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 $1,344 per month in Al Khobar vs $1,136 in Abha, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,120 per month in Al Khobar vs $1,893 in Abha, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,897 per month in Al Khobar vs $2,650 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

$6.75 SAR 25.34

$5.27 SAR 19.80

28.08%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 SAR 197

$52.5 SAR 197

0.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.05 SAR 30.20

$7.55 SAR 28.35

6.62%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 SAR 7.59

$1.74 SAR 6.53

16.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 SAR 10.22

$1.43 SAR 5.35

90.21%

Cappuccino

$4.32 SAR 16.23

$3.17 SAR 11.88

36.28%

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

$1.00 SAR 3.75

$0.63 SAR 2.38

58.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 SAR 1.93

$0.23 SAR 0.87

121.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 SAR 6.34

$1.89 SAR 7.08

-10.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 SAR 5.17

$0.48 SAR 1.79

187.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.33 SAR 8.75

$2.02 SAR 7.57

15.35%

Eggs

$2.91 SAR 10.91

$2.99 SAR 11.24

-2.68%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.59 SAR 24.72

$5.80 SAR 21.77

13.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.17 SAR 34.43

$8.91 SAR 33.43

2.92%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.70 SAR 47.65

$16.68 SAR 62.6

-23.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.50 SAR 9.38

$1.82 SAR 6.83

37.36%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 SAR 6.54

$1.67 SAR 6.26

4.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.11 SAR 7.90

$1.47 SAR 5.50

43.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 SAR 6.17

$1.68 SAR 6.30

-2.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.43 SAR 5.38

$1.43 SAR 5.36

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 SAR 6.26

$1.26 SAR 4.72

32.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.76 SAR 6.59

$0.91 SAR 3.43

93.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 SAR 2.33

$0.59 SAR 2.23

5.08%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.68 SAR 10.05

$4.31 SAR 16.17

-37.82%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 SAR 5.34

$1.52 SAR 5.72

-6.58%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 SAR 7.39

$1.48 SAR 5.57

33.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.75 SAR 25.35

$9.42 SAR 35.37

-28.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 SAR 3.45

$0.82 SAR 3.06

12.20%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.6 SAR 231

$39.87 SAR 150

54.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 SAR 8.44

$2.63 SAR 9.86

-14.45%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 SAR 4.87

$2.63 SAR 9.87

-50.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.59 SAR 24.74

$13.17 SAR 49.42

-49.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.25

$0.61 SAR 2.28

-1.64%

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

$21.2K SAR 79.4K

$24.2K SAR 90.9K

-12.65%

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

$22.7K SAR 85.1K

$22.2K SAR 83.3K

2.08%

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

$123 SAR 461

$81.1 SAR 304

51.31%

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

$34.93 SAR 131

$37.40 SAR 140

-6.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$80.1 SAR 301

$55.7 SAR 209

43.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$107 SAR 400

$122 SAR 460

-13.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.08 SAR 135

$27.36 SAR 103

31.87%

Cinema Ticket

$17.66 SAR 66.3

$18.08 SAR 67.9

-2.32%

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

$307 SAR 1,151

$235 SAR 882

30.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,553 SAR 28.3K

$5,411 SAR 20.3K

39.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.8 SAR 239

$37.52 SAR 141

69.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.0 SAR 263

$66.6 SAR 250

5.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.7 SAR 370

$181 SAR 679

-45.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.8 SAR 303

$87.2 SAR 327

-7.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$433 SAR 1,624

$358 SAR 1,345

20.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 SAR 1,489

$264 SAR 991

50.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,031 SAR 3,869

$577 SAR 2,167

78.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$790 SAR 2,965

$640 SAR 2,402

23.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,419 SAR 9,077

$1,072 SAR 4,025

125.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,457 SAR 5,468

$609 SAR 2,285

139.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,866 SAR 7,005

$2,221 SAR 8,334

-15.95%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Abha: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $433 in Al Khobar versus $358 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 19% 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 $53.0 in Al Khobar versus $53.0 in Abha. Groceries tell a different story – $217 in Al Khobar vs $207 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 $2,016 per month in Al Khobar and $1,704 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 5% 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 $53.0 in Al Khobar and $53.0 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 $1,136, than in Al Khobar at $1,344. 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.