😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,332 in Al Khobar versus $988 in Yanbu.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,100 in Al Khobar versus $1,505 in Yanbu.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,868 in Al Khobar versus $2,021 in Yanbu.
🌍Living in Al Khobar is roughly 35% more expensive than in Yanbu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Al Khobar is 0% above, Yanbu is 26% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Khobar
Yanbu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.82SAR 25.59
$6.70SAR 25.14
1.79%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.0SAR 203
$38.81SAR 146
39.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.19SAR 30.77
$6.72SAR 25.22
21.87%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.98SAR 7.44
$2.05SAR 7.70
-3.41%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70SAR 10.13
$1.57SAR 5.90
71.97%
Cappuccino
$4.26SAR 16.00
$3.67SAR 13.78
16.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96SAR 3.61
$0.76SAR 2.84
26.32%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49SAR 1.83
$0.25SAR 0.94
96.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Khobar
Yanbu
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.69SAR 6.34
$1.72SAR 6.45
-1.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.40SAR 5.24
$0.86SAR 3.23
62.79%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.32SAR 8.72
$2.25SAR 8.44
3.11%
Eggs
$2.88SAR 10.81
$2.77SAR 10.38
3.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.94SAR 26.04
$5.91SAR 22.20
17.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.12SAR 34.26
$7.68SAR 28.83
18.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.61SAR 47.33
$11.98SAR 45.00
5.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.54SAR 9.53
$2.15SAR 8.09
18.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72SAR 6.45
$1.65SAR 6.20
4.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13SAR 8.00
$1.40SAR 5.26
52.14%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57SAR 5.88
$1.53SAR 5.76
2.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.41SAR 5.30
$1.26SAR 4.72
11.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.72SAR 6.47
$1.02SAR 3.82
68.63%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.70SAR 6.38
$1.07SAR 4.01
58.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.60SAR 2.24
$0.51SAR 1.92
17.65%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.70SAR 10.13
$1.36SAR 5.11
98.53%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.46SAR 5.48
$1.31SAR 4.91
11.45%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.88SAR 7.04
$1.69SAR 6.34
11.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.51SAR 24.44
$6.41SAR 24.08
1.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Khobar
Yanbu
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.92SAR 3.44
$1.10SAR 4.13
-16.36%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$60.1SAR 225
$33.07SAR 124
81.58%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.26SAR 8.48
$3.13SAR 11.75
-27.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.35SAR 5.06
$0.83SAR 3.11
62.65%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.60SAR 24.78
$15.49SAR 58.2
-57.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.65SAR 2.43
$0.57SAR 2.16
14.04%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4KSAR 80.2K
$26.6KSAR 99.8K
-19.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7KSAR 85.4K
$21.9KSAR 82.1K
4.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Khobar
Yanbu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$124SAR 466
$105SAR 395
18.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.51SAR 130
$22.13SAR 83.1
55.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$80.7SAR 303
$68.2SAR 256
18.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Khobar
Yanbu
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$109SAR 410
$97.1SAR 364
12.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.80SAR 138
$35.72SAR 134
3.02%
Cinema Ticket
$17.36SAR 65.2
$13.22SAR 49.65
31.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Khobar
Yanbu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306SAR 1,147
$314SAR 1,178
-2.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,541SAR 28.3K
$3,742SAR 14.0K
101.53%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Khobar
Yanbu
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.4SAR 238
$23.03SAR 86.5
175.38%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.8SAR 262
$21.18SAR 79.5
229.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$100SAR 376
$66.2SAR 249
51.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4SAR 302
$47.84SAR 180
68.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Khobar
Yanbu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$433SAR 1,627
$310SAR 1,164
39.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$401SAR 1,505
$243SAR 913
64.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,059SAR 3,977
$600SAR 2,252
76.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$813SAR 3,054
$403SAR 1,513
101.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,442SAR 9,169
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,423SAR 5,344
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Khobar
Yanbu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,856SAR 6,970
$3,433SAR 12.9K
-45.92%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.84
3.3
16.36%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al Khobar: July 11, 2026
Last update for Yanbu: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $433 in Al Khobar and $310 in Yanbu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Yanbu pays 85% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Al Khobar vs $39.00 in Yanbu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $217 vs $188 per month, with Yanbu 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 Yanbu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Al Khobar or Yanbu?
Yanbu wins on cost – living expenses run 35% lower than in Al Khobar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Yanbu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Al Khobar or in Yanbu?
On paper, salaries run 85% lower in Yanbu. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Al Khobar compared to Yanbu?
Rent for a central apartment: $433 in Al Khobar versus $310 in Yanbu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Al Khobar compared to Yanbu?
A monthly transit pass in Yanbu runs roughly 82% 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 Yanbu?
Childcare runs $306 in Al Khobar versus $314 in Yanbu. 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 Yanbu?
At $988 in Yanbu versus $1,332 in Al Khobar, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Yanbu but tight or insufficient in Al Khobar. The gap between the two cities makes Yanbu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Al Khobar or Yanbu?
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 Yanbu?
Safety-wise, Al Khobar and Yanbu 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 Yanbu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 35% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.