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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,344 in Al Khobar versus $1,478 in Medina.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,120 in Al Khobar versus $1,848 in Medina.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,897 in Al Khobar versus $2,219 in Medina.

Living in Al Khobar costs roughly 9% less than in Medina, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities are pricier than the global median: Al Khobar 0% above, Medina 10% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.75 SAR 25.34

$5.48 SAR 20.55

23.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 SAR 197

$31.47 SAR 118

67.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.05 SAR 30.20

$8.18 SAR 30.68

-1.59%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 SAR 7.59

$1.64 SAR 6.17

23.17%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 SAR 10.22

$1.76 SAR 6.62

54.55%

Cappuccino

$4.32 SAR 16.23

$2.55 SAR 9.56

69.41%

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

$1.00 SAR 3.75

$0.82 SAR 3.07

21.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 SAR 1.93

$0.39 SAR 1.45

30.77%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 SAR 6.34

$1.63 SAR 6.11

3.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 SAR 5.17

$0.98 SAR 3.68

40.82%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.33 SAR 8.75

$2.37 SAR 8.88

-1.69%

Eggs

$2.91 SAR 10.91

$2.12 SAR 7.97

37.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.59 SAR 24.72

$6.49 SAR 24.35

1.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.17 SAR 34.43

$6.96 SAR 26.13

31.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.70 SAR 47.65

$12.64 SAR 47.44

0.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.50 SAR 9.38

$2.41 SAR 9.05

3.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 SAR 6.54

$2.11 SAR 7.94

-17.54%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.11 SAR 7.90

$2.26 SAR 8.49

-6.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 SAR 6.17

$1.64 SAR 6.14

Potato (1kg)

$1.43 SAR 5.38

$1.37 SAR 5.15

4.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 SAR 6.26

$1.45 SAR 5.45

15.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.76 SAR 6.59

$0.99 SAR 3.70

77.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 SAR 2.33

$0.87 SAR 3.27

-28.74%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.68 SAR 10.05

$1.31 SAR 4.91

104.58%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 SAR 5.34

$1.71 SAR 6.43

-16.96%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 SAR 7.39

$1.65 SAR 6.18

19.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.75 SAR 25.35

$7.58 SAR 28.44

-10.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 SAR 3.45

$1.05 SAR 3.93

-12.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.6 SAR 231

$37.18 SAR 140

65.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 SAR 8.44

$1.31 SAR 4.91

71.76%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 SAR 4.87

$1.64 SAR 6.16

-20.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.59 SAR 24.74

$5.46 SAR 20.48

20.70%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.25

$0.64 SAR 2.41

-6.25%

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

$21.2K SAR 79.4K

$21.1K SAR 79.3K

0.10%

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

$22.7K SAR 85.1K

$21.1K SAR 79.3K

7.22%

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

$123 SAR 461

$199 SAR 748

-38.40%

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

$34.93 SAR 131

$33.10 SAR 124

5.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$80.1 SAR 301

$104 SAR 392

-23.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$107 SAR 400

$75.4 SAR 283

41.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.08 SAR 135

$9.01 SAR 33.80

300.44%

Cinema Ticket

$17.66 SAR 66.3

$13.16 SAR 49.38

34.19%

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

$307 SAR 1,151

$290 SAR 1,088

5.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,553 SAR 28.3K

$7,586 SAR 28.5K

-0.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.8 SAR 239

$37.12 SAR 139

71.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.0 SAR 263

$52.3 SAR 196

33.91%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.7 SAR 370

$65.8 SAR 247

49.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.8 SAR 303

$96.7 SAR 363

-16.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$433 SAR 1,624

$424 SAR 1,591

2.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 SAR 1,489

$556 SAR 2,085

-28.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,031 SAR 3,869

$711 SAR 2,670

44.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$790 SAR 2,965

$412 SAR 1,547

91.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,419 SAR 9,077

$2,340 SAR 8,782

3.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,457 SAR 5,468

$1,313 SAR 4,929

10.94%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,866 SAR 7,005

$1,316 SAR 4,940

41.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.84

28.00%

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

Last update for Al Khobar: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medina: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $433 in Al Khobar and $424 in Medina. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Khobar pays 42% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $53.0 in Al Khobar vs $31.00 in Medina for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $217 vs $200 per month, with Medina 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 Medina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al Khobar wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Medina. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Al Khobar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Al Khobar pays 42% 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 $424 in Medina. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Al Khobar runs roughly 66% less than in Medina. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $307 in Al Khobar versus $290 in Medina. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,344 in Al Khobar versus $1,478 in Medina, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Al Khobar but tight or insufficient in Medina. The gap between the two cities makes Al Khobar 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 Medina 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 Al Khobar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Medina. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.