Cost of Living Comparison Between AL Kharj and Al Khobar Cost of Living Comparison Between AL Kharj and Al Khobar

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$4.68 SAR 17.59
$6.83 SAR 25.66
-31.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.80 SAR 101
$60.2 SAR 226
-55.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.91 SAR 29.71
$7.83 SAR 29.42
1.02%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.07 SAR 7.79
$2.70 SAR 10.16
-23.33%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35 SAR 5.08
$2.60 SAR 9.78
-48.08%
Cappuccino
$3.07 SAR 11.53
$4.47 SAR 16.77
-31.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84 SAR 3.15
$0.99 SAR 3.74
-15.15%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.13 SAR 0.48
$0.41 SAR 1.53
-68.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
AL Kharj
Al Khobar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 SAR 5.42
$1.63 SAR 6.10
-11.66%
White Bread (500g)
$0.26 SAR 0.97
$1.26 SAR 4.72
-79.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.32 SAR 8.73
$2.53 SAR 9.51
-8.30%
Eggs
$2.07 SAR 7.78
$2.36 SAR 8.88
-12.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.96 SAR 37.40
$7.20 SAR 27.04
38.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.97 SAR 18.66
$10.00 SAR 37.57
-50.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.58 SAR 51.0
$11.85 SAR 44.49
14.60%
Apples (1kg)
$1.76 SAR 6.59
$2.76 SAR 10.36
-36.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.30 SAR 4.90
$1.76 SAR 6.62
-26.14%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.22 SAR 4.59
$2.04 SAR 7.67
-40.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.34 SAR 5.03
$1.81 SAR 6.81
-25.97%
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 SAR 3.91
$1.40 SAR 5.25
-25.71%
Onion (1kg)
$1.10 SAR 4.12
$1.70 SAR 6.39
-35.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.55 SAR 2.05
$1.72 SAR 6.48
-68.02%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 SAR 2.21
$0.59 SAR 2.20
-
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.15 SAR 8.09
$2.61 SAR 9.81
-17.62%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.10 SAR 4.12
$1.59 SAR 5.97
-30.82%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.46 SAR 9.24
$1.93 SAR 7.23
27.46%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.59 SAR 24.74
$6.82 SAR 25.63
-3.37%
🚌 Getting Around
AL Kharj
Al Khobar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$0.80 SAR 3.02
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$22.75 SAR 85.4
$68.8 SAR 258
-66.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.70 SAR 10.15
$3.35 SAR 12.58
-19.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.55 SAR 2.05
$2.65 SAR 9.94
-79.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.40 SAR 50.3
$6.69 SAR 25.13
100.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.59 SAR 2.22
$0.60 SAR 2.27
-1.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.3K SAR 132.6K
$67.9K SAR 254.9K
-47.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.9K SAR 82.2K
$22.2K SAR 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)
$102 SAR 384
$98.7 SAR 371
3.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.14 SAR 102
$32.44 SAR 122
-16.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.5 SAR 193
$68.3 SAR 257
-24.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
AL Kharj
Al Khobar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$73.8 SAR 277
$82.1 SAR 308
-10.05%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$40.56 SAR 152
$36.49 SAR 137
11.15%
Cinema Ticket
$13.41 SAR 50.4
$15.05 SAR 56.5
-10.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
AL Kharj
Al Khobar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$283 SAR 1,064
$611 SAR 2,294
-53.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,710 SAR 13.9K
$8,394 SAR 31.5K
-55.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
AL Kharj
Al Khobar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.4 SAR 223
$63.4 SAR 238
-6.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.1 SAR 199
$81.7 SAR 307
-35.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$46.69 SAR 175
$97.2 SAR 365
-51.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.7 SAR 299
$94.5 SAR 355
-15.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
AL Kharj
Al Khobar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$676 SAR 2,539
$642 SAR 2,412
5.25%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$260 SAR 976
$512 SAR 1,921
-49.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$591 SAR 2,219
$1,183 SAR 4,442
-50.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$467 SAR 1,756
$852 SAR 3,201
-45.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,432 SAR 9,134
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,467 SAR 5,512
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
AL Kharj
Al Khobar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,869 SAR 10.8K
$1,830 SAR 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.

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