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: $1,194 in Al-Ula versus $1,211 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,841 in Al-Ula versus $1,857 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,489 in Al-Ula versus $2,503 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 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.62 SAR 24.88

$7.45 SAR 27.99

-11.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.37 SAR 167

$53.0 SAR 199

-16.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 SAR 29.11

$7.92 SAR 29.73

-2.15%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.70 SAR 6.40

$1.88 SAR 7.07

-9.57%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 SAR 6.64

$1.85 SAR 6.95

-4.32%

Cappuccino

$3.64 SAR 13.68

$3.55 SAR 13.33

2.54%

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

$0.80 SAR 3.01

$0.92 SAR 3.44

-13.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 SAR 1.08

$0.38 SAR 1.42

-23.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 SAR 6.38

$1.64 SAR 6.15

3.66%

White Bread (500g)

$0.92 SAR 3.47

$1.42 SAR 5.32

-35.21%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.31 SAR 8.67

$2.12 SAR 7.96

8.96%

Eggs

$2.43 SAR 9.13

$2.31 SAR 8.68

5.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.03 SAR 26.40

$5.99 SAR 22.48

17.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.27 SAR 27.29

$7.32 SAR 27.49

-0.68%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.88 SAR 48.38

$10.07 SAR 37.81

27.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 SAR 8.13

$2.09 SAR 7.85

3.35%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 SAR 6.19

$1.55 SAR 5.82

6.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 SAR 6.59

$1.39 SAR 5.23

25.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 SAR 6.06

$1.65 SAR 6.20

-2.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 SAR 4.67

$1.28 SAR 4.79

-3.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 SAR 4.84

$1.37 SAR 5.15

-5.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 SAR 4.44

$1.29 SAR 4.86

-8.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 SAR 2.04

$0.55 SAR 2.08

-1.82%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.77 SAR 10.41

$4.12 SAR 15.47

-32.77%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 SAR 6.58

$1.61 SAR 6.05

8.70%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 SAR 7.51

$1.99 SAR 7.47

0.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.07 SAR 26.56

$7.76 SAR 29.14

-8.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.08

$0.94 SAR 3.51

15.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.36 SAR 152

$39.30 SAR 148

2.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 SAR 9.85

$3.31 SAR 12.42

-20.85%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 SAR 7.23

$2.73 SAR 10.26

-29.30%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.27 SAR 49.85

$13.58 SAR 51.0

-2.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 SAR 2.27

$0.61 SAR 2.29

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

$26.4K SAR 99.0K

$22.2K SAR 83.5K

18.56%

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

$22.4K SAR 84.0K

$20.9K SAR 78.3K

7.32%

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

$107 SAR 400

$118 SAR 444

-10.00%

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

$33.61 SAR 126

$38.60 SAR 145

-12.93%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.4 SAR 268

$63.4 SAR 238

12.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.6 SAR 325

$70.7 SAR 266

22.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.23 SAR 136

$30.89 SAR 116

17.29%

Cinema Ticket

$15.59 SAR 58.5

$15.30 SAR 57.5

1.90%

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

$354 SAR 1,331

$427 SAR 1,602

-16.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,880 SAR 25.8K

$8,216 SAR 30.9K

-16.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 SAR 224

$68.0 SAR 255

-12.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.8 SAR 228

$67.8 SAR 255

-10.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.7 SAR 292

$90.5 SAR 340

-14.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.5 SAR 310

$86.1 SAR 323

-4.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$434 SAR 1,628

$452 SAR 1,697

-4.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$380 SAR 1,425

$376 SAR 1,413

0.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$835 SAR 3,137

$792 SAR 2,976

5.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$615 SAR 2,309

$636 SAR 2,388

-3.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,257 SAR 8,477

$1,320 SAR 4,956

71.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,522 SAR 5,716

$812 SAR 3,051

87.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,502 SAR 5,640

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $434 in Al-Ula and $452 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $44.00 in Al-Ula vs $53.0 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $195 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-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 $1,791 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: $434 in Al-Ula 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 $1,194 per month in Al-Ula versus $1,211 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 3% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,194 in Al-Ula versus $1,211 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.