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 $1,332 per month in Al Khobar vs $943 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,100 per month in Al Khobar vs $1,496 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,868 per month in Al Khobar vs $2,050 in AL Kharj, rent included.

Al Khobar costs about 41% more than AL Kharj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Al Khobar sits 0% above the global median, while AL Kharj is 29% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.82 SAR 25.59

$6.47 SAR 24.31

5.41%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.0 SAR 203

$26.66 SAR 100

102.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.19 SAR 30.77

$8.02 SAR 30.13

2.12%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 SAR 7.44

$1.70 SAR 6.39

16.47%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 SAR 10.13

$1.29 SAR 4.86

109.30%

Cappuccino

$4.26 SAR 16.00

$2.45 SAR 9.21

73.88%

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

$0.96 SAR 3.61

$0.78 SAR 2.94

23.08%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 SAR 1.83

$0.13 SAR 0.47

276.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 SAR 6.34

$1.65 SAR 6.18

2.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 SAR 5.24

$0.26 SAR 0.97

438.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.32 SAR 8.72

$2.40 SAR 9.00

-3.33%

Eggs

$2.88 SAR 10.81

$1.95 SAR 7.31

47.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.94 SAR 26.04

$8.50 SAR 31.90

-18.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.12 SAR 34.26

$5.12 SAR 19.24

78.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.61 SAR 47.33

$13.52 SAR 50.8

-6.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 SAR 9.53

$2.01 SAR 7.55

26.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 SAR 6.45

$1.23 SAR 4.61

39.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 SAR 8.00

$0.95 SAR 3.57

124.21%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.88

$1.31 SAR 4.92

19.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.41 SAR 5.30

$0.90 SAR 3.40

56.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.72 SAR 6.47

$0.97 SAR 3.63

77.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.70 SAR 6.38

$0.78 SAR 2.94

117.95%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 SAR 2.24

$0.51 SAR 1.93

17.65%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.70 SAR 10.13

$2.12 SAR 7.96

27.36%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 SAR 5.48

$1.36 SAR 5.09

7.35%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 SAR 7.04

$2.43 SAR 9.12

-22.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.51 SAR 24.44

$6.58 SAR 24.72

-1.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 SAR 3.44

$1.05 SAR 3.95

-12.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.1 SAR 225

$39.90 SAR 150

50.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 SAR 8.48

$2.73 SAR 10.25

-17.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 SAR 5.06

$0.55 SAR 2.07

145.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.60 SAR 24.78

$13.58 SAR 51.0

-51.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 SAR 2.43

$0.64 SAR 2.40

1.56%

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

$21.4K SAR 80.2K

$34.6K SAR 129.8K

-38.18%

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

$22.7K SAR 85.4K

$22.9K SAR 86.0K

-0.73%

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

$124 SAR 466

$105 SAR 393

18.42%

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

$34.51 SAR 130

$27.04 SAR 102

27.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$80.7 SAR 303

$49.84 SAR 187

61.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$109 SAR 410

$67.5 SAR 253

62.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.80 SAR 138

$40.77 SAR 153

-9.74%

Cinema Ticket

$17.36 SAR 65.2

$16.29 SAR 61.2

6.57%

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

$306 SAR 1,147

$179 SAR 671

71.00%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,541 SAR 28.3K

$3,754 SAR 14.1K

100.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.4 SAR 238

$59.6 SAR 224

6.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.8 SAR 262

$54.2 SAR 204

28.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 SAR 376

$53.6 SAR 201

86.86%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 SAR 302

$81.1 SAR 305

-0.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$433 SAR 1,627

$653 SAR 2,454

-33.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$401 SAR 1,505

$233 SAR 875

71.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,059 SAR 3,977

$484 SAR 1,819

118.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$813 SAR 3,054

$492 SAR 1,847

65.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,442 SAR 9,169

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,423 SAR 5,344

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,856 SAR 6,970

$2,831 SAR 10.6K

-34.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.84

5.31

-27.68%

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

Last update for Al Khobar: July 11, 2026

Last update for AL Kharj: July 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $433 in Al Khobar versus $653 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 53% 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 $54.0 in Al Khobar versus $27.00 in AL Kharj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $217 vs $170 – 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: $1,332 in Al Khobar, $943 in AL Kharj – roughly 41% apart. Al Khobar costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,999 per month in Al Khobar and $1,414 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 $306 per month in Al Khobar and $179 in AL Kharj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 28% 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 $943, than in Al Khobar at $1,332. 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.