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: $957 in AL Kharj versus $1,215 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,461 in AL Kharj versus $1,866 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,965 in AL Kharj versus $2,516 in Ad Dammam.

Living in AL Kharj costs roughly 21% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: AL Kharj 31% lower, Ad Dammam 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.86 SAR 18.27

$8.09 SAR 30.39

-39.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.27 SAR 98.7

$34.39 SAR 129

-23.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.84 SAR 33.20

$6.57 SAR 24.69

34.55%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 SAR 7.60

$1.91 SAR 7.17

5.76%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 SAR 5.12

$2.23 SAR 8.37

-39.01%

Cappuccino

$3.09 SAR 11.61

$3.10 SAR 11.65

-0.32%

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

$0.90 SAR 3.39

$0.79 SAR 2.95

13.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 SAR 0.50

$0.20 SAR 0.75

-35.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 SAR 5.39

$1.82 SAR 6.84

-21.43%

White Bread (500g)

$0.28 SAR 1.06

$1.33 SAR 5.01

-78.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.48 SAR 9.30

$1.92 SAR 7.21

29.17%

Eggs

$2.12 SAR 7.94

$2.13 SAR 7.98

-0.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.49 SAR 35.64

$7.39 SAR 27.77

28.42%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.20 SAR 19.53

$7.82 SAR 29.36

-33.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.23 SAR 49.69

$12.72 SAR 47.79

4.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.74 SAR 6.54

$2.18 SAR 8.17

-20.18%

Banana (1kg)

$1.35 SAR 5.09

$1.63 SAR 6.11

-17.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.22 SAR 4.57

$1.59 SAR 5.96

-23.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.30 SAR 4.90

$1.62 SAR 6.09

-19.75%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 SAR 3.97

$1.07 SAR 4.02

-0.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.05 SAR 3.93

$1.20 SAR 4.52

-12.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 SAR 2.04

$1.28 SAR 4.80

-57.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 SAR 2.10

$0.58 SAR 2.18

-3.45%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.09 SAR 7.85

$4.09 SAR 15.37

-48.90%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.05 SAR 3.96

$1.45 SAR 5.46

-27.59%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 SAR 9.64

$2.17 SAR 8.14

18.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.62 SAR 24.88

$7.80 SAR 29.30

-15.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 SAR 3.63

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$23.39 SAR 87.9

$35.89 SAR 135

-34.83%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.60 SAR 9.76

$2.60 SAR 9.75

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.51 SAR 1.93

$2.60 SAR 9.78

-80.38%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.36 SAR 50.2

$13.41 SAR 50.4

-0.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 SAR 2.29

$0.64 SAR 2.42

-4.69%

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

$36.1K SAR 135.7K

$67.7K SAR 254.2K

-46.64%

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

$22.3K SAR 83.7K

$21.3K SAR 79.9K

4.76%

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

$95.9 SAR 360

$128 SAR 482

-25.22%

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

$26.51 SAR 99.6

$33.46 SAR 126

-20.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$49.70 SAR 187

$62.1 SAR 233

-20.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$73.0 SAR 274

$77.8 SAR 292

-6.24%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.22 SAR 151

$28.85 SAR 108

39.41%

Cinema Ticket

$13.56 SAR 50.9

$13.40 SAR 50.3

1.19%

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

$285 SAR 1,071

$417 SAR 1,566

-31.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,774 SAR 14.2K

$7,868 SAR 29.5K

-52.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 SAR 217

$41.40 SAR 155

39.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$52.4 SAR 197

$49.15 SAR 185

6.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$45.70 SAR 172

$95.8 SAR 360

-52.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.3 SAR 298

$90.5 SAR 340

-12.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$698 SAR 2,620

$567 SAR 2,128

23.12%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$264 SAR 990

$369 SAR 1,388

-28.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$592 SAR 2,222

$1,007 SAR 3,781

-41.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$460 SAR 1,729

$663 SAR 2,490

-30.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,379 SAR 5,179

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$595 SAR 2,235

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,845 SAR 10.7K

$1,532 SAR 5,754

85.70%

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 Kharj: September 7, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $698 in AL Kharj and $567 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

AL Kharj pays 86% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $26.00 in AL Kharj vs $34.00 in Ad Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $172 vs $200 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 27% 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 86% 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: $698 in AL Kharj versus $567 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $957 per month in AL Kharj versus $1,215 in Ad Dammam – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in AL Kharj runs roughly 53% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $957 in AL Kharj versus $1,215 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 27% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.