Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Mubarraz and Ad Dammam Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Mubarraz and Ad Dammam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,240 in Al Mubarraz versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,880 in Al Mubarraz versus $1,828 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,519 in Al Mubarraz versus $2,450 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Al Mubarraz is roughly 3% more expensive than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Mubarraz 9% lower, Ad Dammam 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.62 SAR 28.62

$7.90 SAR 29.66

-3.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.77 SAR 138

$35.27 SAR 132

4.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.03 SAR 30.15

$6.78 SAR 25.48

18.44%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 SAR 7.71

$1.92 SAR 7.23

6.77%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 SAR 7.79

$2.22 SAR 8.33

-6.76%

Cappuccino

$4.34 SAR 16.29

$2.98 SAR 11.18

45.64%

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

$0.68 SAR 2.56

$0.77 SAR 2.90

-11.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 SAR 1.06

$0.20 SAR 0.77

40.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 SAR 6.44

$1.80 SAR 6.77

-4.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 SAR 4.91

$1.27 SAR 4.78

3.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 SAR 8.79

$1.87 SAR 7.02

25.13%

Eggs

$3.20 SAR 12.01

$2.18 SAR 8.19

46.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.73 SAR 36.56

$7.26 SAR 27.26

34.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.65 SAR 36.25

$7.74 SAR 29.06

24.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.49 SAR 58.2

$12.95 SAR 48.63

19.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 SAR 10.32

$2.19 SAR 8.23

25.57%

Banana (1kg)

$1.94 SAR 7.27

$1.66 SAR 6.24

16.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 SAR 8.51

$1.58 SAR 5.92

43.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.74 SAR 6.53

$1.56 SAR 5.84

11.54%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 SAR 4.47

$1.11 SAR 4.18

7.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 SAR 5.15

$1.16 SAR 4.37

18.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.66 SAR 6.22

$1.27 SAR 4.75

30.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 SAR 2.24

$0.58 SAR 2.19

3.45%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.78 SAR 10.44

$4.20 SAR 15.77

-33.81%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 SAR 6.59

$1.52 SAR 5.70

15.13%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.46 SAR 9.25

$2.21 SAR 8.31

11.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.48 SAR 28.09

$7.58 SAR 28.45

-1.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 SAR 3.94

$0.98 SAR 3.69

7.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.55 SAR 137

$35.71 SAR 134

2.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.28 SAR 12.30

$2.74 SAR 10.28

19.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 SAR 7.05

$2.62 SAR 9.82

-28.24%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.26 SAR 49.82

$13.54 SAR 50.8

-2.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 SAR 2.28

$0.60 SAR 2.27

1.67%

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

$36.3K SAR 136.5K

$66.7K SAR 250.4K

-45.48%

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

$22.6K SAR 84.8K

$21.0K SAR 79.0K

7.32%

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

$96.1 SAR 361

$127 SAR 478

-24.48%

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

$32.18 SAR 121

$32.69 SAR 123

-1.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.1 SAR 263

$64.4 SAR 242

8.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$85.7 SAR 322

$77.7 SAR 292

10.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.68 SAR 138

$28.77 SAR 108

27.49%

Cinema Ticket

$13.52 SAR 50.8

$13.58 SAR 51.0

-0.44%

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

$551 SAR 2,070

$419 SAR 1,574

31.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.2K SAR 42.2K

$7,803 SAR 29.3K

43.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 SAR 218

$42.01 SAR 158

38.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.2 SAR 215

$49.62 SAR 186

15.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$110 SAR 413

$97.9 SAR 368

12.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 SAR 404

$91.6 SAR 344

17.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$574 SAR 2,157

$584 SAR 2,193

-1.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 SAR 1,302

$369 SAR 1,385

-5.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$886 SAR 3,330

$985 SAR 3,701

-10.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$550 SAR 2,066

$673 SAR 2,529

-18.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,371 SAR 8,904

$1,416 SAR 5,319

67.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,396 SAR 5,243

$600 SAR 2,253

132.66%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,063 SAR 3,992

$1,520 SAR 5,709

-30.08%

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 Mubarraz: September 14, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $574 in Al Mubarraz and $584 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ad Dammam pays 43% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $37.00 in Al Mubarraz vs $35.00 in Ad Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $240 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 Mubarraz vs Ad Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Al Mubarraz. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ad Dammam the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 43% lower in Ad Dammam. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $574 in Al Mubarraz versus $584 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,240 per month in Al Mubarraz versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 2% less than in Al Mubarraz. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,205 in Ad Dammam versus $1,240 in Al Mubarraz, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ad Dammam but tight or insufficient in Al Mubarraz. The gap between the two cities makes Ad Dammam 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 Mubarraz 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.

Expats usually find Ad Dammam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Al Mubarraz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.