😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,353 in Al Khobar versus $1,222 in Al Majma'ah.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,112 in Al Khobar versus $1,895 in Al Majma'ah.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,870 in Al Khobar versus $2,568 in Al Majma'ah.
😐Living in Al Khobar is roughly 11% more expensive than Al Majma'ah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Al Khobar is 1% above, Al Majma'ah is 8% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.61SAR 24.80
$7.86SAR 29.49
-15.90%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.0SAR 203
$54.2SAR 203
-0.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.05SAR 30.20
$8.20SAR 30.77
-1.83%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.97SAR 7.39
$1.76SAR 6.60
11.93%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.60SAR 9.74
$2.20SAR 8.24
18.18%
Cappuccino
$4.23SAR 15.86
$4.12SAR 15.48
2.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94SAR 3.51
$0.71SAR 2.65
32.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48SAR 1.81
$0.31SAR 1.17
54.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.70SAR 6.38
$1.51SAR 5.67
12.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.40SAR 5.24
$0.65SAR 2.45
115.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.37SAR 8.90
$2.24SAR 8.41
5.80%
Eggs
$2.83SAR 10.62
$2.26SAR 8.46
25.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.79SAR 25.46
$8.39SAR 31.49
-19.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.15SAR 34.33
$6.61SAR 24.81
38.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.28SAR 46.09
$11.95SAR 44.85
2.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.50SAR 9.39
$2.20SAR 8.24
13.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73SAR 6.50
$1.68SAR 6.32
2.98%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21SAR 8.29
$1.48SAR 5.57
49.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58SAR 5.92
$1.52SAR 5.70
3.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.49SAR 5.60
$0.69SAR 2.60
115.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.74SAR 6.51
$0.91SAR 3.40
91.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.75SAR 6.58
$1.44SAR 5.42
21.53%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60SAR 2.24
$0.51SAR 1.93
17.65%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.70SAR 10.12
$2.74SAR 10.28
-1.46%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.48SAR 5.56
$1.73SAR 6.48
-14.45%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96SAR 7.35
$2.40SAR 9.00
-18.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.68SAR 25.08
$7.52SAR 28.22
-11.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.89SAR 3.32
$1.09SAR 4.11
-18.35%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$59.6SAR 224
$39.74SAR 149
49.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.24SAR 8.41
$3.16SAR 11.87
-29.11%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.36SAR 5.11
$1.92SAR 7.19
-29.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.83SAR 25.65
$13.55SAR 50.8
-49.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63SAR 2.38
$0.59SAR 2.22
6.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7KSAR 81.6K
$34.6KSAR 129.8K
-37.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KSAR 86.9K
$23.6KSAR 88.6K
-1.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$122SAR 457
$102SAR 384
18.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.14SAR 128
$34.87SAR 131
-2.09%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.5SAR 302
$76.0SAR 285
5.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$108SAR 404
$88.0SAR 330
22.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.22SAR 136
$35.19SAR 132
2.93%
Cinema Ticket
$17.10SAR 64.2
$16.01SAR 60.1
6.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$311SAR 1,169
$448SAR 1,681
-30.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,735SAR 29.0K
$9,734SAR 36.5K
-20.54%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.5SAR 242
$59.4SAR 223
8.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$71.1SAR 267
$65.2SAR 245
9.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.0SAR 372
$110SAR 412
-9.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.7SAR 303
$98.8SAR 371
-18.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$432SAR 1,619
$435SAR 1,633
-0.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$393SAR 1,476
$379SAR 1,422
3.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,052SAR 3,949
$851SAR 3,194
23.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$804SAR 3,016
$627SAR 2,353
28.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,374SAR 8,910
$2,550SAR 9,568
-6.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,456SAR 5,464
$1,427SAR 5,354
2.04%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Khobar
Al Majma'ah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,847SAR 6,931
-
-
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 15, 2026
Last update for Al Majma'ah: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Al Khobar and $435 in Al Majma'ah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Al Khobar vs $54.0 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 11% 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 vs Al Majma'ah?
You'd need roughly $2,029 in Al Khobar and $1,833 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 vs Al Majma'ah?
Rent for a central apartment: $432 in Al Khobar versus $435 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 vs Al Majma'ah?
A monthly transit pass in Al Majma'ah runs roughly 50% 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 Al Majma'ah?
Childcare runs $311 in Al Khobar versus $448 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 Al Majma'ah?
At $1,222 in Al Majma'ah versus $1,353 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 11% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.