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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,434 in Al Khobar versus $1,184 in Najran.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,206 in Al Khobar versus $1,826 in Najran.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,978 in Al Khobar versus $2,468 in Najran.

Living in Al Khobar is roughly 21% more expensive than in Najran, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Al Khobar is 5% above, Najran is 13% below.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.83 SAR 25.66

$8.10 SAR 30.42

-15.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$60.2 SAR 226

$36.98 SAR 139

62.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.83 SAR 29.42

$8.57 SAR 32.21

-8.63%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.70 SAR 10.16

$1.76 SAR 6.62

53.41%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.60 SAR 9.78

$1.36 SAR 5.12

91.18%

Cappuccino

$4.47 SAR 16.77

$4.28 SAR 16.08

4.44%

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

$0.99 SAR 3.74

$0.78 SAR 2.92

26.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 SAR 1.53

$0.30 SAR 1.11

36.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 SAR 6.10

$2.61 SAR 9.79

-37.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 SAR 4.73

$1.16 SAR 4.36

8.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.53 SAR 9.51

$2.14 SAR 8.03

18.22%

Eggs

$2.36 SAR 8.88

$2.42 SAR 9.09

-2.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.20 SAR 27.04

$7.44 SAR 27.95

-3.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.00 SAR 37.57

$6.08 SAR 22.83

64.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.85 SAR 44.49

$14.38 SAR 54.0

-17.59%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 SAR 10.36

$2.07 SAR 7.79

33.33%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 SAR 6.62

$1.68 SAR 6.32

4.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.04 SAR 7.67

$1.61 SAR 6.04

26.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 SAR 6.81

$1.66 SAR 6.25

9.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 SAR 5.25

$1.13 SAR 4.24

23.89%

Onion (1kg)

$1.70 SAR 6.39

$1.31 SAR 4.93

29.77%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.72 SAR 6.48

$1.37 SAR 5.14

25.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.20

$0.64 SAR 2.40

-7.81%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.61 SAR 9.82

$2.73 SAR 10.24

-4.40%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.59 SAR 5.97

$1.62 SAR 6.07

-1.85%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.93 SAR 7.23

$2.14 SAR 8.05

-9.81%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.82 SAR 25.63

$6.70 SAR 25.16

1.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.80 SAR 3.02

$1.04 SAR 3.91

-23.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$68.8 SAR 258

$36.42 SAR 137

88.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.35 SAR 12.59

$3.00 SAR 11.27

11.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.65 SAR 9.94

$1.75 SAR 6.58

51.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.69 SAR 25.14

$13.41 SAR 50.4

-50.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.27

$0.50 SAR 1.86

20.00%

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

$67.9K SAR 254.9K

$45.4K SAR 170.7K

49.34%

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

$22.2K SAR 83.5K

$21.5K SAR 80.8K

3.37%

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

$98.7 SAR 371

$99.8 SAR 375

-1.11%

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

$32.44 SAR 122

$32.08 SAR 120

1.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$68.3 SAR 257

$67.0 SAR 252

2.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$82.1 SAR 308

$83.9 SAR 315

-2.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.49 SAR 137

$37.65 SAR 141

-3.08%

Cinema Ticket

$15.05 SAR 56.5

$13.52 SAR 50.8

11.32%

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

$611 SAR 2,294

$346 SAR 1,298

76.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,394 SAR 31.5K

$6,731 SAR 25.3K

24.70%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.4 SAR 238

$50.0 SAR 188

26.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$81.7 SAR 307

$57.2 SAR 215

42.87%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.2 SAR 365

$96.7 SAR 363

0.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.5 SAR 355

$90.0 SAR 338

4.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$642 SAR 2,413

$585 SAR 2,196

9.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$512 SAR 1,921

$345 SAR 1,294

48.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,183 SAR 4,442

$894 SAR 3,359

32.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$852 SAR 3,201

$551 SAR 2,070

54.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,432 SAR 9,135

$2,403 SAR 9,025

1.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 SAR 5,512

$1,387 SAR 5,209

5.82%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,830 SAR 6,872

$1,703 SAR 6,398

7.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.88

5.47

7.50%

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

Last update for Al Khobar: September 13, 2026

Last update for Najran: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $642 in Al Khobar and $585 in Najran. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Khobar pays 7% 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 $37.00 in Najran for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $219 vs $206 per month, with Najran 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 Najran: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Najran wins on cost – living expenses run 21% lower than in Al Khobar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Najran the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 7% 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: $642 in Al Khobar versus $585 in Najran. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Najran runs roughly 89% less than in Al Khobar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $611 in Al Khobar versus $346 in Najran. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,184 in Najran versus $1,434 in Al Khobar, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Najran but tight or insufficient in Al Khobar. The gap between the two cities makes Najran 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 Najran 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 Najran gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.