Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Khobar and Ar-rass Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Khobar and Ar-rass

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,402 in Al Khobar versus $1,096 in Ar-rass.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,205 in Al Khobar versus $1,661 in Ar-rass.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,008 in Al Khobar versus $2,226 in Ar-rass.

Living in Al Khobar is roughly 28% more expensive than in Ar-rass, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Al Khobar is 2% above, Ar-rass is 20% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 SAR 24.53

$6.54 SAR 24.56

-0.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.0 SAR 225

$37.31 SAR 140

60.81%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.77 SAR 29.18

$8.09 SAR 30.39

-3.96%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.66 SAR 10.00

$1.80 SAR 6.74

47.78%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 SAR 10.15

$2.04 SAR 7.67

32.35%

Cappuccino

$4.49 SAR 16.88

$3.31 SAR 12.43

35.65%

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

$0.91 SAR 3.41

$0.83 SAR 3.11

9.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 SAR 1.53

$0.24 SAR 0.90

70.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 SAR 6.15

$1.89 SAR 7.09

-13.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 SAR 4.73

$0.39 SAR 1.46

223.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.46 SAR 9.24

$1.88 SAR 7.05

30.85%

Eggs

$2.39 SAR 8.97

$3.54 SAR 13.30

-32.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.18 SAR 26.95

$7.30 SAR 27.40

-1.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.91 SAR 37.21

$8.09 SAR 30.36

22.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.61 SAR 43.59

$12.99 SAR 48.76

-10.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 SAR 10.01

$2.10 SAR 7.90

27.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 SAR 6.54

$1.72 SAR 6.45

1.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 SAR 7.70

$1.55 SAR 5.82

32.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.83 SAR 6.86

$1.62 SAR 6.08

12.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 SAR 5.23

$1.10 SAR 4.14

26.36%

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 SAR 6.18

$1.26 SAR 4.74

30.95%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.64 SAR 6.16

$1.20 SAR 4.52

36.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 SAR 2.15

$0.54 SAR 2.05

5.56%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.63 SAR 9.86

$2.88 SAR 10.81

-8.68%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 SAR 6.17

$1.88 SAR 7.06

-12.77%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 SAR 7.10

$2.12 SAR 7.97

-10.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.59 SAR 24.74

$7.88 SAR 29.60

-16.37%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 SAR 2.95

$1.10 SAR 4.15

-29.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.3 SAR 253

$38.78 SAR 146

73.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 SAR 12.21

$2.91 SAR 10.92

11.68%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.71 SAR 10.18

$1.85 SAR 6.96

46.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.81 SAR 25.57

$13.96 SAR 52.4

-51.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.38

$0.59 SAR 2.22

6.78%

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

$65.6K SAR 246.2K

$42.1K SAR 158.2K

55.59%

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

$21.9K SAR 82.2K

$21.1K SAR 79.3K

3.72%

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

$98.6 SAR 370

$99.9 SAR 375

-1.30%

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

$32.61 SAR 122

$23.70 SAR 89.0

37.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.2 SAR 264

$60.2 SAR 226

16.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 SAR 300

$43.92 SAR 165

81.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.21 SAR 136

$38.59 SAR 145

-6.17%

Cinema Ticket

$15.15 SAR 56.9

$13.48 SAR 50.6

12.39%

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

$600 SAR 2,253

$346 SAR 1,298

73.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,271 SAR 31.1K

$6,243 SAR 23.4K

32.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 SAR 238

$50.5 SAR 189

25.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$81.4 SAR 306

$60.9 SAR 229

33.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 SAR 366

$95.4 SAR 358

2.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.5 SAR 347

$101 SAR 379

-8.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$620 SAR 2,328

$585 SAR 2,196

6.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$499 SAR 1,872

$356 SAR 1,337

40.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,184 SAR 4,445

$377 SAR 1,415

214.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$847 SAR 3,180

$568 SAR 2,133

49.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,411 SAR 9,054

$2,639 SAR 9,909

-8.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,423 SAR 5,342

$1,273 SAR 4,779

11.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,843 SAR 6,920

$1,741 SAR 6,536

5.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.88

5.47

7.50%

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

Last update for Al Khobar: September 1, 2026

Last update for Ar-rass: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $620 in Al Khobar and $585 in Ar-rass. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Khobar pays 6% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $60.0 in Al Khobar vs $37.00 in Ar-rass for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $216 vs $198 per month, with Ar-rass 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 Ar-rass: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ar-rass wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Al Khobar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ar-rass the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 6% higher in Al Khobar, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $620 in Al Khobar versus $585 in Ar-rass. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Ar-rass runs roughly 73% less than in Al Khobar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $600 in Al Khobar versus $346 in Ar-rass. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,096 in Ar-rass versus $1,402 in Al Khobar, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ar-rass but tight or insufficient in Al Khobar. The gap between the two cities makes Ar-rass the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Al Khobar and Ar-rass are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ar-rass gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.