Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Mubarraz and Al Khobar Cost of Living Comparison Between Al Mubarraz and Al Khobar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,284 in Al Mubarraz versus $1,323 in Al Khobar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,930 in Al Mubarraz versus $2,104 in Al Khobar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,575 in Al Mubarraz versus $2,885 in Al Khobar.

Living in Al Mubarraz costs roughly 3% less than in Al Khobar, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al Mubarraz 4% lower, Al Khobar 1% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.28 SAR 27.33

$6.47 SAR 24.31

12.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.39 SAR 148

$53.2 SAR 200

-25.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.31 SAR 27.45

$7.78 SAR 29.21

-6.04%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 SAR 6.35

$2.02 SAR 7.60

-16.34%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 SAR 7.76

$2.64 SAR 9.92

-21.59%

Cappuccino

$4.15 SAR 15.57

$4.38 SAR 16.45

-5.25%

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

$0.69 SAR 2.59

$1.02 SAR 3.84

-32.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 SAR 0.85

$0.51 SAR 1.92

-54.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.63 SAR 6.13

$1.75 SAR 6.57

-6.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 SAR 4.90

$1.39 SAR 5.22

-6.47%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.43 SAR 9.13

$2.40 SAR 9.01

1.25%

Eggs

$2.65 SAR 9.94

$2.83 SAR 10.62

-6.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.61 SAR 32.35

$6.64 SAR 24.92

29.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.97 SAR 37.46

$8.95 SAR 33.60

11.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.72 SAR 55.3

$12.73 SAR 47.82

15.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 SAR 8.77

$2.54 SAR 9.52

-7.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 SAR 6.33

$1.74 SAR 6.52

-2.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.85 SAR 6.94

$2.15 SAR 8.09

-13.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 SAR 5.77

$1.57 SAR 5.90

-1.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 SAR 4.66

$1.42 SAR 5.33

-12.68%

Onion (1kg)

$1.46 SAR 5.49

$1.66 SAR 6.24

-12.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.43 SAR 5.39

$1.71 SAR 6.43

-16.37%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 SAR 2.11

$0.58 SAR 2.19

-3.45%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.85 SAR 10.70

$2.61 SAR 9.82

9.20%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 SAR 6.44

$1.42 SAR 5.34

20.42%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 SAR 8.69

$1.98 SAR 7.43

17.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.34 SAR 27.57

$6.62 SAR 24.86

10.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 SAR 4.14

$0.96 SAR 3.60

14.58%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.68 SAR 153

$61.6 SAR 231

-33.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.29 SAR 12.36

$2.23 SAR 8.38

47.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 SAR 7.11

$1.31 SAR 4.93

44.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.27 SAR 49.84

$6.79 SAR 25.48

95.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.53 SAR 2.01

$0.65 SAR 2.43

-18.46%

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

$19.9K SAR 74.7K

$21.2K SAR 79.8K

-6.34%

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

$23.0K SAR 86.3K

$23.0K SAR 86.2K

0.15%

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

$106 SAR 397

$122 SAR 458

-13.32%

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

$34.96 SAR 131

$34.21 SAR 128

2.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$77.2 SAR 290

$81.4 SAR 306

-5.09%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$89.1 SAR 334

$106 SAR 400

-16.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.07 SAR 135

$36.66 SAR 138

-1.61%

Cinema Ticket

$15.90 SAR 59.7

$17.12 SAR 64.3

-7.13%

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

$465 SAR 1,745

$301 SAR 1,129

54.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,714 SAR 36.5K

$7,632 SAR 28.7K

27.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.5 SAR 223

$63.6 SAR 239

-6.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$65.1 SAR 244

$69.1 SAR 259

-5.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 SAR 398

$100.0 SAR 375

5.90%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$100 SAR 376

$78.0 SAR 293

28.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$434 SAR 1,632

$430 SAR 1,615

1.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$380 SAR 1,427

$394 SAR 1,479

-3.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 SAR 3,145

$1,049 SAR 3,938

-20.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$628 SAR 2,358

$800 SAR 3,004

-21.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,370 SAR 8,899

$2,385 SAR 8,955

-0.63%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,176 SAR 4,417

$1,459 SAR 5,479

-19.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,073 SAR 4,030

$1,822 SAR 6,843

-41.11%

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 Mubarraz: July 26, 2026

Last update for Al Khobar: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $434 in Al Mubarraz and $430 in Al Khobar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Khobar pays 70% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $39.00 in Al Mubarraz vs $53.0 in Al Khobar. Groceries flip the comparison at $226 vs $216, with Al Khobar 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 Al Khobar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

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

On paper, salaries run 70% lower in Al Khobar. 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: $434 in Al Mubarraz versus $430 in Al Khobar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Al Mubarraz runs roughly 51% less than in Al Khobar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $465 in Al Mubarraz versus $301 in Al Khobar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,284 in Al Mubarraz versus $1,323 in Al Khobar, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al Mubarraz but tight or insufficient in Al Khobar. The gap between the two cities makes Al Mubarraz 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 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.

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