🙂A single person spends $951 per month in AL Kharj vs $1,434 in Al Khobar, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,473 per month in AL Kharj vs $2,206 in Al Khobar, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,996 per month in AL Kharj vs $2,978 in Al Khobar, rent included.
🙂AL Kharj is about 34% cheaper than Al Khobar, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊AL Kharj sits 31% below the global median, while Al Khobar is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
AL Kharj
Al Khobar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.68SAR 17.59
$6.83SAR 25.66
-31.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.80SAR 101
$60.2SAR 226
-55.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.91SAR 29.71
$7.83SAR 29.42
1.02%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.07SAR 7.79
$2.70SAR 10.16
-23.33%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35SAR 5.08
$2.60SAR 9.78
-48.08%
Cappuccino
$3.07SAR 11.53
$4.47SAR 16.77
-31.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84SAR 3.15
$0.99SAR 3.74
-15.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13SAR 0.48
$0.41SAR 1.53
-68.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
AL Kharj
Al Khobar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44SAR 5.42
$1.63SAR 6.10
-11.66%
White Bread(500g)
$0.26SAR 0.97
$1.26SAR 4.72
-79.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.32SAR 8.73
$2.53SAR 9.51
-8.30%
Eggs
$2.07SAR 7.78
$2.36SAR 8.88
-12.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.96SAR 37.40
$7.20SAR 27.04
38.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.97SAR 18.66
$10.00SAR 37.57
-50.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.58SAR 51.0
$11.85SAR 44.49
14.60%
Apples(1kg)
$1.76SAR 6.59
$2.76SAR 10.36
-36.23%
Banana(1kg)
$1.30SAR 4.90
$1.76SAR 6.62
-26.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.22SAR 4.59
$2.04SAR 7.67
-40.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.34SAR 5.03
$1.81SAR 6.81
-25.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.04SAR 3.91
$1.40SAR 5.25
-25.71%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10SAR 4.12
$1.70SAR 6.39
-35.29%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.55SAR 2.05
$1.72SAR 6.48
-68.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59SAR 2.21
$0.59SAR 2.20
-
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.15SAR 8.09
$2.61SAR 9.81
-17.62%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10SAR 4.12
$1.59SAR 5.97
-30.82%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46SAR 9.24
$1.93SAR 7.23
27.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.59SAR 24.74
$6.82SAR 25.63
-3.37%
🚌 Getting Around
AL Kharj
Al Khobar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$0.80SAR 3.02
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$22.75SAR 85.4
$68.8SAR 258
-66.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.70SAR 10.15
$3.35SAR 12.58
-19.40%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.55SAR 2.05
$2.65SAR 9.94
-79.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.40SAR 50.3
$6.69SAR 25.13
100.30%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.59SAR 2.22
$0.60SAR 2.27
-1.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3KSAR 132.6K
$67.9KSAR 254.9K
-47.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9KSAR 82.2K
$22.2KSAR 83.5K
-1.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
AL Kharj
Al Khobar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102SAR 384
$98.7SAR 371
3.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.14SAR 102
$32.44SAR 122
-16.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5SAR 193
$68.3SAR 257
-24.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
AL Kharj
Al Khobar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$73.8SAR 277
$82.1SAR 308
-10.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.56SAR 152
$36.49SAR 137
11.15%
Cinema Ticket
$13.41SAR 50.4
$15.05SAR 56.5
-10.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
AL Kharj
Al Khobar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$283SAR 1,064
$611SAR 2,294
-53.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$3,710SAR 13.9K
$8,394SAR 31.5K
-55.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
AL Kharj
Al Khobar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.4SAR 223
$63.4SAR 238
-6.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1SAR 199
$81.7SAR 307
-35.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$46.69SAR 175
$97.2SAR 365
-51.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.7SAR 299
$94.5SAR 355
-15.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
AL Kharj
Al Khobar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$676SAR 2,539
$642SAR 2,412
5.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$260SAR 976
$512SAR 1,921
-49.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$591SAR 2,219
$1,183SAR 4,442
-50.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$467SAR 1,756
$852SAR 3,201
-45.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,432SAR 9,134
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,467SAR 5,512
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
AL Kharj
Al Khobar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,869SAR 10.8K
$1,830SAR 6,872
56.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.54
5.88
-5.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for AL Kharj: September 14, 2026
Last update for Al Khobar: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $676 in AL Kharj versus $642 in Al Khobar. 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 57% higher in AL Kharj, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in AL Kharj versus $60.0 in Al Khobar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $173 vs $219 – making AL Kharj 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 Kharj vs Al Khobar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in AL Kharj and in Al Khobar compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $951 in AL Kharj, $1,434 in Al Khobar – roughly 51% apart. Al Khobar costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in AL Kharj compared to Al Khobar?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,426 per month in AL Kharj and $2,151 in Al Khobar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between AL Kharj and Al Khobar?
Rent is clearly cheaper in AL Kharj, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What is the difference in childcare costs between AL Kharj and Al Khobar?
Kindergarten costs $283 per month in AL Kharj and $611 in Al Khobar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 27% more in Al Khobar, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in AL Kharj, where all-in costs run around $951, than in Al Khobar at $1,434. In AL Kharj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Al Khobar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Where should families live: AL Kharj or Al Khobar?
Families tend to lean toward AL Kharj – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is AL Kharj or Al Khobar safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between AL Kharj and Al Khobar?
If budget matters most, go with AL Kharj. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Al Khobar makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.