Cost of Living Comparison Between AL Kharj and Ad Dammam Cost of Living Comparison Between AL Kharj and Ad Dammam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $943 in AL Kharj versus $1,211 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,496 in AL Kharj versus $1,857 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,050 in AL Kharj versus $2,503 in Ad Dammam.

Living in AL Kharj costs roughly 22% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: AL Kharj 29% lower, Ad Dammam 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 SAR 24.31

$7.45 SAR 27.99

-13.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.66 SAR 100

$53.0 SAR 199

-49.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.02 SAR 30.13

$7.92 SAR 29.73

1.26%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.70 SAR 6.39

$1.88 SAR 7.07

-9.57%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.29 SAR 4.86

$1.85 SAR 6.95

-30.27%

Cappuccino

$2.45 SAR 9.21

$3.55 SAR 13.33

-30.99%

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

$0.78 SAR 2.94

$0.92 SAR 3.44

-15.22%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 SAR 0.47

$0.38 SAR 1.42

-65.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.65 SAR 6.18

$1.64 SAR 6.15

0.61%

White Bread (500g)

$0.26 SAR 0.97

$1.42 SAR 5.32

-81.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.40 SAR 9.00

$2.12 SAR 7.96

13.21%

Eggs

$1.95 SAR 7.31

$2.31 SAR 8.68

-15.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.50 SAR 31.90

$5.99 SAR 22.48

41.90%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.12 SAR 19.24

$7.32 SAR 27.49

-30.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.52 SAR 50.8

$10.07 SAR 37.81

34.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.01 SAR 7.55

$2.09 SAR 7.85

-3.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 SAR 4.61

$1.55 SAR 5.82

-20.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.95 SAR 3.57

$1.39 SAR 5.23

-31.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.31 SAR 4.92

$1.65 SAR 6.20

-20.61%

Potato (1kg)

$0.90 SAR 3.40

$1.28 SAR 4.79

-29.69%

Onion (1kg)

$0.97 SAR 3.63

$1.37 SAR 5.15

-29.20%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 SAR 2.94

$1.29 SAR 4.86

-39.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 SAR 1.93

$0.55 SAR 2.08

-7.27%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.12 SAR 7.96

$4.12 SAR 15.47

-48.54%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 SAR 5.09

$1.61 SAR 6.05

-15.53%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 SAR 9.12

$1.99 SAR 7.47

22.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 SAR 24.72

$7.76 SAR 29.14

-15.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 SAR 3.95

$0.94 SAR 3.51

11.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.90 SAR 150

$39.30 SAR 148

1.53%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 SAR 10.25

$3.31 SAR 12.42

-17.52%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.55 SAR 2.07

$2.73 SAR 10.26

-79.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.58 SAR 51.0

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.40

$0.61 SAR 2.29

4.92%

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

$34.6K SAR 129.8K

$22.2K SAR 83.5K

55.54%

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

$22.9K SAR 86.0K

$20.9K SAR 78.3K

9.83%

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

$105 SAR 393

$118 SAR 444

-11.51%

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

$27.04 SAR 102

$38.60 SAR 145

-29.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.84 SAR 187

$63.4 SAR 238

-21.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$67.5 SAR 253

$70.7 SAR 266

-4.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.77 SAR 153

$30.89 SAR 116

31.98%

Cinema Ticket

$16.29 SAR 61.2

$15.30 SAR 57.5

6.47%

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

$179 SAR 671

$427 SAR 1,602

-58.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,754 SAR 14.1K

$8,216 SAR 30.9K

-54.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.6 SAR 224

$68.0 SAR 255

-12.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$54.2 SAR 204

$67.8 SAR 255

-20.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.6 SAR 201

$90.5 SAR 340

-40.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.1 SAR 305

$86.1 SAR 323

-5.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$653 SAR 2,454

$452 SAR 1,697

44.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$233 SAR 875

$376 SAR 1,413

-38.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$484 SAR 1,819

$792 SAR 2,976

-38.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$492 SAR 1,847

$636 SAR 2,388

-22.63%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,320 SAR 4,956

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$812 SAR 3,051

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,831 SAR 10.6K

$1,502 SAR 5,640

88.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.31

4.33

22.63%

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

Last update for AL Kharj: July 14, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $653 in AL Kharj and $452 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

AL Kharj pays 89% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $27.00 in AL Kharj vs $53.0 in Ad Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $170 vs $185 per month, with AL Kharj 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 Kharj vs Ad Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

AL Kharj wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making AL Kharj the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 89% higher in AL Kharj, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $653 in AL Kharj versus $452 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $943 per month in AL Kharj versus $1,211 in Ad Dammam – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in AL Kharj runs roughly 2% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $943 in AL Kharj versus $1,211 in Ad Dammam, a $2,000 budget is realistic in AL Kharj but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes AL Kharj 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, AL Kharj 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.

Expats usually find AL Kharj gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.