Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Khobar and Ad Dammam Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Khobar and Ad Dammam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,323 in Al Khobar versus $1,196 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,104 in Al Khobar versus $1,860 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,885 in Al Khobar versus $2,524 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Al Khobar is roughly 11% more expensive than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Khobar 1% lower, Ad Dammam 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.47 SAR 24.31

$7.29 SAR 27.37

-11.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.2 SAR 200

$53.7 SAR 202

-1.01%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.78 SAR 29.21

$8.03 SAR 30.16

-3.11%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 SAR 7.60

$1.82 SAR 6.83

10.99%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 SAR 9.92

$1.90 SAR 7.14

38.95%

Cappuccino

$4.38 SAR 16.45

$3.73 SAR 14.00

17.43%

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

$1.02 SAR 3.84

$0.92 SAR 3.44

10.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 SAR 1.92

$0.35 SAR 1.30

45.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 SAR 6.57

$1.63 SAR 6.13

7.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.39 SAR 5.22

$1.46 SAR 5.49

-4.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.40 SAR 9.01

$2.09 SAR 7.86

14.83%

Eggs

$2.83 SAR 10.62

$2.27 SAR 8.53

24.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.64 SAR 24.92

$6.12 SAR 22.97

8.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.95 SAR 33.60

$7.25 SAR 27.23

23.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.73 SAR 47.82

$9.70 SAR 36.42

31.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 SAR 9.52

$2.12 SAR 7.95

19.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 SAR 6.52

$1.49 SAR 5.61

16.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.15 SAR 8.09

$1.40 SAR 5.24

53.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.90

$1.59 SAR 5.98

-1.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.42 SAR 5.33

$1.28 SAR 4.82

10.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.66 SAR 6.24

$1.32 SAR 4.97

25.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.71 SAR 6.43

$1.36 SAR 5.12

25.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 SAR 2.19

$0.59 SAR 2.21

-1.69%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.61 SAR 9.82

$4.13 SAR 15.50

-36.80%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 SAR 5.34

$1.56 SAR 5.85

-8.97%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 SAR 7.43

$1.92 SAR 7.22

3.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.62 SAR 24.86

$7.76 SAR 29.13

-14.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.96 SAR 3.60

$0.95 SAR 3.57

1.05%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.6 SAR 231

$39.54 SAR 148

55.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.23 SAR 8.38

$3.38 SAR 12.70

-34.02%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.31 SAR 4.93

$2.62 SAR 9.86

-50.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.79 SAR 25.48

$13.54 SAR 50.8

-49.85%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 SAR 2.43

$0.60 SAR 2.25

8.33%

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

$21.2K SAR 79.8K

$23.0K SAR 86.3K

-7.60%

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

$23.0K SAR 86.2K

$21.1K SAR 79.1K

8.98%

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

$122 SAR 458

$115 SAR 432

5.95%

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

$34.21 SAR 128

$38.60 SAR 145

-11.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$81.4 SAR 306

$63.5 SAR 239

28.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$106 SAR 400

$70.5 SAR 265

50.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.66 SAR 138

$31.26 SAR 117

17.27%

Cinema Ticket

$17.12 SAR 64.3

$15.06 SAR 56.6

13.68%

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

$301 SAR 1,129

$415 SAR 1,558

-27.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,632 SAR 28.7K

$8,157 SAR 30.6K

-6.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.6 SAR 239

$68.6 SAR 258

-7.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.1 SAR 259

$66.7 SAR 250

3.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100.0 SAR 375

$92.6 SAR 348

8.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.0 SAR 293

$85.7 SAR 322

-9.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$430 SAR 1,615

$447 SAR 1,677

-3.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 SAR 1,479

$378 SAR 1,421

4.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,049 SAR 3,938

$805 SAR 3,021

30.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$800 SAR 3,004

$626 SAR 2,350

27.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,385 SAR 8,955

$1,353 SAR 5,082

76.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,459 SAR 5,479

$816 SAR 3,063

78.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,822 SAR 6,843

$1,510 SAR 5,669

20.72%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.84

4.33

-11.32%

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

Last update for Al Khobar: July 26, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $430 in Al Khobar and $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Khobar pays 21% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $53.0 in Al Khobar vs $54.0 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $216 vs $184, with Ad Dammam cheaper for home cooking.

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 Ad Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Al Khobar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ad Dammam the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 21% higher in Al Khobar, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $430 in Al Khobar versus $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,323 per month in Al Khobar versus $1,196 in Ad Dammam – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 56% less than in Al Khobar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,196 in Ad Dammam versus $1,323 in Al Khobar, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ad Dammam but tight or insufficient in Al Khobar. The gap between the two cities makes Ad Dammam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Al Khobar and Ad Dammam are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ad Dammam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.