Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Khobar and AL Kharj Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Khobar and AL Kharj

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,434 per month in Al Khobar vs $951 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,206 per month in Al Khobar vs $1,473 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,978 per month in Al Khobar vs $1,996 in AL Kharj, rent included.

Al Khobar costs about 51% more than AL Kharj, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Al Khobar sits 5% above the global median, while AL Kharj is 31% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.83 SAR 25.66

$4.68 SAR 17.59

45.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.2 SAR 226

$26.80 SAR 101

124.74%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 SAR 29.42

$7.91 SAR 29.71

-1.01%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.70 SAR 10.16

$2.07 SAR 7.79

30.43%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 SAR 9.78

$1.35 SAR 5.08

92.59%

Cappuccino

$4.47 SAR 16.77

$3.07 SAR 11.53

45.60%

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

$0.99 SAR 3.74

$0.84 SAR 3.15

17.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 SAR 1.53

$0.13 SAR 0.48

215.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 SAR 6.10

$1.44 SAR 5.42

13.19%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 SAR 4.72

$0.26 SAR 0.97

384.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.53 SAR 9.51

$2.32 SAR 8.73

9.05%

Eggs

$2.36 SAR 8.88

$2.07 SAR 7.78

14.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.20 SAR 27.04

$9.96 SAR 37.40

-27.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.00 SAR 37.57

$4.97 SAR 18.66

101.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.85 SAR 44.49

$13.58 SAR 51.0

-12.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 SAR 10.36

$1.76 SAR 6.59

56.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 SAR 6.62

$1.30 SAR 4.90

35.38%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 SAR 7.67

$1.22 SAR 4.59

67.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 SAR 6.81

$1.34 SAR 5.03

35.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 SAR 5.25

$1.04 SAR 3.91

34.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.70 SAR 6.39

$1.10 SAR 4.12

54.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.72 SAR 6.48

$0.55 SAR 2.05

212.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.20

$0.59 SAR 2.21

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.61 SAR 9.81

$2.15 SAR 8.09

21.40%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 SAR 5.97

$1.10 SAR 4.12

44.55%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 SAR 7.23

$2.46 SAR 9.24

-21.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.82 SAR 25.63

$6.59 SAR 24.74

3.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 SAR 3.02

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.8 SAR 258

$22.75 SAR 85.4

202.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 SAR 12.58

$2.70 SAR 10.15

24.07%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.65 SAR 9.94

$0.55 SAR 2.05

381.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.69 SAR 25.13

$13.40 SAR 50.3

-50.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.27

$0.59 SAR 2.22

1.69%

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

$67.9K SAR 254.9K

$35.3K SAR 132.6K

92.27%

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

$22.2K SAR 83.5K

$21.9K SAR 82.2K

1.65%

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

$98.7 SAR 371

$102 SAR 384

-3.51%

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

$32.44 SAR 122

$27.14 SAR 102

19.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 SAR 257

$51.5 SAR 193

32.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.1 SAR 308

$73.8 SAR 277

11.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.49 SAR 137

$40.56 SAR 152

-10.03%

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 SAR 56.5

$13.41 SAR 50.4

12.23%

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

$611 SAR 2,294

$283 SAR 1,064

115.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,394 SAR 31.5K

$3,710 SAR 13.9K

126.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.4 SAR 238

$59.4 SAR 223

6.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$81.7 SAR 307

$53.1 SAR 199

53.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.2 SAR 365

$46.69 SAR 175

108.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.5 SAR 355

$79.7 SAR 299

18.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$642 SAR 2,412

$676 SAR 2,539

-4.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 SAR 1,921

$260 SAR 976

96.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,183 SAR 4,442

$591 SAR 2,219

100.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$852 SAR 3,201

$467 SAR 1,756

82.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,432 SAR 9,134

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 SAR 5,512

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,830 SAR 6,872

$2,869 SAR 10.8K

-36.23%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.88

5.54

6.14%

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

Last update for Al Khobar: September 13, 2026

Last update for AL Kharj: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $642 in Al Khobar versus $676 in AL Kharj. 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 57% higher in AL Kharj, 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 $60.0 in Al Khobar versus $27.00 in AL Kharj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $219 vs $173 – making AL Kharj 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 Kharj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,434 in Al Khobar, $951 in AL Kharj – roughly 51% apart. Al Khobar costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,151 per month in Al Khobar and $1,426 in AL Kharj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in AL Kharj, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $611 per month in Al Khobar and $283 in AL Kharj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 27% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in AL Kharj, where all-in costs run around $951, than in Al Khobar at $1,434. In AL Kharj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Al Khobar it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward AL Kharj – 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 AL Kharj. 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.