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 $969 per month in AL Kharj vs $1,344 in Al Khobar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,519 per month in AL Kharj vs $2,120 in Al Khobar, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,068 per month in AL Kharj vs $2,897 in Al Khobar, rent included.

AL Kharj is about 28% cheaper than Al Khobar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

AL Kharj sits 28% below the global median, while Al Khobar is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 SAR 24.27

$6.75 SAR 25.34

-4.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.35 SAR 98.9

$52.6 SAR 197

-49.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.97 SAR 29.91

$8.05 SAR 30.20

-0.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.77 SAR 6.64

$2.02 SAR 7.59

-12.38%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 SAR 5.13

$2.72 SAR 10.22

-49.63%

Cappuccino

$2.48 SAR 9.31

$4.32 SAR 16.23

-42.59%

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

$0.75 SAR 2.83

$1.00 SAR 3.75

-25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 SAR 0.47

$0.51 SAR 1.93

-74.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 SAR 6.10

$1.69 SAR 6.34

-3.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.28 SAR 1.06

$1.38 SAR 5.17

-79.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.37 SAR 8.89

$2.33 SAR 8.75

1.72%

Eggs

$2.03 SAR 7.62

$2.91 SAR 10.91

-30.24%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.31 SAR 31.20

$6.59 SAR 24.72

26.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.92 SAR 18.46

$9.17 SAR 34.43

-46.35%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.46 SAR 50.5

$12.70 SAR 47.65

5.98%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 SAR 7.43

$2.50 SAR 9.38

-20.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 SAR 4.60

$1.74 SAR 6.54

-29.31%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 SAR 3.33

$2.11 SAR 7.90

-57.82%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 SAR 5.13

$1.64 SAR 6.17

-16.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 SAR 3.60

$1.43 SAR 5.38

-32.87%

Onion (1kg)

$0.88 SAR 3.32

$1.67 SAR 6.26

-47.31%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 SAR 3.10

$1.76 SAR 6.59

-53.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 SAR 2.10

$0.62 SAR 2.33

-9.68%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.19 SAR 8.22

$2.68 SAR 10.05

-18.28%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 SAR 5.14

$1.42 SAR 5.34

-3.52%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 SAR 8.93

$1.97 SAR 7.39

20.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.42 SAR 24.09

$6.75 SAR 25.35

-4.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 SAR 3.96

$0.92 SAR 3.45

15.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.41 SAR 152

$61.6 SAR 231

-34.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 SAR 10.11

$2.25 SAR 8.44

19.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.55 SAR 2.08

$1.30 SAR 4.87

-57.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.39 SAR 50.3

$6.59 SAR 24.74

103.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 SAR 2.20

$0.60 SAR 2.25

-1.67%

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

$33.9K SAR 127.4K

$21.2K SAR 79.4K

60.46%

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

$23.2K SAR 87.2K

$22.7K SAR 85.1K

2.46%

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

$106 SAR 398

$123 SAR 461

-13.55%

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

$26.15 SAR 98.2

$34.93 SAR 131

-25.14%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.2 SAR 192

$80.1 SAR 301

-36.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.7 SAR 247

$107 SAR 400

-38.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.52 SAR 152

$36.08 SAR 135

12.31%

Cinema Ticket

$15.68 SAR 58.9

$17.66 SAR 66.3

-11.21%

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

$178 SAR 668

$307 SAR 1,151

-41.92%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,778 SAR 14.2K

$7,553 SAR 28.3K

-49.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.6 SAR 224

$63.8 SAR 239

-6.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.7 SAR 202

$70.0 SAR 263

-23.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.3 SAR 200

$98.7 SAR 370

-45.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.6 SAR 295

$80.8 SAR 303

-2.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$637 SAR 2,391

$433 SAR 1,624

47.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$229 SAR 861

$397 SAR 1,489

-42.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 SAR 1,833

$1,031 SAR 3,869

-52.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 SAR 1,879

$790 SAR 2,965

-36.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,419 SAR 9,077

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,457 SAR 5,468

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,845 SAR 10.7K

$1,866 SAR 7,005

52.43%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.31

3.84

38.28%

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

Last update for AL Kharj: May 30, 2026

Last update for Al Khobar: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $637 in AL Kharj versus $433 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 52% 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 $26.00 in AL Kharj versus $53.0 in Al Khobar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $169 vs $217 – 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

Monthly costs with rent: $969 in AL Kharj, $1,344 in Al Khobar – roughly 39% apart. Al Khobar costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,454 per month in AL Kharj and $2,016 in Al Khobar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Kindergarten costs $178 per month in AL Kharj and $307 in Al Khobar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 29% 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.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in AL Kharj, where all-in costs run around $969, than in Al Khobar at $1,344. In AL Kharj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Al Khobar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

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.