😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,232 in Al Majma'ah versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,961 in Al Majma'ah versus $1,828 in Ad Dammam.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,690 in Al Majma'ah versus $2,450 in Ad Dammam.
🌍Living in Al Majma'ah is roughly 2% more expensive than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Al Majma'ah10% lower, Ad Dammam12% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Majma'ah
Ad Dammam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.89SAR 29.64
$7.90SAR 29.66
-0.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.7SAR 243
$35.27SAR 132
83.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.89SAR 33.39
$6.78SAR 25.48
31.12%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.90SAR 7.15
$1.92SAR 7.23
-1.04%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01SAR 11.30
$2.22SAR 8.33
35.59%
Cappuccino
$4.41SAR 16.55
$2.98SAR 11.18
47.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.95SAR 3.58
$0.77SAR 2.90
23.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31SAR 1.18
$0.20SAR 0.77
55.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Majma'ah
Ad Dammam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.66SAR 6.24
$1.80SAR 6.77
-7.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33SAR 4.98
$1.27SAR 4.78
4.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.38SAR 8.94
$1.87SAR 7.02
27.27%
Eggs
$3.24SAR 12.18
$2.18SAR 8.19
48.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.63SAR 36.16
$7.26SAR 27.26
32.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.56SAR 35.91
$7.74SAR 29.06
23.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.60SAR 58.6
$12.95SAR 48.63
20.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.72SAR 10.22
$2.19SAR 8.23
24.20%
Banana(1kg)
$1.94SAR 7.27
$1.66SAR 6.24
16.87%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.38SAR 8.96
$1.58SAR 5.92
50.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.75SAR 6.56
$1.56SAR 5.84
12.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19SAR 4.46
$1.11SAR 4.18
7.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.35SAR 5.07
$1.16SAR 4.37
16.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.71SAR 6.44
$1.27SAR 4.75
34.65%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.56SAR 2.10
$0.58SAR 2.19
-3.45%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.75SAR 10.34
$4.20SAR 15.77
-34.52%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.82SAR 6.85
$1.52SAR 5.70
19.74%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45SAR 9.20
$2.21SAR 8.31
10.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.43SAR 27.91
$7.58SAR 28.45
-1.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Majma'ah
Ad Dammam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.05SAR 3.93
$0.98SAR 3.69
7.14%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$35.52SAR 133
$35.71SAR 134
-0.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.15SAR 11.84
$2.74SAR 10.28
14.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.82SAR 6.84
$2.62SAR 9.82
-30.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.52SAR 50.8
$13.54SAR 50.8
-0.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64SAR 2.40
$0.60SAR 2.27
6.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.9KSAR 135.0K
$66.7KSAR 250.4K
-46.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.7KSAR 85.4K
$21.0KSAR 79.0K
8.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Majma'ah
Ad Dammam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$94.3SAR 354
$127SAR 478
-25.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$32.85SAR 123
$32.69SAR 123
0.49%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.0SAR 259
$64.4SAR 242
7.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Majma'ah
Ad Dammam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$83.9SAR 315
$77.7SAR 292
8.03%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$37.05SAR 139
$28.77SAR 108
28.78%
Cinema Ticket
$13.26SAR 49.82
$13.58SAR 51.0
-2.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Majma'ah
Ad Dammam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$540SAR 2,028
$419SAR 1,574
28.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.1KSAR 41.6K
$7,803SAR 29.3K
41.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Majma'ah
Ad Dammam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.2SAR 222
$42.01SAR 158
40.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.2SAR 215
$49.62SAR 186
15.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106SAR 398
$97.9SAR 368
8.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108SAR 407
$91.6SAR 344
18.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Majma'ah
Ad Dammam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$581SAR 2,182
$584SAR 2,193
-0.51%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$351SAR 1,317
$369SAR 1,385
-4.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$877SAR 3,294
$985SAR 3,701
-10.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$540SAR 2,027
$673SAR 2,529
-19.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,320SAR 8,716
$1,416SAR 5,319
63.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,378SAR 5,176
$600SAR 2,253
129.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Majma'ah
Ad Dammam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,520SAR 5,709
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.54
5.9
-6.10%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al Majma'ah: September 15, 2026
Last update for Ad Dammam: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $581 in Al Majma'ah and $584 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $65.0 in Al Majma'ah vs $35.00 in Ad Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $239 vs $199 per month, with Ad Dammam 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 Majma'ah vs Ad Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Al Majma'ah or Ad Dammam?
Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Al Majma'ah. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ad Dammam the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Al Majma'ah and in Ad Dammam?
You'd need roughly $1,848 in Al Majma'ah and $1,808 in Ad Dammam to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Al Majma'ah compared to Ad Dammam?
Rent for a central apartment: $581 in Al Majma'ah versus $584 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Al Majma'ah compared to Ad Dammam?
All in, you'll spend $1,232 per month in Al Majma'ah versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Al Majma'ah compared to Ad Dammam?
A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 1% less than in Al Majma'ah. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Al Majma'ah or in Ad Dammam?
At $1,205 in Ad Dammam versus $1,232 in Al Majma'ah, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ad Dammam but tight or insufficient in Al Majma'ah. The gap between the two cities makes Ad Dammam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Al Majma'ah or Ad Dammam?
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 Majma'ah compared to Ad Dammam?
Safety-wise, Al Majma'ah and Ad Dammam 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 Ad Dammam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Al Majma'ah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Al Majma'ah vs other spots: cost of living compared