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: $1,332 in Al Khobar versus $1,218 in Jeddah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,100 in Al Khobar versus $1,846 in Jeddah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,868 in Al Khobar versus $2,474 in Jeddah.

Living in Al Khobar is roughly 9% more expensive than in Jeddah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Al Khobar is 0% above, Jeddah is 9% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.82 SAR 25.60

$6.51 SAR 24.46

4.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.0 SAR 203

$39.65 SAR 149

36.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.19 SAR 30.77

$7.80 SAR 29.29

5.00%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 SAR 7.44

$2.16 SAR 8.10

-8.33%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 SAR 10.13

$2.10 SAR 7.90

28.57%

Cappuccino

$4.26 SAR 16.01

$3.78 SAR 14.20

12.70%

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

$0.96 SAR 3.61

$0.70 SAR 2.64

37.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 SAR 1.83

$0.25 SAR 0.94

96.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 SAR 6.34

$1.68 SAR 6.32

0.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 SAR 5.24

$0.94 SAR 3.53

48.94%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.32 SAR 8.72

$2.23 SAR 8.38

4.04%

Eggs

$2.88 SAR 10.81

$2.63 SAR 9.88

9.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.94 SAR 26.05

$7.42 SAR 27.86

-6.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.12 SAR 34.26

$7.77 SAR 29.19

17.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.61 SAR 47.34

$12.38 SAR 46.51

1.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 SAR 9.53

$2.18 SAR 8.19

16.51%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 SAR 6.45

$1.57 SAR 5.89

9.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 SAR 8.00

$1.54 SAR 5.80

38.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.88

$1.58 SAR 5.94

-0.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.41 SAR 5.30

$1.33 SAR 4.98

6.02%

Onion (1kg)

$1.72 SAR 6.47

$1.25 SAR 4.68

37.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.70 SAR 6.38

$1.10 SAR 4.15

54.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 SAR 2.24

$0.55 SAR 2.07

9.09%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.70 SAR 10.14

$4.21 SAR 15.79

-35.87%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 SAR 5.48

$1.89 SAR 7.11

-22.75%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 SAR 7.04

$2.49 SAR 9.36

-24.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.51 SAR 24.45

$6.79 SAR 25.51

-4.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 SAR 3.44

$1.30 SAR 4.87

-29.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.1 SAR 225

$39.89 SAR 150

50.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 SAR 8.48

$3.17 SAR 11.90

-28.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 SAR 5.06

$1.85 SAR 6.94

-27.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.60 SAR 24.78

$15.04 SAR 56.5

-56.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 SAR 2.43

$0.60 SAR 2.24

8.33%

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

$21.4K SAR 80.2K

$26.4K SAR 99.2K

-19.13%

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

$22.7K SAR 85.4K

$21.3K SAR 80.0K

6.71%

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

$124 SAR 466

$108 SAR 406

14.74%

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

$34.51 SAR 130

$32.30 SAR 121

6.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$80.7 SAR 303

$69.6 SAR 261

16.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$109 SAR 410

$91.1 SAR 342

19.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.80 SAR 138

$45.14 SAR 170

-18.48%

Cinema Ticket

$17.36 SAR 65.2

$13.21 SAR 49.62

31.42%

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

$306 SAR 1,147

$407 SAR 1,527

-24.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,541 SAR 28.3K

$6,378 SAR 24.0K

18.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.4 SAR 238

$62.7 SAR 236

1.12%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.8 SAR 262

$57.9 SAR 217

20.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 SAR 376

$94.9 SAR 356

5.57%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 SAR 302

$83.8 SAR 315

-4.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$433 SAR 1,627

$507 SAR 1,903

-14.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$401 SAR 1,505

$384 SAR 1,442

4.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,059 SAR 3,977

$904 SAR 3,395

17.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$813 SAR 3,054

$601 SAR 2,256

35.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,442 SAR 9,169

$1,646 SAR 6,179

48.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,423 SAR 5,344

$1,015 SAR 3,813

40.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,856 SAR 6,971

$1,660 SAR 6,233

11.84%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.84

4.5

-14.67%

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

Last update for Al Khobar: July 11, 2026

Last update for Jeddah: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $433 in Al Khobar and $507 in Jeddah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Khobar pays 12% 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: $54.0 in Al Khobar vs $40.00 in Jeddah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $217 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 9% 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 12% 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: $433 in Al Khobar versus $507 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 51% less than in Al Khobar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $306 in Al Khobar versus $407 in Jeddah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,218 in Jeddah versus $1,332 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 9% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.