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: $1,270 in Al Mubarraz versus $1,211 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,965 in Al Mubarraz versus $1,857 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,660 in Al Mubarraz versus $2,503 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Al Mubarraz is roughly 5% more expensive than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Mubarraz 5% lower, Ad Dammam 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.48 SAR 28.08

$7.45 SAR 27.99

0.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.94 SAR 142

$53.0 SAR 199

-28.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.12 SAR 26.72

$7.92 SAR 29.73

-10.10%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 SAR 6.44

$1.88 SAR 7.07

-8.51%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.18 SAR 8.18

$1.85 SAR 6.95

17.84%

Cappuccino

$4.00 SAR 15.03

$3.55 SAR 13.33

12.68%

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

$0.66 SAR 2.47

$0.92 SAR 3.44

-28.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.19 SAR 0.72

$0.38 SAR 1.42

-50.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 SAR 6.29

$1.64 SAR 6.15

2.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 SAR 4.73

$1.42 SAR 5.32

-11.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.43 SAR 9.11

$2.12 SAR 7.96

14.62%

Eggs

$2.65 SAR 9.93

$2.31 SAR 8.68

14.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.36 SAR 31.39

$5.99 SAR 22.48

39.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.16 SAR 38.15

$7.32 SAR 27.49

38.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.49 SAR 54.4

$10.07 SAR 37.81

43.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 SAR 8.69

$2.09 SAR 7.85

10.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.67 SAR 6.28

$1.55 SAR 5.82

7.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 SAR 6.99

$1.39 SAR 5.23

33.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 SAR 5.80

$1.65 SAR 6.20

-6.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 SAR 4.80

$1.28 SAR 4.79

Onion (1kg)

$1.51 SAR 5.67

$1.37 SAR 5.15

10.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.44 SAR 5.42

$1.29 SAR 4.86

11.63%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 SAR 1.97

$0.55 SAR 2.08

-3.64%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.79 SAR 10.48

$4.12 SAR 15.47

-32.28%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.80 SAR 6.75

$1.61 SAR 6.05

11.80%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 SAR 9.13

$1.99 SAR 7.47

22.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.52 SAR 28.24

$7.76 SAR 29.14

-3.09%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.08

$0.94 SAR 3.51

15.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.33 SAR 151

$39.30 SAR 148

2.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 SAR 12.37

$3.31 SAR 12.42

-0.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 SAR 7.19

$2.73 SAR 10.26

-30.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.45 SAR 50.5

$13.58 SAR 51.0

-0.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 SAR 2.04

$0.61 SAR 2.29

-11.48%

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

$19.8K SAR 74.4K

$22.2K SAR 83.5K

-10.83%

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

$23.6K SAR 88.5K

$20.9K SAR 78.3K

13.00%

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

$104 SAR 392

$118 SAR 444

-11.72%

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

$35.57 SAR 134

$38.60 SAR 145

-7.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.3 SAR 283

$63.4 SAR 238

18.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.7 SAR 329

$70.7 SAR 266

23.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.03 SAR 132

$30.89 SAR 116

13.40%

Cinema Ticket

$15.69 SAR 58.9

$15.30 SAR 57.5

2.55%

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

$452 SAR 1,697

$427 SAR 1,602

5.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,474 SAR 35.6K

$8,216 SAR 30.9K

15.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.6 SAR 224

$68.0 SAR 255

-12.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.5 SAR 239

$67.8 SAR 255

-6.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 SAR 401

$90.5 SAR 340

17.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$99.6 SAR 374

$86.1 SAR 323

15.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$438 SAR 1,644

$452 SAR 1,697

-3.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$381 SAR 1,429

$376 SAR 1,413

1.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$848 SAR 3,184

$792 SAR 2,976

7.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 SAR 2,375

$636 SAR 2,388

-0.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,117 SAR 7,948

$1,320 SAR 4,956

60.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,437 SAR 5,398

$812 SAR 3,051

76.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,073 SAR 4,028

$1,502 SAR 5,640

-28.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.31

4.33

22.63%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Al Mubarraz: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $438 in Al Mubarraz and $452 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ad Dammam pays 40% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $38.00 in Al Mubarraz vs $53.0 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $225 vs $185, with Ad Dammam cheaper for home cooking.

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 5% 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 40% 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: $438 in Al Mubarraz versus $452 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,270 per month in Al Mubarraz versus $1,211 in Ad Dammam – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 3% less than in Al Mubarraz. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,211 in Ad Dammam versus $1,270 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 5% less than in Al Mubarraz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.