😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,341 in Al Khobar versus $1,056 in Mecca.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,136 in Al Khobar versus $1,894 in Mecca.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,931 in Al Khobar versus $2,733 in Mecca.
😐Living in Al Khobar is roughly 27% more expensive than Mecca, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Al Khobar is 0% above, Mecca is 21% below.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Al Khobar
Mecca
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.80SAR 25.51
$4.77SAR 17.87
42.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.4SAR 196
$39.58SAR 148
32.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.81SAR 29.27
$9.44SAR 35.39
-17.27%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.03SAR 7.63
$1.58SAR 5.93
28.48%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73SAR 10.23
$1.59SAR 5.98
71.70%
Cappuccino
$4.23SAR 15.84
$3.28SAR 12.32
28.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02SAR 3.84
$0.92SAR 3.45
10.87%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49SAR 1.83
$0.29SAR 1.07
68.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Khobar
Mecca
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.77SAR 6.63
$1.66SAR 6.22
6.63%
White Bread(500g)
$1.34SAR 5.02
$0.84SAR 3.13
59.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.40SAR 9.01
$2.19SAR 8.20
9.59%
Eggs
$2.82SAR 10.57
$2.90SAR 10.86
-2.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.88SAR 25.80
$6.82SAR 25.57
0.88%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.05SAR 33.93
$8.52SAR 31.94
6.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.37SAR 46.39
$13.13SAR 49.22
-5.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.43SAR 9.11
$2.30SAR 8.62
5.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73SAR 6.47
$1.61SAR 6.05
7.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.21SAR 8.29
$1.77SAR 6.65
24.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.62SAR 6.08
$2.11SAR 7.90
-23.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.43SAR 5.36
$1.25SAR 4.67
14.40%
Onion(1kg)
$1.72SAR 6.46
$1.21SAR 4.54
42.15%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.71SAR 6.40
$1.04SAR 3.92
64.42%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59SAR 2.23
$0.68SAR 2.56
-13.24%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.72SAR 10.21
$3.91SAR 14.67
-30.43%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47SAR 5.50
$1.98SAR 7.44
-25.76%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87SAR 7.02
$2.16SAR 8.11
-13.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.59SAR 24.71
$8.03SAR 30.12
-17.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Khobar
Mecca
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.91SAR 3.40
$1.34SAR 5.04
-32.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$59.5SAR 223
$39.72SAR 149
49.82%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.21SAR 8.29
$2.41SAR 9.05
-8.30%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.31SAR 4.90
$1.84SAR 6.88
-28.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.69SAR 25.08
$10.50SAR 39.38
-36.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63SAR 2.38
$0.59SAR 2.22
6.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0KSAR 78.7K
$26.9KSAR 101.0K
-22.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.1KSAR 86.5K
$21.1KSAR 79.3K
9.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Khobar
Mecca
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$123SAR 461
$76.5SAR 287
60.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.30SAR 129
$34.98SAR 131
-1.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.9SAR 303
$66.6SAR 250
21.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Khobar
Mecca
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$109SAR 409
$84.9SAR 318
28.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.07SAR 135
$35.01SAR 131
3.03%
Cinema Ticket
$17.15SAR 64.3
$18.53SAR 69.5
-7.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Khobar
Mecca
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306SAR 1,147
$403SAR 1,509
-24.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,552SAR 28.3K
$4,691SAR 17.6K
60.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Khobar
Mecca
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9SAR 236
$22.73SAR 85.2
176.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$68.8SAR 258
$62.5SAR 235
9.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.1SAR 372
$60.6SAR 227
63.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.1SAR 297
$51.6SAR 193
53.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Khobar
Mecca
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$437SAR 1,639
$225SAR 843
94.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$394SAR 1,479
$291SAR 1,090
35.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,054SAR 3,952
$685SAR 2,569
53.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$788SAR 2,955
$1,057SAR 3,963
-25.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,411SAR 9,040
$6,157SAR 23.1K
-60.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,432SAR 5,370
$2,259SAR 8,470
-36.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Khobar
Mecca
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,942SAR 7,283
$1,088SAR 4,078
78.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.84
5.5
-30.18%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Al Khobar: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Mecca: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $437 in Al Khobar and $225 in Mecca. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Al Khobar pays 79% 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: $52.0 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.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Al Khobar vs Mecca: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Which city is more expensive, Al Khobar or Mecca?
Mecca wins on cost – living expenses run 27% 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.
Are salaries higher in Al Khobar or Mecca?
Al Khobar pays 79% more on average, 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 vs Mecca?
Rent for a central apartment: $437 in Al Khobar versus $225 in Mecca. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Al Khobar vs Mecca?
A monthly transit pass in Mecca runs roughly 50% 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 Mecca?
Childcare runs $306 in Al Khobar versus $403 in Mecca. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Al Khobar or Mecca?
At $1,056 in Mecca versus $1,341 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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Al Khobar or Mecca?
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 Mecca?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mecca gentler on the wallet – expenses run 27% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Al Khobar vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado