Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Khobar and Jubail

For one person, living is cheaper in Jubail: $1,093 a month against $1,405 in Al Khobar, rent and utilities included – about $3,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Al Khobar
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$1,405
/mo nomad
Jubail
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$1,093
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Al Khobar and in Jubail

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Al Khobar and in Jubail actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,405 in Al Khobar versus $1,093 in Jubail.

  • Al Khobar $1,405
  • Jubail $1,093

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,190 in Al Khobar versus $1,710 in Jubail.

  • Al Khobar $2,190
  • Jubail $1,710

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,975 in Al Khobar versus $2,328 in Jubail.

  • Al Khobar $2,975
  • Jubail $2,328

Living in Al Khobar is roughly 28% more expensive than in Jubail, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in transport.

The two cities straddle the global median: Al Khobar is 4% above, Jubail is 19% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Khobar
Jubail
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.68 SAR 25.06
$6.56 SAR 24.63
1.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.5 SAR 223
$40.05 SAR 150
48.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.12 SAR 30.46
$9.08 SAR 34.06
-10.57%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.69 SAR 10.09
$1.91 SAR 7.16
40.84%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65 SAR 9.93
$2.19 SAR 8.23
21.00%
Cappuccino
$4.35 SAR 16.31
$4.04 SAR 15.15
7.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.94 SAR 3.53
$1.00 SAR 3.74
-6.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37 SAR 1.39
$0.26 SAR 0.96
42.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Khobar
Jubail
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.65 SAR 6.19
$1.55 SAR 5.83
6.45%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 SAR 4.89
$1.43 SAR 5.37
-9.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.52 SAR 9.44
$1.67 SAR 6.26
50.90%
Eggs
$2.31 SAR 8.68
$2.15 SAR 8.06
7.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.32 SAR 27.45
$9.84 SAR 36.91
-25.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.90 SAR 37.14
$6.19 SAR 23.23
59.94%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.78 SAR 44.22
$11.82 SAR 44.35
-0.34%
Apples (1kg)
$2.77 SAR 10.38
$2.16 SAR 8.09
28.24%
Banana (1kg)
$1.70 SAR 6.39
$1.73 SAR 6.48
-1.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.97 SAR 7.39
$1.51 SAR 5.65
30.46%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.75 SAR 6.57
$1.68 SAR 6.29
4.17%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 SAR 5.27
$1.29 SAR 4.84
8.53%
Onion (1kg)
$1.66 SAR 6.22
$1.35 SAR 5.06
22.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.75 SAR 6.57
$1.72 SAR 6.47
1.74%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.54 SAR 2.04
$0.50 SAR 1.89
8.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.65 SAR 9.93
$2.96 SAR 11.12
-10.47%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.60 SAR 6.00
$2.18 SAR 8.18
-26.61%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.89 SAR 7.11
$2.02 SAR 7.57
-6.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.57 SAR 24.64
$6.57 SAR 24.65
-
🚌 Getting Around
Al Khobar
Jubail
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.74 SAR 2.79
$1.30 SAR 4.88
-43.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$67.5 SAR 253
$23.68 SAR 88.9
185.18%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.89 SAR 10.83
$3.29 SAR 12.33
-12.16%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.70 SAR 10.13
$2.69 SAR 10.11
0.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.82 SAR 25.58
$13.51 SAR 50.7
-49.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.64 SAR 2.40
$0.64 SAR 2.39
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$67.4K SAR 252.8K
$26.1K SAR 98.1K
157.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4K SAR 80.3K
$21.7K SAR 81.4K
-1.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Khobar
Jubail
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$98.3 SAR 369
$81.1 SAR 304
21.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.00 SAR 120
$27.31 SAR 102
17.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.7 SAR 262
$66.6 SAR 250
4.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Khobar
Jubail
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$80.0 SAR 300
$102 SAR 382
-21.38%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.85 SAR 135
$39.44 SAR 148
-9.10%
Cinema Ticket
$15.49 SAR 58.1
$13.14 SAR 49.31
17.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Khobar
Jubail
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$608 SAR 2,281
$176 SAR 660
245.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,413 SAR 31.6K
$7,883 SAR 29.6K
6.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Khobar
Jubail
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.5 SAR 238
$41.06 SAR 154
54.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$83.2 SAR 312
$59.9 SAR 225
38.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.3 SAR 361
$81.6 SAR 306
18.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.3 SAR 343
$86.9 SAR 326
5.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Khobar
Jubail
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$629 SAR 2,359
$421 SAR 1,580
49.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$504 SAR 1,891
$294 SAR 1,103
71.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,194 SAR 4,481
$651 SAR 2,443
83.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$876 SAR 3,286
$520 SAR 1,953
68.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,445 SAR 9,176
$2,738 SAR 10.3K
-10.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,455 SAR 5,460
$1,360 SAR 5,102
7.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Khobar
Jubail
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,856 SAR 6,964
$1,625 SAR 6,099
14.19%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.88
5.62
4.63%

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

Last update for Al Khobar: October 18, 2026

Last update for Jubail: October 20, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Al Khobar
$504
Jubail
$294 41.7% $210
Groceries & Markets
Al Khobar
$217
Jubail
$196 9.8% $21
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Khobar
$200
Jubail
$175 12.5% $25
Clothing & Footwear
Al Khobar
$150
Jubail
$121 19.4% $29
Eating Out
Al Khobar
$135
Jubail
$133 1.5% $2
Sport & Entertainment
Al Khobar
$111
Jubail
$128 15.4% $17
Getting Around
Al Khobar
$87
Jubail
$46 47.5% $41

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $629 in Al Khobar and $421 in Jubail. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Khobar pays 14% 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 $40.00 in Jubail for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $217 vs $196 per month, with Jubail cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇸🇦 Al Khobar
🇸🇦 Jubail
🕒 Local time
04:31 4:31 AM
04:31 4:31 AM
Same time as Al Khobar
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
219,679
337,778
💱 Currency
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to SAR – Saudi Riyal Converter

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.266 USD). 1 EUR = 4.22 SAR (1 SAR = 0.237 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Al Khobar Jubail 94 km
From you
  • Al Khobar
  • Jubail

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Jubail: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Al Khobar or Jubail?
Jubail 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 Jubail the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Al Khobar or in Jubail?
Average pay runs 14% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Al Khobar compared to Jubail?
Rent for a central apartment: $629 in Al Khobar versus $421 in Jubail. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Al Khobar compared to Jubail?
A monthly transit pass in Jubail runs roughly 185% 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 in Jubail?
Childcare runs $608 in Al Khobar versus $176 in Jubail. 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 in Jubail?
At $1,093 in Jubail versus $1,405 in Al Khobar, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Jubail but tight or insufficient in Al Khobar. The gap between the two cities makes Jubail the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Al Khobar or Jubail?
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 Jubail?
Safety-wise, Al Khobar and Jubail 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 Jubail 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.

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