😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,434 in Al Khobar versus $1,232 in Al Majma'ah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,206 in Al Khobar versus $1,961 in Al Majma'ah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,978 in Al Khobar versus $2,690 in Al Majma'ah.
🌍Living in Al Khobar is roughly 16% more expensive than in Al Majma'ah, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Al Khobar is 5% above, Al Majma'ah is 10% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.83SAR 25.66
$7.89SAR 29.64
-13.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.2SAR 226
$64.7SAR 243
-6.91%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.83SAR 29.42
$8.89SAR 33.39
-11.92%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.70SAR 10.16
$1.90SAR 7.15
42.11%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60SAR 9.78
$3.01SAR 11.30
-13.62%
Cappuccino
$4.47SAR 16.77
$4.41SAR 16.55
1.36%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.99SAR 3.74
$0.95SAR 3.58
4.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41SAR 1.53
$0.31SAR 1.18
32.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63SAR 6.10
$1.66SAR 6.24
-1.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26SAR 4.73
$1.33SAR 4.98
-5.26%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.53SAR 9.51
$2.38SAR 8.94
6.30%
Eggs
$2.36SAR 8.88
$3.24SAR 12.18
-27.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.20SAR 27.04
$9.63SAR 36.16
-25.23%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.00SAR 37.57
$9.56SAR 35.91
4.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.85SAR 44.49
$15.60SAR 58.6
-24.04%
Apples(1kg)
$2.76SAR 10.36
$2.72SAR 10.22
1.47%
Banana(1kg)
$1.76SAR 6.62
$1.94SAR 7.27
-9.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.04SAR 7.67
$2.38SAR 8.96
-14.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.81SAR 6.81
$1.75SAR 6.56
3.43%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40SAR 5.25
$1.19SAR 4.46
17.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.70SAR 6.39
$1.35SAR 5.07
25.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.72SAR 6.48
$1.71SAR 6.44
0.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59SAR 2.20
$0.56SAR 2.10
5.36%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.61SAR 9.82
$2.75SAR 10.34
-5.09%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59SAR 5.97
$1.82SAR 6.85
-12.64%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93SAR 7.23
$2.45SAR 9.20
-21.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.82SAR 25.63
$7.43SAR 27.91
-8.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.80SAR 3.02
$1.05SAR 3.93
-23.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$68.8SAR 258
$35.52SAR 133
93.64%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.35SAR 12.59
$3.15SAR 11.84
6.35%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.65SAR 9.94
$1.82SAR 6.84
45.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.69SAR 25.14
$13.52SAR 50.8
-50.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60SAR 2.27
$0.64SAR 2.40
-6.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$67.9KSAR 254.9K
$35.9KSAR 135.0K
88.83%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2KSAR 83.5K
$22.7KSAR 85.4K
-2.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$98.7SAR 371
$94.3SAR 354
4.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.44SAR 122
$32.85SAR 123
-1.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.3SAR 257
$69.0SAR 259
-0.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$82.1SAR 308
$83.9SAR 315
-2.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.49SAR 137
$37.05SAR 139
-1.51%
Cinema Ticket
$15.05SAR 56.5
$13.26SAR 49.82
13.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$611SAR 2,294
$540SAR 2,028
13.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,394SAR 31.5K
$11.1KSAR 41.6K
-24.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.4SAR 238
$59.2SAR 222
7.10%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$81.7SAR 307
$57.2SAR 215
42.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.2SAR 365
$106SAR 398
-8.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$94.5SAR 355
$108SAR 407
-12.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$642SAR 2,413
$581SAR 2,182
10.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$512SAR 1,921
$351SAR 1,317
45.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,183SAR 4,442
$877SAR 3,294
34.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$852SAR 3,201
$540SAR 2,027
57.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,432SAR 9,135
$2,320SAR 8,716
4.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,467SAR 5,512
$1,378SAR 5,176
6.49%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,830SAR 6,872
-
-
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 Majma'ah: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $642 in Al Khobar and $581 in Al Majma'ah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $60.0 in Al Khobar vs $65.0 in Al Majma'ah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $239 per month, with Al Khobar cheaper across the board.
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 16% 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 $2,151 in Al Khobar and $1,848 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: $642 in Al Khobar versus $581 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 94% 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 $611 in Al Khobar versus $540 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 $1,232 in Al Majma'ah versus $1,434 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 16% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.