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: $1,344 in Al Khobar versus $1,202 in Jeddah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,120 in Al Khobar versus $1,858 in Jeddah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,897 in Al Khobar versus $2,514 in Jeddah.

Living in Al Khobar is roughly 12% more expensive than Jeddah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Al Khobar is 0% above, Jeddah is 10% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.75 SAR 25.34

$6.54 SAR 24.53

3.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 SAR 197

$40.72 SAR 153

29.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.05 SAR 30.20

$8.21 SAR 30.82

-1.95%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 SAR 7.59

$2.19 SAR 8.23

-7.76%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 SAR 10.22

$2.10 SAR 7.89

29.52%

Cappuccino

$4.32 SAR 16.23

$3.58 SAR 13.44

20.67%

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

$1.00 SAR 3.75

$0.70 SAR 2.64

42.86%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 SAR 1.93

$0.25 SAR 0.94

104.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 SAR 6.34

$1.74 SAR 6.51

-2.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 SAR 5.17

$0.96 SAR 3.58

43.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.33 SAR 8.75

$2.30 SAR 8.61

1.30%

Eggs

$2.91 SAR 10.91

$2.75 SAR 10.34

5.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.59 SAR 24.72

$7.41 SAR 27.82

-11.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.17 SAR 34.43

$7.64 SAR 28.69

20.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.70 SAR 47.65

$12.34 SAR 46.33

2.92%

Apples (1kg)

$2.50 SAR 9.38

$2.16 SAR 8.12

15.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 SAR 6.54

$1.57 SAR 5.90

10.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.11 SAR 7.90

$1.55 SAR 5.82

36.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 SAR 6.17

$1.54 SAR 5.78

6.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.43 SAR 5.38

$1.32 SAR 4.94

8.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 SAR 6.26

$1.21 SAR 4.54

38.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.76 SAR 6.59

$1.05 SAR 3.96

67.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 SAR 2.33

$0.60 SAR 2.23

3.33%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.68 SAR 10.05

$4.08 SAR 15.31

-34.31%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 SAR 5.34

$1.95 SAR 7.33

-27.18%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 SAR 7.39

$2.48 SAR 9.32

-20.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.75 SAR 25.35

$6.76 SAR 25.36

-0.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 SAR 3.45

$1.36 SAR 5.12

-32.35%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.6 SAR 231

$39.64 SAR 149

55.40%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 SAR 8.44

$3.23 SAR 12.13

-30.34%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 SAR 4.87

$1.88 SAR 7.06

-30.85%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.59 SAR 24.74

$15.36 SAR 57.7

-57.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.25

$0.63 SAR 2.37

-4.76%

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

$21.2K SAR 79.4K

$26.9K SAR 101.0K

-21.40%

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

$22.7K SAR 85.1K

$21.4K SAR 80.4K

5.80%

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

$123 SAR 461

$105 SAR 393

17.07%

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

$34.93 SAR 131

$32.31 SAR 121

8.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$80.1 SAR 301

$70.1 SAR 263

14.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$107 SAR 400

$90.9 SAR 341

17.15%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.08 SAR 135

$45.17 SAR 170

-20.12%

Cinema Ticket

$17.66 SAR 66.3

$13.12 SAR 49.25

34.60%

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

$307 SAR 1,151

$400 SAR 1,500

-23.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,553 SAR 28.3K

$6,414 SAR 24.1K

17.77%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.8 SAR 239

$64.6 SAR 242

-1.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.0 SAR 263

$58.1 SAR 218

20.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.7 SAR 370

$92.5 SAR 347

6.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.8 SAR 303

$84.4 SAR 317

-4.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$433 SAR 1,624

$501 SAR 1,881

-13.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 SAR 1,489

$390 SAR 1,464

1.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,031 SAR 3,869

$899 SAR 3,374

14.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$790 SAR 2,965

$618 SAR 2,321

27.77%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,419 SAR 9,077

$1,625 SAR 6,100

48.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,457 SAR 5,468

$1,014 SAR 3,805

43.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,866 SAR 7,005

$1,657 SAR 6,218

12.65%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Jeddah: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $433 in Al Khobar and $501 in Jeddah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Khobar pays 13% 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: $53.0 in Al Khobar vs $41.00 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 12% 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.

Al Khobar pays 13% more on average, 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 $501 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 55% less than in Al Khobar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $307 in Al Khobar versus $400 in Jeddah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,202 in Jeddah versus $1,344 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 12% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.