Cost of Living Comparison Between AL Kharj and Riyadh Cost of Living Comparison Between AL Kharj and Riyadh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $969 per month in AL Kharj vs $1,739 in Riyadh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,519 per month in AL Kharj vs $2,521 in Riyadh, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,068 per month in AL Kharj vs $3,304 in Riyadh, rent included.

AL Kharj is about 44% cheaper than Riyadh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

AL Kharj sits 28% below the global median, while Riyadh is 30% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 SAR 24.27

$8.21 SAR 30.82

-21.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.35 SAR 98.9

$53.0 SAR 199

-50.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.97 SAR 29.91

$8.11 SAR 30.45

-1.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.77 SAR 6.64

$1.71 SAR 6.41

3.51%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.37 SAR 5.13

$2.23 SAR 8.37

-38.57%

Cappuccino

$2.48 SAR 9.31

$4.09 SAR 15.34

-39.36%

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

$0.75 SAR 2.83

$0.71 SAR 2.66

5.63%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.13 SAR 0.47

$0.29 SAR 1.07

-55.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 SAR 6.10

$1.68 SAR 6.30

-2.98%

White Bread (500g)

$0.28 SAR 1.06

$1.28 SAR 4.79

-78.13%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.37 SAR 8.89

$2.35 SAR 8.83

0.85%

Eggs

$2.03 SAR 7.62

$2.73 SAR 10.23

-25.64%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.31 SAR 31.20

$8.64 SAR 32.44

-3.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.92 SAR 18.46

$10.02 SAR 37.62

-50.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.46 SAR 50.5

$14.57 SAR 54.7

-7.62%

Apples (1kg)

$1.98 SAR 7.43

$2.35 SAR 8.82

-15.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.23 SAR 4.60

$1.75 SAR 6.56

-29.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.89 SAR 3.33

$1.85 SAR 6.93

-51.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 SAR 5.13

$1.53 SAR 5.73

-10.46%

Potato (1kg)

$0.96 SAR 3.60

$1.29 SAR 4.82

-25.58%

Onion (1kg)

$0.88 SAR 3.32

$1.47 SAR 5.50

-40.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 SAR 3.10

$1.45 SAR 5.44

-43.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 SAR 2.10

$0.53 SAR 1.99

5.66%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.19 SAR 8.22

$8.16 SAR 30.61

-73.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.37 SAR 5.14

$1.71 SAR 6.42

-19.88%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 SAR 8.93

$2.38 SAR 8.94

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.42 SAR 24.09

$7.54 SAR 28.29

-14.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.06 SAR 3.96

$1.09 SAR 4.09

-2.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.41 SAR 152

$36.73 SAR 138

10.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.69 SAR 10.11

$3.28 SAR 12.29

-17.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.55 SAR 2.08

$1.85 SAR 6.95

-70.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.39 SAR 50.3

$13.49 SAR 50.6

-0.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 SAR 2.20

$0.63 SAR 2.36

-6.35%

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

$33.9K SAR 127.4K

$34.1K SAR 128.0K

-0.49%

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

$23.2K SAR 87.2K

$23.4K SAR 87.9K

-0.84%

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

$106 SAR 398

$104 SAR 391

1.82%

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

$26.15 SAR 98.2

$34.25 SAR 129

-23.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$51.2 SAR 192

$77.0 SAR 289

-33.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$65.7 SAR 247

$105 SAR 394

-37.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$40.52 SAR 152

$58.3 SAR 219

-30.49%

Cinema Ticket

$15.68 SAR 58.9

$16.17 SAR 60.7

-3.03%

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

$178 SAR 668

$457 SAR 1,716

-61.04%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,778 SAR 14.2K

$9,739 SAR 36.6K

-61.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.6 SAR 224

$59.5 SAR 223

0.13%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$53.7 SAR 202

$64.1 SAR 241

-16.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$53.3 SAR 200

$107 SAR 400

-50.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.6 SAR 295

$100 SAR 376

-21.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$637 SAR 2,391

$1,072 SAR 4,023

-40.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$229 SAR 861

$841 SAR 3,158

-72.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$488 SAR 1,833

$2,027 SAR 7,608

-75.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$501 SAR 1,879

$1,090 SAR 4,092

-54.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,075 SAR 11.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,931 SAR 7,246

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,845 SAR 10.7K

$2,252 SAR 8,452

26.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.31

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

Last update for AL Kharj: May 30, 2026

Last update for Riyadh: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $637 in AL Kharj versus $1,072 in Riyadh. 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 26% 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 Riyadh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $169 vs $226 – 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 Riyadh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $969 in AL Kharj, $1,739 in Riyadh – roughly 79% apart. Riyadh 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 $2,608 in Riyadh. 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 $457 in Riyadh. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% more in Riyadh, 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 Riyadh at $1,739. In AL Kharj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Riyadh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Riyadh has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $969 in AL Kharj to $1,739 in Riyadh. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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, Riyadh makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.