😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,323 in Al Khobar versus $1,221 in Al Majma'ah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,104 in Al Khobar versus $1,927 in Al Majma'ah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,885 in Al Khobar versus $2,633 in Al Majma'ah.
🌍Living in Al Khobar is roughly 8% more expensive than in Al Majma'ah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Al Khobar1% lower, Al Majma'ah8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.47SAR 24.31
$7.92SAR 29.75
-18.31%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.2SAR 200
$53.0SAR 199
0.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.78SAR 29.21
$7.79SAR 29.24
-0.13%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.02SAR 7.60
$1.77SAR 6.65
14.12%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.64SAR 9.92
$2.32SAR 8.70
13.79%
Cappuccino
$4.38SAR 16.45
$4.05SAR 15.22
8.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02SAR 3.84
$0.77SAR 2.90
32.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51SAR 1.92
$0.29SAR 1.07
75.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.75SAR 6.57
$1.43SAR 5.38
22.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.39SAR 5.22
$0.66SAR 2.48
110.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.40SAR 9.01
$2.27SAR 8.53
5.73%
Eggs
$2.83SAR 10.62
$2.29SAR 8.58
23.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.64SAR 24.92
$8.66SAR 32.51
-23.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.95SAR 33.60
$6.62SAR 24.88
35.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.73SAR 47.82
$11.58SAR 43.50
9.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.54SAR 9.52
$2.21SAR 8.30
14.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.74SAR 6.52
$1.74SAR 6.52
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15SAR 8.09
$1.50SAR 5.63
43.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57SAR 5.90
$1.59SAR 5.96
-1.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.42SAR 5.33
$0.69SAR 2.58
105.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.66SAR 6.24
$0.97SAR 3.63
71.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.71SAR 6.43
$1.45SAR 5.43
17.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58SAR 2.19
$0.52SAR 1.97
11.54%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.61SAR 9.82
$2.80SAR 10.53
-6.79%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42SAR 5.34
$1.73SAR 6.48
-17.92%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98SAR 7.43
$2.43SAR 9.12
-18.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.62SAR 24.86
$7.46SAR 28.00
-11.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.96SAR 3.60
$1.08SAR 4.06
-11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$61.6SAR 231
$40.59SAR 152
51.66%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.23SAR 8.38
$3.28SAR 12.32
-32.01%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.31SAR 4.93
$1.90SAR 7.13
-31.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.79SAR 25.48
$13.29SAR 49.91
-48.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.65SAR 2.43
$0.64SAR 2.39
1.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KSAR 79.8K
$35.1KSAR 131.9K
-39.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.0KSAR 86.2K
$23.7KSAR 89.1K
-3.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122SAR 458
$103SAR 386
18.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.21SAR 128
$34.75SAR 130
-1.55%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$81.4SAR 306
$74.9SAR 281
8.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$106SAR 400
$86.4SAR 325
23.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.66SAR 138
$35.51SAR 133
3.24%
Cinema Ticket
$17.12SAR 64.3
$15.93SAR 59.8
7.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$301SAR 1,129
$460SAR 1,728
-34.66%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,632SAR 28.7K
$9,463SAR 35.5K
-19.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.6SAR 239
$59.3SAR 223
7.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.1SAR 259
$63.7SAR 239
8.35%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100.0SAR 375
$108SAR 406
-7.50%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.0SAR 293
$97.6SAR 367
-20.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$430SAR 1,615
$439SAR 1,649
-2.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$394SAR 1,479
$374SAR 1,404
5.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,049SAR 3,938
$867SAR 3,255
20.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$800SAR 3,004
$614SAR 2,307
30.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,385SAR 8,955
$2,503SAR 9,398
-4.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,459SAR 5,479
$1,378SAR 5,174
5.89%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,822SAR 6,843
-
-
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 26, 2026
Last update for Al Majma'ah: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $430 in Al Khobar and $439 in Al Majma'ah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $53.0 in Al Khobar vs $53.0 in Al Majma'ah. Groceries flip the comparison at $216 vs $184, with Al Majma'ah cheaper for home cooking.
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 Majma'ah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Al Khobar or Al Majma'ah?
Al Majma'ah wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Al Khobar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Al Majma'ah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Al Khobar and in Al Majma'ah?
You'd need roughly $1,985 in Al Khobar and $1,832 in Al Majma'ah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Al Khobar compared to Al Majma'ah?
Rent for a central apartment: $430 in Al Khobar versus $439 in Al Majma'ah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Al Khobar compared to Al Majma'ah?
A monthly transit pass in Al Majma'ah runs roughly 52% less than in Al Khobar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Al Khobar and in Al Majma'ah?
Childcare runs $301 in Al Khobar versus $460 in Al Majma'ah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Al Khobar or in Al Majma'ah?
At $1,221 in Al Majma'ah versus $1,323 in Al Khobar, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Al Majma'ah but tight or insufficient in Al Khobar. The gap between the two cities makes Al Majma'ah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Al Khobar or Al Majma'ah?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How safe is Al Khobar compared to Al Majma'ah?
Safety-wise, Al Khobar and Al Majma'ah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Al Majma'ah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.