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: $969 in AL Kharj versus $1,210 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,519 in AL Kharj versus $1,872 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,068 in AL Kharj versus $2,533 in Ad Dammam.

Living in AL Kharj costs roughly 20% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: AL Kharj 28% lower, Ad Dammam 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 SAR 24.27

$7.31 SAR 27.42

-11.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.35 SAR 98.9

$53.6 SAR 201

-50.86%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.97 SAR 29.91

$7.98 SAR 29.94

-0.13%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.77 SAR 6.64

$1.83 SAR 6.86

-3.28%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 SAR 5.13

$1.82 SAR 6.82

-24.73%

Cappuccino

$2.48 SAR 9.31

$3.70 SAR 13.89

-32.97%

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

$0.75 SAR 2.83

$0.92 SAR 3.43

-18.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 SAR 0.47

$0.35 SAR 1.30

-62.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 SAR 6.10

$1.71 SAR 6.43

-4.68%

White Bread (500g)

$0.28 SAR 1.06

$1.45 SAR 5.43

-80.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.37 SAR 8.89

$2.09 SAR 7.85

13.40%

Eggs

$2.03 SAR 7.62

$2.24 SAR 8.42

-9.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.31 SAR 31.20

$6.06 SAR 22.73

37.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.92 SAR 18.46

$7.15 SAR 26.85

-31.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.46 SAR 50.5

$9.62 SAR 36.12

39.92%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 SAR 7.43

$2.11 SAR 7.93

-6.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 SAR 4.60

$1.50 SAR 5.62

-18.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 SAR 3.33

$1.38 SAR 5.20

-35.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 SAR 5.13

$1.66 SAR 6.24

-17.47%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 SAR 3.60

$1.28 SAR 4.80

-25.00%

Onion (1kg)

$0.88 SAR 3.32

$1.33 SAR 4.99

-33.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 SAR 3.10

$1.35 SAR 5.06

-39.26%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 SAR 2.10

$0.55 SAR 2.07

1.82%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.19 SAR 8.22

$4.19 SAR 15.73

-47.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 SAR 5.14

$1.60 SAR 6.01

-14.37%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 SAR 8.93

$1.98 SAR 7.44

20.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.42 SAR 24.09

$7.92 SAR 29.73

-18.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 SAR 3.96

$0.89 SAR 3.36

19.10%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.41 SAR 152

$40.16 SAR 151

0.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 SAR 10.11

$3.29 SAR 12.35

-18.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.55 SAR 2.08

$2.65 SAR 9.96

-79.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.39 SAR 50.3

$13.28 SAR 49.85

0.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 SAR 2.20

$0.64 SAR 2.42

-7.81%

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

$33.9K SAR 127.4K

$23.1K SAR 86.6K

47.19%

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

$23.2K SAR 87.2K

$21.3K SAR 79.8K

9.23%

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

$106 SAR 398

$117 SAR 438

-9.07%

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

$26.15 SAR 98.2

$38.34 SAR 144

-31.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.2 SAR 192

$63.5 SAR 238

-19.37%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.7 SAR 247

$70.9 SAR 266

-7.36%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.52 SAR 152

$30.51 SAR 114

32.81%

Cinema Ticket

$15.68 SAR 58.9

$15.54 SAR 58.3

0.90%

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

$178 SAR 668

$415 SAR 1,559

-57.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,778 SAR 14.2K

$8,170 SAR 30.7K

-53.76%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.6 SAR 224

$66.9 SAR 251

-10.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.7 SAR 202

$68.2 SAR 256

-21.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.3 SAR 200

$90.8 SAR 341

-41.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.6 SAR 295

$85.5 SAR 321

-8.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$637 SAR 2,391

$447 SAR 1,678

42.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$229 SAR 861

$375 SAR 1,408

-38.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 SAR 1,833

$800 SAR 3,002

-38.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 SAR 1,879

$641 SAR 2,407

-21.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,309 SAR 4,914

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$805 SAR 3,020

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,845 SAR 10.7K

$1,895 SAR 7,110

50.17%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $637 in AL Kharj and $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

AL Kharj pays 50% 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 $54.0 in Ad Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $169 vs $184 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 25% 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.

AL Kharj pays 50% more on average, 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: $637 in AL Kharj versus $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $969 per month in AL Kharj versus $1,210 in Ad Dammam – a 25% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in AL Kharj runs roughly 1% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $969 in AL Kharj versus $1,210 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 25% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.