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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,241 per month in Al Mubarraz vs $1,736 in Riyadh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,896 per month in Al Mubarraz vs $2,592 in Riyadh, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,551 per month in Al Mubarraz vs $3,447 in Riyadh, rent included.

Al Mubarraz is about 29% cheaper than Riyadh, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Al Mubarraz sits 10% below the global median, while Riyadh is 26% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.53 SAR 28.26

$7.72 SAR 28.99

-2.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.17 SAR 140

$64.3 SAR 241

-42.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.00 SAR 30.03

$8.39 SAR 31.49

-4.65%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.55 SAR 5.83

$1.81 SAR 6.79

-14.36%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.09 SAR 7.86

$2.84 SAR 10.67

-26.41%

Cappuccino

$4.42 SAR 16.58

$4.38 SAR 16.44

0.91%

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

$0.64 SAR 2.41

$0.86 SAR 3.23

-25.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 SAR 0.98

$0.34 SAR 1.28

-23.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.67 SAR 6.26

$1.70 SAR 6.40

-1.76%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 SAR 4.87

$1.32 SAR 4.95

-1.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.59 SAR 9.74

$2.42 SAR 9.07

7.02%

Eggs

$3.29 SAR 12.35

$3.27 SAR 12.29

0.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.63 SAR 36.14

$9.55 SAR 35.87

0.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.88 SAR 37.11

$9.80 SAR 36.81

0.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$15.11 SAR 56.7

$15.00 SAR 56.3

0.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.70 SAR 10.12

$2.70 SAR 10.13

Banana (1kg)

$1.86 SAR 6.98

$1.90 SAR 7.14

-2.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.29 SAR 8.60

$2.32 SAR 8.72

-1.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.71 SAR 6.40

$1.72 SAR 6.44

-0.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.18 SAR 4.45

$1.11 SAR 4.16

6.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 SAR 5.26

$1.39 SAR 5.21

0.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.65 SAR 6.18

$1.71 SAR 6.41

-3.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 SAR 2.07

$0.59 SAR 2.22

-6.78%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.77 SAR 10.38

$8.02 SAR 30.12

-65.46%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 SAR 6.86

$1.80 SAR 6.77

1.67%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 SAR 10.04

$2.46 SAR 9.24

8.54%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.52 SAR 28.24

$7.29 SAR 27.38

3.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.08

$1.05 SAR 3.94

3.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.65 SAR 134

$37.11 SAR 139

-3.93%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.15 SAR 11.84

$3.26 SAR 12.25

-3.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.83 SAR 6.87

$1.84 SAR 6.89

-0.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.12 SAR 49.28

$13.30 SAR 49.94

-1.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.41

$0.59 SAR 2.20

8.47%

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

$35.5K SAR 133.3K

$35.4K SAR 133.0K

0.23%

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

$22.0K SAR 82.6K

$22.3K SAR 83.8K

-1.48%

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

$97.2 SAR 365

$95.6 SAR 359

1.69%

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

$32.48 SAR 122

$31.83 SAR 120

2.04%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.8 SAR 262

$70.0 SAR 263

-0.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$84.3 SAR 316

$91.6 SAR 344

-7.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.00 SAR 139

$54.8 SAR 206

-32.49%

Cinema Ticket

$13.75 SAR 51.6

$13.76 SAR 51.7

-0.07%

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

$532 SAR 1,996

$539 SAR 2,023

-1.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.4K SAR 42.6K

$11.1K SAR 41.8K

1.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 SAR 224

$59.9 SAR 225

-0.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.6 SAR 224

$58.4 SAR 219

2.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$112 SAR 422

$111 SAR 415

1.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$105 SAR 395

$104 SAR 391

1.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$590 SAR 2,214

$1,189 SAR 4,464

-50.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$342 SAR 1,286

$851 SAR 3,195

-59.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$878 SAR 3,299

$2,177 SAR 8,174

-59.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$549 SAR 2,063

$1,274 SAR 4,782

-56.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,376 SAR 8,923

$2,947 SAR 11.1K

-19.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,344 SAR 5,045

$1,891 SAR 7,100

-28.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,051 SAR 3,948

$2,104 SAR 7,902

-50.04%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.54

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

Last update for Al Mubarraz: August 30, 2026

Last update for Riyadh: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $590 in Al Mubarraz versus $1,189 in Riyadh. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 100% higher in Riyadh, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Al Mubarraz versus $64.0 in Riyadh. Groceries tell a different story – $239 in Al Mubarraz vs $238 in Riyadh – so Riyadh wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Riyadh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,241 in Al Mubarraz, $1,736 in Riyadh – roughly 40% apart. Riyadh costs more across the board, with Sport & Entertainment showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,862 per month in Al Mubarraz and $2,604 in Riyadh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Al Mubarraz, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $532 per month in Al Mubarraz and $539 in Riyadh. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Riyadh – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Al Mubarraz, where all-in costs run around $1,241, than in Riyadh at $1,736. In Al Mubarraz it covers expenses comfortably, while in Riyadh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Riyadh has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,241 in Al Mubarraz to $1,736 in Riyadh. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Al Mubarraz. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Riyadh makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.