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: $1,301 in Al Mubarraz versus $1,210 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,968 in Al Mubarraz versus $1,872 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,635 in Al Mubarraz versus $2,533 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Al Mubarraz is roughly 7% more expensive than Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Mubarraz 3% lower, Ad Dammam 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.48 SAR 28.08

$7.31 SAR 27.42

2.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.01 SAR 146

$53.6 SAR 201

-27.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.10 SAR 26.64

$7.98 SAR 29.94

-11.03%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.77 SAR 6.66

$1.83 SAR 6.86

-3.28%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 SAR 8.14

$1.82 SAR 6.82

19.23%

Cappuccino

$4.12 SAR 15.47

$3.70 SAR 13.89

11.35%

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

$0.64 SAR 2.39

$0.92 SAR 3.43

-30.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 SAR 0.65

$0.35 SAR 1.30

-51.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.69 SAR 6.34

$1.71 SAR 6.43

-1.17%

White Bread (500g)

$1.33 SAR 4.97

$1.45 SAR 5.43

-8.28%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.39 SAR 8.98

$2.09 SAR 7.85

14.35%

Eggs

$2.61 SAR 9.81

$2.24 SAR 8.42

16.52%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.63 SAR 32.40

$6.06 SAR 22.73

42.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.14 SAR 38.05

$7.15 SAR 26.85

41.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.87 SAR 55.8

$9.62 SAR 36.12

54.57%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 SAR 8.43

$2.11 SAR 7.93

6.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.74 SAR 6.54

$1.50 SAR 5.62

16.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.79 SAR 6.73

$1.38 SAR 5.20

29.71%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 SAR 5.82

$1.66 SAR 6.24

-6.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 SAR 4.64

$1.28 SAR 4.80

-3.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.45 SAR 5.44

$1.33 SAR 4.99

9.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.41 SAR 5.28

$1.35 SAR 5.06

4.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.53 SAR 1.98

$0.55 SAR 2.07

-3.64%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.81 SAR 10.53

$4.19 SAR 15.73

-32.94%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 SAR 6.73

$1.60 SAR 6.01

11.87%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 SAR 9.01

$1.98 SAR 7.44

21.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.44 SAR 27.92

$7.92 SAR 29.73

-6.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.07

$0.89 SAR 3.36

22.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.01 SAR 150

$40.16 SAR 151

-0.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.25 SAR 12.20

$3.29 SAR 12.35

-1.22%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 SAR 6.95

$2.65 SAR 9.96

-30.19%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.56 SAR 50.9

$13.28 SAR 49.85

2.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.54 SAR 2.01

$0.64 SAR 2.42

-15.62%

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

$19.9K SAR 74.7K

$23.1K SAR 86.6K

-13.67%

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

$23.5K SAR 88.0K

$21.3K SAR 79.8K

10.32%

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

$105 SAR 395

$117 SAR 438

-9.75%

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

$35.26 SAR 132

$38.34 SAR 144

-8.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.4 SAR 283

$63.5 SAR 238

18.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.1 SAR 334

$70.9 SAR 266

25.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.02 SAR 131

$30.51 SAR 114

14.78%

Cinema Ticket

$15.68 SAR 58.9

$15.54 SAR 58.3

0.90%

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

$464 SAR 1,742

$415 SAR 1,559

11.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,567 SAR 35.9K

$8,170 SAR 30.7K

17.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.4 SAR 223

$66.9 SAR 251

-11.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.1 SAR 244

$68.2 SAR 256

-4.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$107 SAR 402

$90.8 SAR 341

17.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$98.6 SAR 370

$85.5 SAR 321

15.34%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 SAR 1,649

$447 SAR 1,678

-1.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 SAR 1,404

$375 SAR 1,408

-0.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$843 SAR 3,163

$800 SAR 3,002

5.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$611 SAR 2,295

$641 SAR 2,407

-4.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,358 SAR 8,850

$1,309 SAR 4,914

80.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,336 SAR 5,012

$805 SAR 3,020

66.00%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,047 SAR 3,930

$1,895 SAR 7,110

-44.73%

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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $439 in Al Mubarraz and $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ad Dammam pays 81% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $39.00 in Al Mubarraz vs $54.0 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $227 vs $184, 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 7% 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, Ad Dammam earns 81% less. 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: $439 in Al Mubarraz versus $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,301 per month in Al Mubarraz versus $1,210 in Ad Dammam – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 0% less than in Al Mubarraz. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,210 in Ad Dammam versus $1,301 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 7% less than in Al Mubarraz. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.