🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,415 in Al Khobar versus $1,815 in Zagreb.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,187 in Al Khobar versus $2,718 in Zagreb.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,960 in Al Khobar versus $3,620 in Zagreb.
🌍Living in Al Khobar costs roughly 22% less than in Zagreb, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Al Khobar3% above, Zagreb32% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Khobar
Zagreb
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.69SAR 25.13
$13.88€11.96
-51.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$59.3SAR 223
$60.3€51.9
-1.53%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.92SAR 29.73
$8.30€7.16
-4.58%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.59SAR 9.74
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70SAR 10.15
-
-
Cappuccino
$4.32SAR 16.21
$2.63€2.26
64.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00SAR 3.74
$3.17€2.73
-68.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38SAR 1.42
$2.64€2.28
-85.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$3.40€2.93
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$4.72€4.07
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Khobar
Zagreb
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.62SAR 6.08
$1.35€1.16
20.00%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26SAR 4.75
$1.73€1.49
-27.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.43SAR 9.13
$3.07€2.65
-20.85%
Eggs
$2.40SAR 9.02
$4.10€3.53
-41.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.11SAR 26.72
$16.57€14.28
-57.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.25SAR 38.48
$12.71€10.96
-19.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.75SAR 44.13
$17.87€15.41
-34.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.78SAR 10.44
$2.30€1.98
20.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.72SAR 6.45
$1.90€1.64
-9.47%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.97SAR 7.42
$2.18€1.88
-9.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.83SAR 6.87
$2.71€2.34
-32.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.35SAR 5.05
$1.45€1.25
-6.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.63SAR 6.13
$1.07€0.92
52.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.68SAR 6.30
$1.33€1.14
26.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55SAR 2.05
$1.34€1.15
-58.96%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.60SAR 9.75
-
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.59SAR 5.96
-
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.81SAR 6.79
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.54SAR 24.56
$5.78€4.98
13.15%
Wine(Bottle)
-
$9.15€7.89
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.73€1.49
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.49€2.15
-
🚌 Getting Around
Al Khobar
Zagreb
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.74SAR 2.79
$0.60€0.51
23.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.6SAR 250
$58.2€50.2
14.38%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.40SAR 12.78
$2.26€1.95
50.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.62SAR 9.83
$1.43€1.24
83.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.75SAR 25.36
$11.00€9.49
-38.64%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.60SAR 2.25
$1.86€1.60
-67.74%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$67.2KSAR 252.4K
$27.9K€24.1K
140.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.3KSAR 83.7K
$27.6K€23.8K
-19.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Khobar
Zagreb
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$100SAR 376
$218€188
-53.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.10SAR 121
$22.03€18.99
45.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$68.3SAR 256
$40.41€34.84
68.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Khobar
Zagreb
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$81.6SAR 306
$53.8€46.37
51.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.00SAR 135
$19.46€16.78
84.99%
Cinema Ticket
$15.59SAR 58.6
$9.40€8.11
65.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Khobar
Zagreb
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$590SAR 2,216
$555€478
6.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,568SAR 32.2K
$10.9K€9,364
-21.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Khobar
Zagreb
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.4SAR 234
$109€94.4
-43.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$83.5SAR 313
$46.46€40.05
79.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.7SAR 359
$98.8€85.2
-3.16%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$91.4SAR 343
$111€96.0
-17.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Khobar
Zagreb
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$645SAR 2,423
$916€789
-29.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$496SAR 1,864
$700€603
-29.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,188SAR 4,463
$1,460€1,259
-18.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$876SAR 3,289
$1,067€920
-17.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,382SAR 8,944
$5,291€4,561
-54.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,464SAR 5,498
$3,520€3,034
-58.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Khobar
Zagreb
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,812SAR 6,806
$1,954€1,685
-7.27%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.88
3.25
80.92%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al Khobar: September 6, 2026
Last update for Zagreb: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $645 in Al Khobar and $916 in Zagreb. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Zagreb pays 8% 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: $59.0 in Al Khobar vs $60.0 in Zagreb for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $218 vs $331 per month, with Al Khobar 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 Zagreb: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Al Khobar or Zagreb?
Al Khobar wins on cost – living expenses run 28% lower than in Zagreb. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Al Khobar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Al Khobar or in Zagreb?
On paper, salaries run 8% lower in Zagreb. 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 Zagreb?
Rent for a central apartment: $645 in Al Khobar versus $916 in Zagreb. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Al Khobar compared to Zagreb?
A monthly transit pass in Al Khobar runs roughly 14% less than in Zagreb. 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 Zagreb?
Childcare runs $590 in Al Khobar versus $555 in Zagreb. 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 Zagreb?
At $1,415 in Al Khobar versus $1,815 in Zagreb, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Al Khobar but tight or insufficient in Zagreb. The gap between the two cities makes Al Khobar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Al Khobar or Zagreb?
Both work as nomad bases, but Al Khobar delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,415 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Al Khobar hard to pass up.
How safe is Al Khobar compared to Zagreb?
Safety-wise, Al Khobar and Zagreb 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 Al Khobar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Zagreb. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.