Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Khobar and Khamis Mushayt Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Khobar and Khamis Mushayt

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,332 in Al Khobar versus $966 in Khamis Mushayt.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,100 in Al Khobar versus $1,565 in Khamis Mushayt.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,868 in Al Khobar versus $2,163 in Khamis Mushayt.

Living in Al Khobar is roughly 38% more expensive than in Khamis Mushayt, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Al Khobar is 0% above, Khamis Mushayt is 28% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.82 SAR 25.60

$6.57 SAR 24.68

3.81%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.0 SAR 203

$41.89 SAR 157

29.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.19 SAR 30.77

$6.71 SAR 25.20

22.06%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.98 SAR 7.44

$1.75 SAR 6.57

13.14%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 SAR 10.13

$1.81 SAR 6.81

49.17%

Cappuccino

$4.26 SAR 16.01

$5.23 SAR 19.64

-18.55%

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

$0.96 SAR 3.61

$0.76 SAR 2.86

26.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 SAR 1.83

$0.28 SAR 1.06

75.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 SAR 6.34

$1.71 SAR 6.42

-1.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 SAR 5.24

$0.36 SAR 1.35

288.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.32 SAR 8.72

$1.84 SAR 6.91

26.09%

Eggs

$2.88 SAR 10.81

$4.44 SAR 16.66

-35.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.94 SAR 26.05

$6.79 SAR 25.48

2.21%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.12 SAR 34.26

$7.66 SAR 28.76

19.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.61 SAR 47.34

$15.42 SAR 57.9

-18.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.54 SAR 9.53

$2.20 SAR 8.25

15.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.72 SAR 6.45

$1.49 SAR 5.58

15.44%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 SAR 8.00

$1.08 SAR 4.06

97.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.88

$2.02 SAR 7.57

-22.28%

Potato (1kg)

$1.41 SAR 5.30

$1.71 SAR 6.43

-17.54%

Onion (1kg)

$1.72 SAR 6.47

$1.44 SAR 5.39

19.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.70 SAR 6.38

$1.19 SAR 4.47

42.86%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 SAR 2.24

$0.70 SAR 2.61

-14.29%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.70 SAR 10.14

$2.41 SAR 9.05

12.03%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.46 SAR 5.48

$1.71 SAR 6.44

-14.62%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.88 SAR 7.04

$2.02 SAR 7.57

-6.93%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.51 SAR 24.45

$8.10 SAR 30.42

-19.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 SAR 3.44

$1.04 SAR 3.91

-11.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$60.1 SAR 225

$40.69 SAR 153

47.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.26 SAR 8.48

$2.67 SAR 10.03

-15.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.35 SAR 5.06

$2.02 SAR 7.58

-33.17%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.60 SAR 24.78

$13.12 SAR 49.27

-49.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 SAR 2.43

$0.63 SAR 2.38

3.17%

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

$21.4K SAR 80.2K

$26.7K SAR 100.3K

-19.99%

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

$22.7K SAR 85.4K

$22.6K SAR 84.9K

0.61%

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

$124 SAR 466

$106 SAR 398

16.97%

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

$34.51 SAR 130

$33.53 SAR 126

2.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$80.7 SAR 303

$71.3 SAR 268

13.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$109 SAR 410

$87.9 SAR 330

24.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.80 SAR 138

$35.17 SAR 132

4.63%

Cinema Ticket

$17.36 SAR 65.2

$15.36 SAR 57.7

13.02%

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

$306 SAR 1,147

$348 SAR 1,309

-12.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,541 SAR 28.3K

$6,953 SAR 26.1K

8.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.4 SAR 238

$60.0 SAR 225

5.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$69.8 SAR 262

$61.1 SAR 230

14.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$100 SAR 376

$79.7 SAR 299

25.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.4 SAR 302

$83.3 SAR 313

-3.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$433 SAR 1,627

$157 SAR 591

175.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$401 SAR 1,505

$105 SAR 396

279.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,059 SAR 3,977

$402 SAR 1,509

163.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$813 SAR 3,054

$281 SAR 1,053

189.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,442 SAR 9,169

$2,607 SAR 9,790

-6.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,423 SAR 5,344

$1,448 SAR 5,438

-1.74%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,856 SAR 6,971

$1,603 SAR 6,020

15.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.84

4.42

-13.12%

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

Last update for Al Khobar: July 11, 2026

Last update for Khamis Mushayt: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $433 in Al Khobar and $157 in Khamis Mushayt. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Khobar pays 16% 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 $42.00 in Khamis Mushayt for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $217 vs $206 per month, with Khamis Mushayt 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 Khamis Mushayt: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Khamis Mushayt wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Al Khobar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Khamis Mushayt the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 16% 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 $157 in Khamis Mushayt. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Khamis Mushayt runs roughly 48% 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 $348 in Khamis Mushayt. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $966 in Khamis Mushayt versus $1,332 in Al Khobar, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Khamis Mushayt but tight or insufficient in Al Khobar. The gap between the two cities makes Khamis Mushayt 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 Khamis Mushayt 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 Khamis Mushayt gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.