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: $1,434 in Al Khobar versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,206 in Al Khobar versus $1,828 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,978 in Al Khobar versus $2,450 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Al Khobar is roughly 19% more expensive than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Al Khobar is 5% above, Ad Dammam is 12% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.83 SAR 25.66

$7.90 SAR 29.66

-13.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.2 SAR 226

$35.27 SAR 132

70.77%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 SAR 29.42

$6.78 SAR 25.48

15.49%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.70 SAR 10.16

$1.92 SAR 7.23

40.63%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 SAR 9.78

$2.22 SAR 8.33

17.12%

Cappuccino

$4.47 SAR 16.77

$2.98 SAR 11.18

50.00%

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

$0.99 SAR 3.74

$0.77 SAR 2.90

28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 SAR 1.53

$0.20 SAR 0.77

105.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 SAR 6.10

$1.80 SAR 6.77

-9.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 SAR 4.72

$1.27 SAR 4.78

-0.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.53 SAR 9.51

$1.87 SAR 7.02

35.29%

Eggs

$2.36 SAR 8.88

$2.18 SAR 8.19

8.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.20 SAR 27.04

$7.26 SAR 27.26

-0.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.00 SAR 37.57

$7.74 SAR 29.06

29.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.85 SAR 44.49

$12.95 SAR 48.63

-8.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 SAR 10.36

$2.19 SAR 8.23

26.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 SAR 6.62

$1.66 SAR 6.24

6.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 SAR 7.67

$1.58 SAR 5.92

29.11%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 SAR 6.81

$1.56 SAR 5.84

16.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 SAR 5.25

$1.11 SAR 4.18

26.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.70 SAR 6.39

$1.16 SAR 4.37

46.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.72 SAR 6.48

$1.27 SAR 4.75

35.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.20

$0.58 SAR 2.19

1.72%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.61 SAR 9.81

$4.20 SAR 15.77

-37.86%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 SAR 5.97

$1.52 SAR 5.70

4.61%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 SAR 7.23

$2.21 SAR 8.31

-12.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.82 SAR 25.63

$7.58 SAR 28.45

-10.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 SAR 3.02

$0.98 SAR 3.69

-18.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.8 SAR 258

$35.71 SAR 134

92.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 SAR 12.58

$2.74 SAR 10.28

22.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.65 SAR 9.94

$2.62 SAR 9.82

1.15%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.69 SAR 25.13

$13.54 SAR 50.8

-50.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.27

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

$67.9K SAR 254.9K

$66.7K SAR 250.4K

1.78%

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

$22.2K SAR 83.5K

$21.0K SAR 79.0K

5.66%

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

$98.7 SAR 371

$127 SAR 478

-22.43%

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

$32.44 SAR 122

$32.69 SAR 123

-0.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 SAR 257

$64.4 SAR 242

6.12%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.1 SAR 308

$77.7 SAR 292

5.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.49 SAR 137

$28.77 SAR 108

26.83%

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 SAR 56.5

$13.58 SAR 51.0

10.82%

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

$611 SAR 2,294

$419 SAR 1,574

45.72%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,394 SAR 31.5K

$7,803 SAR 29.3K

7.57%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.4 SAR 238

$42.01 SAR 158

50.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$81.7 SAR 307

$49.62 SAR 186

64.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.2 SAR 365

$97.9 SAR 368

-0.75%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.5 SAR 355

$91.6 SAR 344

3.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$642 SAR 2,412

$584 SAR 2,193

10.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 SAR 1,921

$369 SAR 1,385

38.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,183 SAR 4,442

$985 SAR 3,700

20.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$852 SAR 3,201

$673 SAR 2,529

26.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,432 SAR 9,134

$1,416 SAR 5,319

71.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 SAR 5,512

$600 SAR 2,253

144.61%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,830 SAR 6,872

$1,520 SAR 5,708

20.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.88

5.9

-0.34%

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

Last update for Al Khobar: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $642 in Al Khobar and $584 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Khobar pays 20% 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: $60.0 in Al Khobar vs $35.00 in Ad Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $199 per month, with Ad Dammam cheaper across the board.

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 19% 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 20% 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: $642 in Al Khobar versus $584 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,434 per month in Al Khobar versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 93% less than in Al Khobar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,205 in Ad Dammam versus $1,434 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 19% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.