😐A single person spends $1,323 per month in Al Khobar vs $1,047 in Al Hufuf, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,104 per month in Al Khobar vs $1,583 in Al Hufuf, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,885 per month in Al Khobar vs $2,119 in Al Hufuf, rent included.
😐Al Khobar costs about 26% more than Al Hufuf, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Al Khobar and Al Hufuf are more affordable than the global median – Al Khobar1% lower, Al Hufuf21% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Khobar
Al Hufuf
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.47SAR 24.31
$6.64SAR 24.95
-2.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.2SAR 200
$48.54SAR 182
9.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.78SAR 29.21
$7.67SAR 28.82
1.43%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.02SAR 7.60
$1.68SAR 6.32
20.24%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64SAR 9.92
$1.62SAR 6.07
62.96%
Cappuccino
$4.38SAR 16.45
$3.94SAR 14.78
11.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02SAR 3.84
$0.65SAR 2.45
56.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51SAR 1.92
$0.22SAR 0.83
131.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Khobar
Al Hufuf
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75SAR 6.57
$1.63SAR 6.13
7.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.39SAR 5.22
$0.96SAR 3.61
44.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.40SAR 9.01
$2.34SAR 8.79
2.56%
Eggs
$2.83SAR 10.62
$2.02SAR 7.58
40.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.64SAR 24.92
$5.58SAR 20.97
19.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.95SAR 33.60
$6.48SAR 24.32
38.12%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.73SAR 47.82
$13.91SAR 52.2
-8.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.54SAR 9.52
$1.67SAR 6.27
52.10%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74SAR 6.52
$1.55SAR 5.83
12.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15SAR 8.09
$1.35SAR 5.07
59.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57SAR 5.90
$1.17SAR 4.40
34.19%
Potato(1kg)
$1.42SAR 5.33
$1.02SAR 3.82
39.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66SAR 6.24
$0.96SAR 3.61
72.92%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.71SAR 6.43
$1.30SAR 4.88
31.54%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58SAR 2.19
$0.52SAR 1.96
11.54%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.61SAR 9.82
$2.87SAR 10.77
-9.06%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42SAR 5.34
$1.79SAR 6.73
-20.67%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98SAR 7.43
$1.10SAR 4.14
80.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.62SAR 24.86
$6.56SAR 24.63
0.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Khobar
Al Hufuf
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.96SAR 3.60
$1.05SAR 3.94
-8.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.6SAR 231
$39.78SAR 149
54.75%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.23SAR 8.38
$2.64SAR 9.93
-15.53%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.31SAR 4.93
$1.91SAR 7.19
-31.41%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.79SAR 25.48
$13.54SAR 50.9
-49.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.65SAR 2.43
$0.64SAR 2.40
1.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KSAR 79.8K
$34.9KSAR 131.1K
-39.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0KSAR 86.2K
$23.6KSAR 88.7K
-2.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Khobar
Al Hufuf
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122SAR 458
$80.2SAR 301
51.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.21SAR 128
$31.40SAR 118
8.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.4SAR 306
$76.5SAR 287
6.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Khobar
Al Hufuf
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$106SAR 400
$144SAR 540
-26.00%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.66SAR 138
$33.87SAR 127
8.24%
Cinema Ticket
$17.12SAR 64.3
$13.45SAR 50.5
27.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Khobar
Al Hufuf
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$301SAR 1,129
$299SAR 1,122
0.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,632SAR 28.7K
$4,157SAR 15.6K
83.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Khobar
Al Hufuf
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6SAR 239
$12.49SAR 46.90
409.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.1SAR 259
$16.04SAR 60.2
330.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100.0SAR 375
$41.35SAR 155
141.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.0SAR 293
$33.27SAR 125
134.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Khobar
Al Hufuf
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$430SAR 1,615
$366SAR 1,374
17.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$394SAR 1,479
$262SAR 982
50.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,049SAR 3,938
$707SAR 2,653
48.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$800SAR 3,004
$396SAR 1,488
101.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,385SAR 8,955
$2,018SAR 7,578
18.17%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,459SAR 5,479
$1,307SAR 4,909
11.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Khobar
Al Hufuf
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,822SAR 6,843
$1,990SAR 7,472
-8.41%
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: July 26, 2026
Last update for Al Hufuf: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $430 in Al Khobar versus $366 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 9% 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 $53.0 in Al Khobar versus $49.00 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 26%, 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 $1,985 per month in Al Khobar and $1,570 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 in Al Hufuf?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Al Khobar and $49.00 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 and in Al Hufuf?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,323 in Al Khobar and $1,047 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 living in Al Khobar or in Al Hufuf?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Al Hufuf, where all-in costs run around $1,047, than in Al Khobar at $1,323. 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.