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 $1,344 per month in Al Khobar vs $969 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,120 per month in Al Khobar vs $1,519 in AL Kharj, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,897 per month in Al Khobar vs $2,068 in AL Kharj, rent included.

Al Khobar costs about 39% more than AL Kharj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Al Khobar sits 0% above the global median, while AL Kharj is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.75 SAR 25.34

$6.47 SAR 24.27

4.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 SAR 197

$26.35 SAR 98.9

99.51%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.05 SAR 30.20

$7.97 SAR 29.91

1.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 SAR 7.59

$1.77 SAR 6.64

14.12%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 SAR 10.22

$1.37 SAR 5.13

98.54%

Cappuccino

$4.32 SAR 16.23

$2.48 SAR 9.31

74.19%

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

$1.00 SAR 3.75

$0.75 SAR 2.83

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 SAR 1.93

$0.13 SAR 0.47

292.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 SAR 6.34

$1.63 SAR 6.10

3.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 SAR 5.17

$0.28 SAR 1.06

392.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.33 SAR 8.75

$2.37 SAR 8.89

-1.69%

Eggs

$2.91 SAR 10.91

$2.03 SAR 7.62

43.35%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.59 SAR 24.72

$8.31 SAR 31.20

-20.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.17 SAR 34.43

$4.92 SAR 18.46

86.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.70 SAR 47.65

$13.46 SAR 50.5

-5.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.50 SAR 9.38

$1.98 SAR 7.43

26.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 SAR 6.54

$1.23 SAR 4.60

41.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.11 SAR 7.90

$0.89 SAR 3.33

137.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 SAR 6.17

$1.37 SAR 5.13

19.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.43 SAR 5.38

$0.96 SAR 3.60

48.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 SAR 6.26

$0.88 SAR 3.32

89.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.76 SAR 6.59

$0.82 SAR 3.10

114.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 SAR 2.33

$0.56 SAR 2.10

10.71%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.68 SAR 10.05

$2.19 SAR 8.22

22.37%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 SAR 5.34

$1.37 SAR 5.14

3.65%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 SAR 7.39

$2.38 SAR 8.93

-17.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.75 SAR 25.35

$6.42 SAR 24.09

5.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 SAR 3.45

$1.06 SAR 3.96

-13.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.6 SAR 231

$40.41 SAR 152

52.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 SAR 8.44

$2.69 SAR 10.11

-16.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 SAR 4.87

$0.55 SAR 2.08

136.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.59 SAR 24.74

$13.39 SAR 50.3

-50.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.25

$0.59 SAR 2.20

1.69%

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

$21.2K SAR 79.4K

$33.9K SAR 127.4K

-37.68%

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

$22.7K SAR 85.1K

$23.2K SAR 87.2K

-2.40%

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

$123 SAR 461

$106 SAR 398

15.68%

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

$34.93 SAR 131

$26.15 SAR 98.2

33.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$80.1 SAR 301

$51.2 SAR 192

56.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$107 SAR 400

$65.7 SAR 247

62.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.08 SAR 135

$40.52 SAR 152

-10.96%

Cinema Ticket

$17.66 SAR 66.3

$15.68 SAR 58.9

12.63%

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

$307 SAR 1,151

$178 SAR 668

72.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,553 SAR 28.3K

$3,778 SAR 14.2K

99.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.8 SAR 239

$59.6 SAR 224

7.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.0 SAR 263

$53.7 SAR 202

30.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.7 SAR 370

$53.3 SAR 200

85.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.8 SAR 303

$78.6 SAR 295

2.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$433 SAR 1,624

$637 SAR 2,391

-32.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 SAR 1,489

$229 SAR 861

72.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,031 SAR 3,869

$488 SAR 1,833

111.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$790 SAR 2,965

$501 SAR 1,879

57.78%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,419 SAR 9,077

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,457 SAR 5,468

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,866 SAR 7,005

$2,845 SAR 10.7K

-34.40%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for AL Kharj: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $433 in Al Khobar versus $637 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 52% 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 $53.0 in Al Khobar versus $26.00 in AL Kharj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $217 vs $169 – 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: $1,344 in Al Khobar, $969 in AL Kharj – roughly 39% apart. Al Khobar costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,016 per month in Al Khobar and $1,454 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 $307 per month in Al Khobar and $178 in AL Kharj. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 29% 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 $969, than in Al Khobar at $1,344. 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.