Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Khobar and Abha Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Khobar and Abha

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,332 per month in Al Khobar vs $1,132 in Abha, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,100 per month in Al Khobar vs $1,887 in Abha, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,868 per month in Al Khobar vs $2,643 in Abha, rent included.

Al Khobar costs about 18% more than Abha, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Al Khobar sits 0% above the global median, while Abha is 15% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.82 SAR 25.59

$5.42 SAR 20.37

25.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.0 SAR 203

$53.8 SAR 202

0.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.19 SAR 30.77

$7.56 SAR 28.39

8.33%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 SAR 7.44

$1.68 SAR 6.31

17.86%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 SAR 10.13

$1.44 SAR 5.39

87.50%

Cappuccino

$4.26 SAR 16.00

$3.16 SAR 11.88

34.81%

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

$0.96 SAR 3.61

$0.58 SAR 2.19

65.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 SAR 1.83

$0.23 SAR 0.86

113.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 SAR 6.34

$1.88 SAR 7.07

-10.11%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 SAR 5.24

$0.51 SAR 1.93

174.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.32 SAR 8.72

$1.97 SAR 7.38

17.77%

Eggs

$2.88 SAR 10.81

$2.85 SAR 10.69

1.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.94 SAR 26.04

$5.84 SAR 21.95

18.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.12 SAR 34.26

$8.57 SAR 32.19

6.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.61 SAR 47.33

$16.77 SAR 63.0

-24.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 SAR 9.53

$1.89 SAR 7.10

34.39%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 SAR 6.45

$1.60 SAR 6.02

7.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 SAR 8.00

$1.46 SAR 5.49

45.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.88

$1.72 SAR 6.47

-8.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.41 SAR 5.30

$1.37 SAR 5.14

2.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.72 SAR 6.47

$1.22 SAR 4.57

40.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.70 SAR 6.38

$0.90 SAR 3.36

88.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 SAR 2.24

$0.58 SAR 2.19

3.45%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.70 SAR 10.13

$4.27 SAR 16.02

-36.77%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 SAR 5.48

$1.59 SAR 5.97

-8.18%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 SAR 7.04

$1.49 SAR 5.59

26.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.51 SAR 24.44

$9.61 SAR 36.07

-32.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 SAR 3.44

$0.84 SAR 3.17

9.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.1 SAR 225

$39.42 SAR 148

52.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 SAR 8.48

$2.60 SAR 9.76

-13.08%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 SAR 5.06

$2.73 SAR 10.27

-50.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.60 SAR 24.78

$13.10 SAR 49.18

-49.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 SAR 2.43

$0.59 SAR 2.22

10.17%

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

$21.4K SAR 80.2K

$24.7K SAR 92.8K

-13.49%

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

$22.7K SAR 85.4K

$22.6K SAR 85.0K

0.41%

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

$124 SAR 466

$81.3 SAR 305

52.53%

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

$34.51 SAR 130

$36.96 SAR 139

-6.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$80.7 SAR 303

$54.7 SAR 205

47.69%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$109 SAR 410

$122 SAR 456

-10.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.80 SAR 138

$27.45 SAR 103

34.06%

Cinema Ticket

$17.36 SAR 65.2

$17.86 SAR 67.0

-2.80%

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

$306 SAR 1,147

$241 SAR 906

26.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,541 SAR 28.3K

$5,294 SAR 19.9K

42.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.4 SAR 238

$38.27 SAR 144

65.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.8 SAR 262

$65.9 SAR 247

5.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 SAR 376

$178 SAR 667

-43.64%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 SAR 302

$88.1 SAR 331

-8.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$433 SAR 1,627

$361 SAR 1,355

20.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$401 SAR 1,505

$264 SAR 990

51.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,059 SAR 3,977

$557 SAR 2,091

90.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$813 SAR 3,054

$622 SAR 2,334

30.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,442 SAR 9,169

$2,364 SAR 8,876

3.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,423 SAR 5,344

$1,328 SAR 4,986

7.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,856 SAR 6,970

$2,190 SAR 8,222

-15.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.84

5.67

-32.28%

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

Last update for Al Khobar: July 11, 2026

Last update for Abha: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $433 in Al Khobar versus $361 in Abha. 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 18% higher in Abha, 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 $54.0 in Al Khobar versus $54.0 in Abha. Groceries tell a different story – $217 in Al Khobar vs $205 in Abha – so Abha wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Khobar vs Abha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Khobar costs about 18% more than Abha, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,999 per month in Al Khobar and $1,698 in Abha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Abha, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 6% 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 mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Al Khobar and $54.0 in Abha. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Abha, where all-in costs run around $1,132, than in Al Khobar at $1,332. In Abha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Al Khobar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Abha – 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 Abha. 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.