🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,222 in Al Majma'ah versus $1,353 in Al Khobar.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,895 in Al Majma'ah versus $2,112 in Al Khobar.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,568 in Al Majma'ah versus $2,870 in Al Khobar.
🙂Living in Al Majma'ah costs roughly 10% less than in Al Khobar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Al Majma'ah is 8% below, Al Khobar is 1% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Al Majma'ah
Al Khobar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.86SAR 29.49
$6.61SAR 24.80
18.91%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$54.2SAR 203
$54.0SAR 203
0.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.20SAR 30.77
$8.05SAR 30.20
1.86%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.76SAR 6.60
$1.97SAR 7.39
-10.66%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20SAR 8.24
$2.60SAR 9.74
-15.38%
Cappuccino
$4.12SAR 15.48
$4.23SAR 15.86
-2.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71SAR 2.65
$0.94SAR 3.51
-24.47%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31SAR 1.17
$0.48SAR 1.81
-35.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Al Majma'ah
Al Khobar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.51SAR 5.67
$1.70SAR 6.38
-11.18%
White Bread(500g)
$0.65SAR 2.45
$1.40SAR 5.24
-53.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.24SAR 8.41
$2.37SAR 8.90
-5.49%
Eggs
$2.26SAR 8.46
$2.83SAR 10.62
-20.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.39SAR 31.49
$6.79SAR 25.46
23.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$6.61SAR 24.81
$9.15SAR 34.33
-27.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.95SAR 44.85
$12.28SAR 46.09
-2.69%
Apples(1kg)
$2.20SAR 8.24
$2.50SAR 9.39
-12.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.68SAR 6.32
$1.73SAR 6.50
-2.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.48SAR 5.57
$2.21SAR 8.29
-33.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52SAR 5.70
$1.58SAR 5.92
-3.80%
Potato(1kg)
$0.69SAR 2.60
$1.49SAR 5.60
-53.69%
Onion(1kg)
$0.91SAR 3.40
$1.74SAR 6.51
-47.70%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.44SAR 5.42
$1.75SAR 6.58
-17.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51SAR 1.93
$0.60SAR 2.24
-15.00%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.74SAR 10.28
$2.70SAR 10.12
1.48%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73SAR 6.48
$1.48SAR 5.56
16.89%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40SAR 9.00
$1.96SAR 7.35
22.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$7.52SAR 28.22
$6.68SAR 25.08
12.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Al Majma'ah
Al Khobar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.09SAR 4.11
$0.89SAR 3.32
22.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.74SAR 149
$59.6SAR 224
-33.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.16SAR 11.87
$2.24SAR 8.41
41.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92SAR 7.19
$1.36SAR 5.11
41.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.55SAR 50.8
$6.83SAR 25.65
98.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.59SAR 2.22
$0.63SAR 2.38
-6.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.6KSAR 129.8K
$21.7KSAR 81.6K
59.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.6KSAR 88.6K
$23.1KSAR 86.9K
2.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Al Majma'ah
Al Khobar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$102SAR 384
$122SAR 457
-15.94%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$34.87SAR 131
$34.14SAR 128
2.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.0SAR 285
$80.5SAR 302
-5.60%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Al Majma'ah
Al Khobar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$88.0SAR 330
$108SAR 404
-18.23%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.19SAR 132
$36.22SAR 136
-2.84%
Cinema Ticket
$16.01SAR 60.1
$17.10SAR 64.2
-6.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Al Majma'ah
Al Khobar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$448SAR 1,681
$311SAR 1,169
43.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,734SAR 36.5K
$7,735SAR 29.0K
25.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Al Majma'ah
Al Khobar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.4SAR 223
$64.5SAR 242
-7.88%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$65.2SAR 245
$71.1SAR 267
-8.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$110SAR 412
$99.0SAR 372
11.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$98.8SAR 371
$80.7SAR 303
22.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Al Majma'ah
Al Khobar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$435SAR 1,633
$432SAR 1,619
0.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379SAR 1,422
$393SAR 1,476
-3.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$851SAR 3,194
$1,052SAR 3,949
-19.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$627SAR 2,353
$804SAR 3,016
-21.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,550SAR 9,568
$2,374SAR 8,910
7.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,427SAR 5,354
$1,456SAR 5,464
-2.00%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Al Majma'ah
Al Khobar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$1,847SAR 6,931
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.31
3.84
38.28%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Al Majma'ah: June 14, 2026
Last update for Al Khobar: June 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $435 in Al Majma'ah and $432 in Al Khobar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Al Majma'ah vs $54.0 in Al Khobar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $184 vs $216 per month, with Al Majma'ah 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 Al Khobar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Al Majma'ah or Al Khobar?
Al Majma'ah wins on cost – living expenses run 11% lower than in Al Khobar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Al Majma'ah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Al Majma'ah vs Al Khobar?
You'd need roughly $1,833 in Al Majma'ah and $2,029 in Al Khobar 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 vs Al Khobar?
Rent for a central apartment: $435 in Al Majma'ah versus $432 in Al Khobar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Al Majma'ah vs Al Khobar?
A monthly transit pass in Al Majma'ah 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 Majma'ah and Al Khobar?
Childcare runs $448 in Al Majma'ah versus $311 in Al Khobar. 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 Majma'ah or Al Khobar?
At $1,222 in Al Majma'ah versus $1,353 in Al Khobar, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Al Majma'ah but tight or insufficient in Al Khobar. The gap between the two cities makes Al Majma'ah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Al Majma'ah or Al Khobar?
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 Al Khobar?
Safety-wise, Al Majma'ah and Al Khobar 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 Majma'ah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Al Khobar. 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