😐A single person spends $1,353 per month in Al Khobar vs $1,021 in Al Hufuf, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,112 per month in Al Khobar vs $1,590 in Al Hufuf, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,870 per month in Al Khobar vs $2,160 in Al Hufuf, rent included.
😐Al Khobar costs about 33% more than Al Hufuf, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Al Khobar sits 1% above the global median, while Al Hufuf is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Khobar
Al Hufuf
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.61SAR 24.80
$6.72SAR 25.22
-1.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.0SAR 203
$48.31SAR 181
11.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.05SAR 30.20
$7.83SAR 29.39
2.81%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.97SAR 7.39
$1.69SAR 6.36
16.57%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60SAR 9.74
$1.58SAR 5.92
64.56%
Cappuccino
$4.23SAR 15.86
$3.92SAR 14.70
7.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94SAR 3.51
$0.69SAR 2.58
36.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48SAR 1.81
$0.20SAR 0.75
140.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Khobar
Al Hufuf
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70SAR 6.38
$1.59SAR 5.96
6.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.40SAR 5.24
$1.01SAR 3.79
38.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.37SAR 8.90
$2.37SAR 8.89
-
Eggs
$2.83SAR 10.62
$2.01SAR 7.54
40.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.79SAR 25.46
$5.60SAR 21.02
21.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.15SAR 34.33
$6.45SAR 24.19
41.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.28SAR 46.09
$13.71SAR 51.4
-10.43%
Apples(1kg)
$2.50SAR 9.39
$1.74SAR 6.53
43.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73SAR 6.50
$1.65SAR 6.17
4.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21SAR 8.29
$1.36SAR 5.09
62.50%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58SAR 5.92
$1.12SAR 4.21
41.07%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49SAR 5.60
$0.96SAR 3.60
55.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.74SAR 6.51
$1.00SAR 3.76
74.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.75SAR 6.58
$1.35SAR 5.05
29.63%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60SAR 2.24
$0.52SAR 1.94
15.38%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.70SAR 10.12
$2.97SAR 11.15
-9.09%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48SAR 5.56
$1.72SAR 6.45
-13.95%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96SAR 7.35
$1.14SAR 4.29
71.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.68SAR 25.08
$6.21SAR 23.32
7.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Khobar
Al Hufuf
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89SAR 3.32
$1.10SAR 4.11
-19.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$59.6SAR 224
$39.87SAR 150
49.46%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.24SAR 8.41
$2.61SAR 9.80
-14.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.36SAR 5.11
$1.89SAR 7.11
-28.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.83SAR 25.64
$13.26SAR 49.74
-48.49%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63SAR 2.38
$0.59SAR 2.21
6.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7KSAR 81.6K
$35.0KSAR 131.4K
-37.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KSAR 86.9K
$23.1KSAR 86.6K
0.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Khobar
Al Hufuf
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122SAR 457
$78.5SAR 295
55.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.14SAR 128
$31.90SAR 120
7.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.5SAR 302
$74.4SAR 279
8.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Khobar
Al Hufuf
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$108SAR 404
$142SAR 534
-24.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.22SAR 136
$33.71SAR 126
7.45%
Cinema Ticket
$17.10SAR 64.2
$13.51SAR 50.7
26.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Khobar
Al Hufuf
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$311SAR 1,169
$292SAR 1,095
6.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,735SAR 29.0K
$4,074SAR 15.3K
89.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Khobar
Al Hufuf
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.5SAR 242
$12.80SAR 48.04
403.59%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$71.1SAR 267
$15.81SAR 59.3
349.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.0SAR 371
$41.74SAR 157
137.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.7SAR 303
$33.19SAR 125
143.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Khobar
Al Hufuf
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$432SAR 1,619
$359SAR 1,348
20.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$393SAR 1,476
$268SAR 1,007
46.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,052SAR 3,949
$704SAR 2,640
49.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$804SAR 3,016
$404SAR 1,514
99.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,374SAR 8,909
$2,321SAR 8,709
2.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456SAR 5,463
$1,333SAR 5,002
9.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Khobar
Al Hufuf
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,847SAR 6,931
$1,937SAR 7,269
-4.64%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.84
2.5
53.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al Khobar: June 15, 2026
Last update for Al Hufuf: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $432 in Al Khobar versus $359 in Al Hufuf. 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 5% higher in Al Hufuf, 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 $48.00 in Al Hufuf. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $216 vs $180 – making Al Hufuf 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 Khobar vs Al Hufuf: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Al Hufuf cheaper than Al Khobar?
Yes – Al Khobar is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,029 per month in Al Khobar and $1,532 in Al Hufuf. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Al Hufuf, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Al Khobar or Al Hufuf?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $54.0 in Al Khobar and $48.00 in Al Hufuf. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Al Khobar vs Al Hufuf?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,353 in Al Khobar and $1,021 in Al Hufuf. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Al Khobar or Al Hufuf?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al Hufuf, where all-in costs run around $1,021, than in Al Khobar at $1,353. In Al Hufuf it covers expenses comfortably, while in Al Khobar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Al Khobar or Al Hufuf more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Al Hufuf – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Al Khobar or Al Hufuf?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Al Hufuf. 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.