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: $1,332 in Al Khobar versus $1,056 in Najran.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,100 in Al Khobar versus $1,657 in Najran.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,868 in Al Khobar versus $2,257 in Najran.

Living in Al Khobar is roughly 26% more expensive than in Najran, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

The two cities straddle the global median: Al Khobar is 0% above, Najran is 21% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Khobar
Najran
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.82 SAR 25.60
$8.18 SAR 30.73
-16.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.0 SAR 203
$22.49 SAR 84.5
140.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.19 SAR 30.77
$8.59 SAR 32.24
-4.66%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.98 SAR 7.44
$1.56 SAR 5.86
26.92%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70 SAR 10.13
$1.30 SAR 4.86
107.69%
Cappuccino
$4.26 SAR 16.01
$4.29 SAR 16.10
-0.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 SAR 3.61
$0.79 SAR 2.95
21.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 SAR 1.83
$0.28 SAR 1.06
75.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Khobar
Najran
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.69 SAR 6.34
$2.25 SAR 8.44
-24.89%
White Bread (500g)
$1.40 SAR 5.24
$1.01 SAR 3.80
38.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.32 SAR 8.72
$2.38 SAR 8.95
-2.52%
Eggs
$2.88 SAR 10.81
$2.20 SAR 8.28
30.91%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.94 SAR 26.05
$6.74 SAR 25.32
2.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.12 SAR 34.26
$5.95 SAR 22.33
53.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.61 SAR 47.34
$14.51 SAR 54.5
-13.09%
Apples (1kg)
$2.54 SAR 9.53
$1.68 SAR 6.32
51.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.72 SAR 6.45
$2.05 SAR 7.70
-16.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 SAR 8.00
$1.74 SAR 6.54
22.41%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.57 SAR 5.88
$1.56 SAR 5.88
0.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.41 SAR 5.30
$1.25 SAR 4.68
12.80%
Onion (1kg)
$1.72 SAR 6.47
$1.26 SAR 4.75
36.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.70 SAR 6.38
$1.34 SAR 5.05
26.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60 SAR 2.24
$0.68 SAR 2.56
-11.76%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.70 SAR 10.14
$2.83 SAR 10.63
-4.59%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46 SAR 5.48
$1.63 SAR 6.10
-10.43%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88 SAR 7.04
$2.06 SAR 7.75
-8.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.51 SAR 24.45
$8.07 SAR 30.32
-19.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Khobar
Najran
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.92 SAR 3.44
$1.05 SAR 3.95
-12.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$60.1 SAR 225
$40.06 SAR 150
49.90%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.26 SAR 8.48
$2.59 SAR 9.73
-12.74%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.35 SAR 5.06
$1.89 SAR 7.10
-28.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.60 SAR 24.78
$13.22 SAR 49.63
-50.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.65 SAR 2.43
$0.57 SAR 2.14
14.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K SAR 80.2K
$26.8K SAR 100.7K
-20.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7K SAR 85.4K
$22.4K SAR 84.1K
1.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Khobar
Najran
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$124 SAR 466
$103 SAR 389
19.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.51 SAR 130
$34.17 SAR 128
1.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.7 SAR 303
$72.9 SAR 274
10.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Khobar
Najran
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$109 SAR 410
$87.3 SAR 328
25.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.80 SAR 138
$36.24 SAR 136
1.55%
Cinema Ticket
$17.36 SAR 65.2
$15.83 SAR 59.5
9.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Khobar
Najran
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$306 SAR 1,147
$357 SAR 1,340
-14.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,541 SAR 28.3K
$6,950 SAR 26.1K
8.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Khobar
Najran
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.4 SAR 238
$58.2 SAR 218
9.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.8 SAR 262
$59.8 SAR 224
16.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 SAR 376
$77.6 SAR 292
28.98%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4 SAR 302
$81.6 SAR 306
-1.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Khobar
Najran
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$433 SAR 1,627
$346 SAR 1,299
25.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$401 SAR 1,505
$203 SAR 762
97.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,059 SAR 3,977
$601 SAR 2,258
76.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$813 SAR 3,054
$429 SAR 1,612
89.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,442 SAR 9,169
$2,513 SAR 9,435
-2.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,423 SAR 5,344
$1,138 SAR 4,275
25.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Khobar
Najran
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,856 SAR 6,971
$1,736 SAR 6,518
6.95%
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 Najran: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $433 in Al Khobar and $346 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: $54.0 in Al Khobar vs $22.00 in Najran for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $217 vs $200 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
Which city is more expensive, Al Khobar or Najran?
Najran wins on cost – living expenses run 26% 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.
Are salaries higher in Al Khobar or in Najran?
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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Al Khobar compared to Najran?
Rent for a central apartment: $433 in Al Khobar versus $346 in Najran. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Al Khobar compared to Najran?
A monthly transit pass in Najran 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 in Najran?
Childcare runs $306 in Al Khobar versus $357 in Najran. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Al Khobar or in Najran?
At $1,056 in Najran versus $1,332 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.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Al Khobar or Najran?
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 Najran?
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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Najran gentler on the wallet – expenses run 26% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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