Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-Ula and Ad Dammam Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-Ula and Ad Dammam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,197 in Al-Ula versus $1,210 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,832 in Al-Ula versus $1,872 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,467 in Al-Ula versus $2,533 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Al-Ula costs roughly 1% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Al-Ula 11% lower, Ad Dammam 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.71 SAR 25.18

$7.31 SAR 27.42

-8.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.97 SAR 169

$53.6 SAR 201

-16.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 SAR 29.34

$7.98 SAR 29.94

-2.01%

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)

$1.82 SAR 6.84

$1.82 SAR 6.82

Cappuccino

$3.74 SAR 14.02

$3.70 SAR 13.89

1.08%

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

$0.80 SAR 3.02

$0.92 SAR 3.43

-13.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 SAR 1.07

$0.35 SAR 1.30

-17.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 SAR 6.31

$1.71 SAR 6.43

-1.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 SAR 3.56

$1.45 SAR 5.43

-34.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.31 SAR 8.69

$2.09 SAR 7.85

10.53%

Eggs

$2.40 SAR 9.01

$2.24 SAR 8.42

7.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.67 SAR 25.02

$6.06 SAR 22.73

10.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.71 SAR 28.94

$7.15 SAR 26.85

7.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 SAR 48.97

$9.62 SAR 36.12

35.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 SAR 8.52

$2.11 SAR 7.93

7.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 SAR 5.95

$1.50 SAR 5.62

6.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.68 SAR 6.30

$1.38 SAR 5.20

21.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 SAR 5.85

$1.66 SAR 6.24

-6.02%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 SAR 4.66

$1.28 SAR 4.80

-3.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 SAR 4.75

$1.33 SAR 4.99

-4.51%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 SAR 4.63

$1.35 SAR 5.06

-8.89%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 SAR 2.24

$0.55 SAR 2.07

9.09%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.87 SAR 10.78

$4.19 SAR 15.73

-31.50%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 SAR 6.65

$1.60 SAR 6.01

10.62%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 SAR 7.74

$1.98 SAR 7.44

4.04%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.19 SAR 26.98

$7.92 SAR 29.73

-9.22%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 SAR 4.12

$0.89 SAR 3.36

23.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.67 SAR 153

$40.16 SAR 151

1.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 SAR 9.82

$3.29 SAR 12.35

-20.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 SAR 7.10

$2.65 SAR 9.96

-28.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.57 SAR 50.9

$13.28 SAR 49.85

2.18%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 SAR 2.29

$0.64 SAR 2.42

-4.69%

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

$26.9K SAR 101.1K

$23.1K SAR 86.6K

16.82%

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

$22.7K SAR 85.3K

$21.3K SAR 79.8K

6.89%

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

$103 SAR 388

$117 SAR 438

-11.35%

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

$33.67 SAR 126

$38.34 SAR 144

-12.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.7 SAR 269

$63.5 SAR 238

12.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.9 SAR 326

$70.9 SAR 266

22.49%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.90 SAR 135

$30.51 SAR 114

17.67%

Cinema Ticket

$15.87 SAR 59.5

$15.54 SAR 58.3

2.12%

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

$354 SAR 1,330

$415 SAR 1,559

-14.67%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,940 SAR 26.0K

$8,170 SAR 30.7K

-15.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.2 SAR 226

$66.9 SAR 251

-9.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.2 SAR 222

$68.2 SAR 256

-13.23%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.7 SAR 295

$90.8 SAR 341

-13.33%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 SAR 313

$85.5 SAR 321

-2.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$444 SAR 1,667

$447 SAR 1,678

-0.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 SAR 1,405

$375 SAR 1,408

-0.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$863 SAR 3,238

$800 SAR 3,002

7.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$615 SAR 2,309

$641 SAR 2,407

-4.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,395 SAR 8,988

$1,309 SAR 4,914

82.91%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,347 SAR 5,057

$805 SAR 3,020

67.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,895 SAR 7,110

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.42

4.33

2.08%

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

Last update for Al-Ula: June 1, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $444 in Al-Ula and $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $45.00 in Al-Ula vs $54.0 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $197 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-Ula vs Ad Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Al-Ula wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Al-Ula the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,796 in Al-Ula and $1,816 in Ad Dammam to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $444 in Al-Ula 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 $1,197 per month in Al-Ula versus $1,210 in Ad Dammam – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Al-Ula runs roughly 1% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,197 in Al-Ula versus $1,210 in Ad Dammam, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Al-Ula but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Al-Ula 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-Ula 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 Al-Ula gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.