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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,353 in Al Khobar versus $1,032 in Mecca.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,112 in Al Khobar versus $1,927 in Mecca.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,870 in Al Khobar versus $2,821 in Mecca.

Living in Al Khobar is roughly 31% more expensive than Mecca, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

The two cities straddle the global median: Al Khobar is 1% above, Mecca is 23% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.61 SAR 24.80

$4.89 SAR 18.34

35.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$54.0 SAR 203

$40.40 SAR 152

33.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.05 SAR 30.20

$9.52 SAR 35.71

-15.44%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.97 SAR 7.39

$1.59 SAR 5.96

23.90%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 SAR 9.74

$1.60 SAR 6.00

62.50%

Cappuccino

$4.23 SAR 15.86

$3.32 SAR 12.45

27.41%

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

$0.94 SAR 3.51

$0.85 SAR 3.18

10.59%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.48 SAR 1.81

$0.29 SAR 1.07

65.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 SAR 6.38

$1.74 SAR 6.53

-2.30%

White Bread (500g)

$1.40 SAR 5.24

$0.90 SAR 3.39

55.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.37 SAR 8.90

$2.17 SAR 8.14

9.22%

Eggs

$2.83 SAR 10.62

$2.87 SAR 10.79

-1.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.79 SAR 25.46

$7.08 SAR 26.58

-4.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.15 SAR 34.33

$8.16 SAR 30.61

12.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.28 SAR 46.09

$13.26 SAR 49.77

-7.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.50 SAR 9.39

$2.33 SAR 8.76

7.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.73 SAR 6.50

$1.62 SAR 6.07

6.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.21 SAR 8.29

$1.78 SAR 6.67

24.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.92

$2.06 SAR 7.72

-23.30%

Potato (1kg)

$1.49 SAR 5.60

$1.26 SAR 4.72

18.25%

Onion (1kg)

$1.74 SAR 6.51

$1.26 SAR 4.72

38.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.75 SAR 6.58

$1.04 SAR 3.91

68.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 SAR 2.24

$0.64 SAR 2.41

-6.25%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.70 SAR 10.12

$4.09 SAR 15.33

-33.99%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 SAR 5.56

$1.93 SAR 7.25

-23.32%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.96 SAR 7.35

$2.17 SAR 8.14

-9.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.68 SAR 25.08

$7.75 SAR 29.08

-13.81%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 SAR 3.32

$1.36 SAR 5.09

-34.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.6 SAR 224

$40.37 SAR 152

47.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.24 SAR 8.41

$2.37 SAR 8.89

-5.49%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.36 SAR 5.11

$1.84 SAR 6.89

-26.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.83 SAR 25.65

$10.86 SAR 40.76

-37.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.38

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

$21.7K SAR 81.6K

$26.5K SAR 99.4K

-17.96%

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

$23.1K SAR 86.9K

$21.4K SAR 80.3K

8.12%

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

$122 SAR 457

$75.4 SAR 283

61.57%

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

$34.14 SAR 128

$34.33 SAR 129

-0.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$80.5 SAR 302

$66.5 SAR 250

21.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$108 SAR 404

$85.5 SAR 321

25.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.22 SAR 136

$34.63 SAR 130

4.59%

Cinema Ticket

$17.10 SAR 64.2

$18.79 SAR 70.5

-8.99%

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

$311 SAR 1,169

$401 SAR 1,503

-22.26%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,735 SAR 29.0K

$4,589 SAR 17.2K

68.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.5 SAR 242

$22.80 SAR 85.6

182.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$71.1 SAR 267

$62.4 SAR 234

14.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.0 SAR 372

$58.5 SAR 220

69.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.7 SAR 303

$50.7 SAR 190

59.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 SAR 1,619

$225 SAR 846

91.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 SAR 1,476

$290 SAR 1,088

35.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,052 SAR 3,949

$668 SAR 2,508

57.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$804 SAR 3,016

$1,045 SAR 3,921

-23.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,374 SAR 8,910

$6,343 SAR 23.8K

-62.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,456 SAR 5,464

$2,302 SAR 8,637

-36.75%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,847 SAR 6,931

$1,082 SAR 4,059

70.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.84

5.5

-30.18%

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

Last update for Al Khobar: June 15, 2026

Last update for Mecca: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Al Khobar and $225 in Mecca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Khobar pays 71% 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 Mecca for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $216 vs $205 per month, with Mecca 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 Mecca: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Mecca wins on cost – living expenses run 31% lower than in Al Khobar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mecca the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Al Khobar pays 71% 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: $432 in Al Khobar versus $225 in Mecca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Mecca 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 $311 in Al Khobar versus $401 in Mecca. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,032 in Mecca versus $1,353 in Al Khobar, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Mecca but tight or insufficient in Al Khobar. The gap between the two cities makes Mecca 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 Mecca 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 Mecca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 31% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.