Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Hufuf and Riyadh Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Hufuf and Riyadh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,116 per month in Al Hufuf vs $1,736 in Riyadh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,729 per month in Al Hufuf vs $2,592 in Riyadh, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,343 per month in Al Hufuf vs $3,447 in Riyadh, rent included.

Al Hufuf is about 36% cheaper than Riyadh, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Al Hufuf sits 19% below the global median, while Riyadh is 26% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.56 SAR 24.63

$7.72 SAR 28.99

-15.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.4 SAR 197

$64.3 SAR 241

-18.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.32 SAR 27.49

$8.39 SAR 31.48

-12.75%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.58 SAR 5.92

$1.81 SAR 6.79

-12.71%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 SAR 6.13

$2.84 SAR 10.67

-42.61%

Cappuccino

$3.82 SAR 14.33

$4.38 SAR 16.44

-12.79%

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

$0.63 SAR 2.37

$0.86 SAR 3.23

-26.74%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.30 SAR 1.13

$0.34 SAR 1.28

-11.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 SAR 6.22

$1.70 SAR 6.40

-2.35%

White Bread (500g)

$0.82 SAR 3.06

$1.32 SAR 4.94

-37.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.60 SAR 9.75

$2.42 SAR 9.07

7.44%

Eggs

$2.17 SAR 8.14

$3.27 SAR 12.29

-33.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.51 SAR 24.44

$9.55 SAR 35.87

-31.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.91 SAR 29.69

$9.80 SAR 36.80

-19.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.02 SAR 56.4

$15.00 SAR 56.3

0.13%

Apples (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.91

$2.70 SAR 10.13

-41.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 SAR 6.33

$1.90 SAR 7.13

-11.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 SAR 4.94

$2.32 SAR 8.72

-43.10%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.09 SAR 4.08

$1.72 SAR 6.44

-36.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 SAR 4.07

$1.11 SAR 4.16

-2.70%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 SAR 3.05

$1.39 SAR 5.21

-41.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.36 SAR 5.11

$1.71 SAR 6.41

-20.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 SAR 2.18

$0.59 SAR 2.22

-1.69%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.91 SAR 10.91

$8.02 SAR 30.12

-63.72%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.87 SAR 7.04

$1.80 SAR 6.77

3.89%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 SAR 9.75

$2.46 SAR 9.24

5.69%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.84 SAR 25.69

$7.29 SAR 27.38

-6.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 SAR 3.89

$1.05 SAR 3.94

-0.95%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.98 SAR 135

$37.11 SAR 139

-3.05%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.26 SAR 12.24

$3.26 SAR 12.25

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.84 SAR 6.90

$1.84 SAR 6.89

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.39 SAR 50.3

$13.30 SAR 49.93

0.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.27

$0.59 SAR 2.20

1.69%

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

$35.8K SAR 134.4K

$35.4K SAR 132.9K

1.08%

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

$22.7K SAR 85.3K

$22.3K SAR 83.8K

1.86%

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

$97.5 SAR 366

$95.6 SAR 359

1.97%

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

$31.77 SAR 119

$31.83 SAR 120

-0.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.3 SAR 264

$70.0 SAR 263

0.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$106 SAR 397

$91.6 SAR 344

15.52%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.59 SAR 137

$54.8 SAR 206

-33.24%

Cinema Ticket

$14.09 SAR 52.9

$13.76 SAR 51.7

2.40%

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

$532 SAR 1,999

$539 SAR 2,023

-1.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.1K SAR 41.5K

$11.1K SAR 41.8K

-0.71%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$17.46 SAR 65.6

$59.9 SAR 225

-70.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$18.50 SAR 69.5

$58.4 SAR 219

-68.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$42.50 SAR 160

$111 SAR 415

-61.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$31.50 SAR 118

$104 SAR 391

-69.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$588 SAR 2,207

$1,189 SAR 4,463

-50.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 SAR 1,299

$851 SAR 3,194

-59.33%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$869 SAR 3,262

$2,177 SAR 8,173

-60.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$543 SAR 2,038

$1,274 SAR 4,782

-57.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,393 SAR 8,985

$2,947 SAR 11.1K

-18.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,397 SAR 5,245

$1,891 SAR 7,100

-26.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,936 SAR 7,268

$2,104 SAR 7,901

-8.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.54

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

Last update for Al Hufuf: September 1, 2026

Last update for Riyadh: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $588 in Al Hufuf versus $1,189 in Riyadh. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 9% higher in Riyadh, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Al Hufuf versus $64.0 in Riyadh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $194 vs $238 – making Al Hufuf the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Riyadh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Riyadh is pricier by about 56%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,674 per month in Al Hufuf and $2,604 in Riyadh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Al Hufuf, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $52.0 in Al Hufuf and $64.0 in Riyadh. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,116 in Al Hufuf and $1,736 in Riyadh. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al Hufuf, where all-in costs run around $1,116, than in Riyadh at $1,736. In Al Hufuf it covers expenses comfortably, while in Riyadh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Al Hufuf – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Al Hufuf. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Riyadh makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.