Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Khobar and Jeddah Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Khobar and Jeddah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,402 in Al Khobar versus $1,362 in Jeddah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,205 in Al Khobar versus $2,108 in Jeddah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,008 in Al Khobar versus $2,855 in Jeddah.

Living in Al Khobar is roughly 3% more expensive than in Jeddah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

The two cities straddle the global median: Al Khobar is 2% above, Jeddah is 1% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.53 SAR 24.53

$6.69 SAR 25.13

-2.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.0 SAR 225

$53.1 SAR 199

12.95%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.77 SAR 29.18

$8.16 SAR 30.64

-4.78%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.66 SAR 10.00

$2.51 SAR 9.42

5.98%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 SAR 10.15

$2.70 SAR 10.14

Cappuccino

$4.49 SAR 16.88

$3.54 SAR 13.28

26.84%

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

$0.91 SAR 3.41

$1.00 SAR 3.77

-9.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 SAR 1.53

$0.24 SAR 0.89

70.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 SAR 6.15

$1.71 SAR 6.42

-4.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 SAR 4.73

$1.01 SAR 3.80

24.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.46 SAR 9.24

$2.20 SAR 8.27

11.82%

Eggs

$2.39 SAR 8.97

$2.37 SAR 8.91

0.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.18 SAR 26.95

$6.36 SAR 23.86

12.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.91 SAR 37.21

$8.30 SAR 31.17

19.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.61 SAR 43.59

$13.08 SAR 49.13

-11.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.67 SAR 10.01

$1.95 SAR 7.33

36.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 SAR 6.54

$1.66 SAR 6.25

4.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 SAR 7.70

$1.52 SAR 5.72

34.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.83 SAR 6.86

$1.66 SAR 6.23

10.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 SAR 5.23

$1.16 SAR 4.37

19.83%

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 SAR 6.18

$1.29 SAR 4.83

27.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.64 SAR 6.16

$1.06 SAR 3.98

54.72%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 SAR 2.15

$0.54 SAR 2.02

5.56%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.63 SAR 9.86

$4.20 SAR 15.78

-37.38%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 SAR 6.17

$1.82 SAR 6.84

-9.89%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.89 SAR 7.10

$2.48 SAR 9.32

-23.79%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.59 SAR 24.74

$6.45 SAR 24.21

2.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.78 SAR 2.95

$1.09 SAR 4.11

-28.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$67.3 SAR 253

$54.9 SAR 206

22.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 SAR 12.21

$3.14 SAR 11.80

3.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.71 SAR 10.18

$1.75 SAR 6.58

54.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.81 SAR 25.57

$13.91 SAR 52.2

-51.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.38

$0.60 SAR 2.25

5.00%

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

$65.6K SAR 246.2K

$48.0K SAR 180.1K

36.70%

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

$21.9K SAR 82.2K

$21.3K SAR 80.0K

2.81%

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

$98.6 SAR 370

$102 SAR 384

-3.64%

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

$32.61 SAR 122

$38.54 SAR 145

-15.39%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.2 SAR 264

$67.6 SAR 254

3.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$79.9 SAR 300

$87.1 SAR 327

-8.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.21 SAR 136

$41.18 SAR 155

-12.07%

Cinema Ticket

$15.15 SAR 56.9

$11.87 SAR 44.56

27.63%

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

$600 SAR 2,253

$728 SAR 2,733

-17.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,271 SAR 31.1K

$16.3K SAR 61.1K

-49.15%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.5 SAR 238

$68.9 SAR 259

-7.85%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$81.4 SAR 306

$59.8 SAR 224

36.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.5 SAR 366

$96.4 SAR 362

1.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$92.5 SAR 347

$97.4 SAR 366

-4.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$620 SAR 2,328

$773 SAR 2,904

-19.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$499 SAR 1,872

$531 SAR 1,994

-6.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,184 SAR 4,445

$1,464 SAR 5,497

-19.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$847 SAR 3,180

$831 SAR 3,121

1.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,411 SAR 9,054

$1,746 SAR 6,555

38.12%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,423 SAR 5,342

$1,145 SAR 4,301

24.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,843 SAR 6,920

$1,664 SAR 6,249

10.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.88

5.39

9.09%

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

Last update for Al Khobar: September 1, 2026

Last update for Jeddah: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $620 in Al Khobar and $773 in Jeddah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Khobar pays 11% 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 $53.0 in Jeddah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $216 vs $196 per month, with Jeddah 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 Jeddah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jeddah wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Al Khobar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Jeddah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 11% 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 $773 in Jeddah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Jeddah runs roughly 23% 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 $728 in Jeddah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,362 in Jeddah versus $1,402 in Al Khobar, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Jeddah but tight or insufficient in Al Khobar. The gap between the two cities makes Jeddah 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 Jeddah 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 Jeddah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.