🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,047 in Al Hufuf versus $1,196 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,583 in Al Hufuf versus $1,860 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,119 in Al Hufuf versus $2,524 in Ad Dammam.
🌍Living in Al Hufuf costs roughly 12% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Al Hufuf21% lower, Ad Dammam10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.64SAR 24.95
$7.29SAR 27.37
-8.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.54SAR 182
$53.7SAR 202
-9.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.67SAR 28.82
$8.03SAR 30.16
-4.48%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.68SAR 6.32
$1.82SAR 6.83
-7.69%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62SAR 6.07
$1.90SAR 7.14
-14.74%
Cappuccino
$3.94SAR 14.78
$3.73SAR 14.00
5.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65SAR 2.45
$0.92SAR 3.44
-29.35%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22SAR 0.83
$0.35SAR 1.30
-37.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63SAR 6.13
$1.63SAR 6.13
-
White Bread(500g)
$0.96SAR 3.61
$1.46SAR 5.49
-34.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.34SAR 8.79
$2.09SAR 7.86
11.96%
Eggs
$2.02SAR 7.58
$2.27SAR 8.53
-11.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.58SAR 20.97
$6.12SAR 22.97
-8.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.48SAR 24.32
$7.25SAR 27.23
-10.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.91SAR 52.2
$9.70SAR 36.42
43.40%
Apples(1kg)
$1.67SAR 6.27
$2.12SAR 7.95
-21.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55SAR 5.83
$1.49SAR 5.61
4.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.35SAR 5.07
$1.40SAR 5.24
-3.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.17SAR 4.40
$1.59SAR 5.98
-26.42%
Potato(1kg)
$1.02SAR 3.82
$1.28SAR 4.82
-20.31%
Onion(1kg)
$0.96SAR 3.61
$1.32SAR 4.97
-27.27%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.30SAR 4.88
$1.36SAR 5.12
-4.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52SAR 1.96
$0.59SAR 2.21
-11.86%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.87SAR 10.77
$4.13SAR 15.50
-30.51%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.79SAR 6.73
$1.56SAR 5.85
14.74%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10SAR 4.14
$1.92SAR 7.22
-42.71%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.56SAR 24.63
$7.76SAR 29.13
-15.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05SAR 3.94
$0.95SAR 3.57
10.53%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.78SAR 149
$39.54SAR 148
0.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.64SAR 9.93
$3.38SAR 12.70
-21.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91SAR 7.19
$2.62SAR 9.86
-27.10%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.54SAR 50.9
$13.54SAR 50.8
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64SAR 2.40
$0.60SAR 2.25
6.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.9KSAR 131.1K
$23.0KSAR 86.3K
51.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KSAR 88.7K
$21.1KSAR 79.1K
12.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.2SAR 301
$115SAR 432
-30.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.40SAR 118
$38.60SAR 145
-18.65%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.5SAR 287
$63.5SAR 239
20.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$144SAR 540
$70.5SAR 265
103.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$33.87SAR 127
$31.26SAR 117
8.35%
Cinema Ticket
$13.45SAR 50.5
$15.06SAR 56.6
-10.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$299SAR 1,122
$415SAR 1,558
-27.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,157SAR 15.6K
$8,157SAR 30.6K
-49.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$12.49SAR 46.90
$68.6SAR 258
-81.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$16.04SAR 60.2
$66.7SAR 250
-75.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$41.35SAR 155
$92.6SAR 348
-55.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$33.27SAR 125
$85.7SAR 322
-61.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$366SAR 1,374
$447SAR 1,677
-18.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$262SAR 982
$378SAR 1,421
-30.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$707SAR 2,653
$805SAR 3,021
-12.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$396SAR 1,488
$626SAR 2,350
-36.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,018SAR 7,578
$1,353SAR 5,082
49.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,307SAR 4,909
$816SAR 3,063
60.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Hufuf
Ad Dammam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,990SAR 7,472
$1,510SAR 5,669
31.81%
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: July 25, 2026
Last update for Ad Dammam: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $366 in Al Hufuf and $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Al Hufuf pays 32% 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 $180 vs $184 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 14% 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 32% 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: $366 in Al Hufuf versus $447 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 $1,047 per month in Al Hufuf versus $1,196 in Ad Dammam – a 14% 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 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 in Ad Dammam?
At $1,047 in Al Hufuf versus $1,196 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 14% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.