR 2,382
-35.93%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,394SAR 8,985
$1,331SAR 4,995
79.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,338SAR 5,020
$804SAR 3,019
66.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,977SAR 7,420
$1,884SAR 7,071
4.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
2.5
4.33
-42.26%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al Hufuf: June 8, 2026
Last update for Ad Dammam: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $363 in Al Hufuf and $445 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Al Hufuf pays 5% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $49.00 in Al Hufuf vs $54.0 in Ad Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $181 vs $185 per month, with Al Hufuf 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
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 15% 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 Ad Dammam?
Al Hufuf pays 5% more on average, 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 vs Ad Dammam?
Rent for a central apartment: $363 in Al Hufuf versus $445 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 $1,049 per month in Al Hufuf versus $1,207 in Ad Dammam – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Al Hufuf vs Ad Dammam?
A monthly transit pass in Al Hufuf runs roughly 1% 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 Ad Dammam?
At $1,049 in Al Hufuf versus $1,207 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 15% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.