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: $1,344 in Al Khobar versus $1,057 in Najran.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,120 in Al Khobar versus $1,649 in Najran.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,897 in Al Khobar versus $2,241 in Najran.

Living in Al Khobar is roughly 27% more expensive than Najran, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.75 SAR 25.34

$8.11 SAR 30.44

-16.77%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$52.6 SAR 197

$22.94 SAR 86.1

129.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.05 SAR 30.20

$8.73 SAR 32.75

-7.79%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 SAR 7.59

$1.61 SAR 6.04

25.47%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.72 SAR 10.22

$1.36 SAR 5.09

100.00%

Cappuccino

$4.32 SAR 16.23

$4.28 SAR 16.07

0.93%

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

$1.00 SAR 3.75

$0.80 SAR 2.99

25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 SAR 1.93

$0.26 SAR 0.96

96.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 SAR 6.34

$2.23 SAR 8.37

-24.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.38 SAR 5.17

$0.99 SAR 3.71

39.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.33 SAR 8.75

$2.29 SAR 8.60

1.75%

Eggs

$2.91 SAR 10.91

$2.18 SAR 8.17

33.49%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.59 SAR 24.72

$7.08 SAR 26.55

-6.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.17 SAR 34.43

$6.01 SAR 22.55

52.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.70 SAR 47.65

$14.52 SAR 54.5

-12.53%

Apples (1kg)

$2.50 SAR 9.38

$1.76 SAR 6.60

42.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 SAR 6.54

$1.97 SAR 7.40

-11.68%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.11 SAR 7.90

$1.74 SAR 6.52

21.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.64 SAR 6.17

$1.56 SAR 5.85

5.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.43 SAR 5.38

$1.24 SAR 4.67

15.32%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 SAR 6.26

$1.27 SAR 4.78

31.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.76 SAR 6.59

$1.30 SAR 4.89

35.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 SAR 2.33

$0.70 SAR 2.63

-11.43%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.68 SAR 10.05

$2.73 SAR 10.26

-1.83%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.42 SAR 5.34

$1.64 SAR 6.14

-13.41%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.97 SAR 7.39

$2.07 SAR 7.78

-4.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.75 SAR 25.35

$8.19 SAR 30.74

-17.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.92 SAR 3.45

$1.04 SAR 3.91

-11.54%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$61.6 SAR 231

$39.40 SAR 148

56.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.25 SAR 8.44

$2.67 SAR 10.03

-15.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 SAR 4.87

$1.92 SAR 7.22

-32.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.59 SAR 24.74

$13.39 SAR 50.3

-50.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.25

$0.58 SAR 2.17

3.45%

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

$21.2K SAR 79.4K

$26.3K SAR 98.8K

-19.64%

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

$22.7K SAR 85.1K

$22.2K SAR 83.3K

2.13%

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

$123 SAR 461

$104 SAR 392

17.53%

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

$34.93 SAR 131

$33.09 SAR 124

5.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$80.1 SAR 301

$73.3 SAR 275

9.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$107 SAR 400

$88.0 SAR 330

21.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.08 SAR 135

$35.60 SAR 134

1.35%

Cinema Ticket

$17.66 SAR 66.3

$15.63 SAR 58.7

12.99%

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

$307 SAR 1,151

$351 SAR 1,318

-12.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,553 SAR 28.3K

$6,941 SAR 26.1K

8.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$63.8 SAR 239

$60.4 SAR 227

5.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$70.0 SAR 263

$59.6 SAR 224

17.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.7 SAR 370

$77.6 SAR 291

27.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.8 SAR 303

$80.9 SAR 304

-0.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$433 SAR 1,624

$340 SAR 1,277

27.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$397 SAR 1,489

$199 SAR 746

99.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,031 SAR 3,869

$602 SAR 2,260

71.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$790 SAR 2,965

$429 SAR 1,608

84.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,419 SAR 9,077

$2,047 SAR 7,683

18.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,457 SAR 5,468

$1,395 SAR 5,235

4.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,866 SAR 7,005

$1,709 SAR 6,413

9.23%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Najran: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $433 in Al Khobar and $340 in Najran. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Khobar pays 9% 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: $53.0 in Al Khobar vs $23.00 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

Najran 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 Najran the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Al Khobar pays 9% 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 $340 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 56% less than in Al Khobar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $307 in Al Khobar versus $351 in Najran. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,057 in Najran versus $1,344 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 27% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.