Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-Ula and Riyadh Cost of Living Comparison Between Al-Ula and Riyadh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,194 per month in Al-Ula vs $1,758 in Riyadh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,841 per month in Al-Ula vs $2,475 in Riyadh, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,489 per month in Al-Ula vs $3,192 in Riyadh, rent included.

Al-Ula is about 32% cheaper than Riyadh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Al-Ula sits 11% below the global median, while Riyadh is 32% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.62 SAR 24.88

$8.19 SAR 30.76

-19.17%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.37 SAR 167

$53.9 SAR 202

-17.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.75 SAR 29.12

$7.97 SAR 29.91

-2.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.70 SAR 6.40

$1.69 SAR 6.33

0.59%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.77 SAR 6.64

$2.31 SAR 8.68

-23.38%

Cappuccino

$3.64 SAR 13.68

$3.98 SAR 14.94

-8.54%

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

$0.80 SAR 3.01

$0.77 SAR 2.88

3.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 SAR 1.08

$0.31 SAR 1.17

-6.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.70 SAR 6.38

$1.69 SAR 6.34

0.59%

White Bread (500g)

$0.92 SAR 3.47

$1.33 SAR 4.98

-30.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.31 SAR 8.67

$2.36 SAR 8.85

-2.12%

Eggs

$2.43 SAR 9.13

$2.69 SAR 10.10

-9.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.03 SAR 26.40

$8.48 SAR 31.84

-17.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.27 SAR 27.29

$9.90 SAR 37.17

-26.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.88 SAR 48.38

$14.50 SAR 54.5

-11.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 SAR 8.13

$2.32 SAR 8.73

-6.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.65 SAR 6.19

$1.74 SAR 6.52

-5.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.75 SAR 6.59

$1.88 SAR 7.06

-6.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 SAR 6.06

$1.59 SAR 5.96

1.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 SAR 4.67

$1.25 SAR 4.68

-0.80%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 SAR 4.84

$1.46 SAR 5.49

-11.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 SAR 4.44

$1.43 SAR 5.38

-17.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 SAR 2.04

$0.52 SAR 1.94

3.85%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.77 SAR 10.41

$7.87 SAR 29.54

-64.80%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 SAR 6.58

$1.79 SAR 6.70

-2.23%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 SAR 7.51

$2.41 SAR 9.07

-17.01%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.07 SAR 26.56

$7.41 SAR 27.83

-4.59%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.08

$1.08 SAR 4.07

0.93%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.36 SAR 152

$36.88 SAR 138

9.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 SAR 9.86

$3.22 SAR 12.09

-18.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 SAR 7.23

$1.84 SAR 6.93

4.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.27 SAR 49.85

$13.19 SAR 49.54

0.61%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 SAR 2.27

$0.64 SAR 2.39

-4.69%

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

$26.4K SAR 99.0K

$35.1K SAR 131.8K

-24.89%

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

$22.4K SAR 84.1K

$23.4K SAR 88.0K

-4.53%

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

$107 SAR 400

$106 SAR 398

0.60%

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

$33.61 SAR 126

$35.14 SAR 132

-4.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.4 SAR 268

$76.9 SAR 289

-7.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.6 SAR 325

$106 SAR 399

-18.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.23 SAR 136

$59.9 SAR 225

-39.53%

Cinema Ticket

$15.59 SAR 58.5

$16.22 SAR 60.9

-3.88%

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

$354 SAR 1,331

$465 SAR 1,747

-23.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,880 SAR 25.8K

$9,542 SAR 35.8K

-27.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 SAR 224

$58.3 SAR 219

2.45%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.8 SAR 228

$65.1 SAR 244

-6.56%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.7 SAR 292

$110 SAR 413

-29.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.5 SAR 310

$101 SAR 378

-17.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$434 SAR 1,628

$1,110 SAR 4,167

-60.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$380 SAR 1,425

$843 SAR 3,164

-54.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$835 SAR 3,138

$2,026 SAR 7,608

-58.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$615 SAR 2,309

$1,127 SAR 4,233

-45.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,257 SAR 8,477

$2,911 SAR 10.9K

-22.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,522 SAR 5,716

$1,938 SAR 7,280

-21.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,020 SAR 7,588

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.42

5.31

-16.76%

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

Last update for Al-Ula: July 12, 2026

Last update for Riyadh: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $434 in Al-Ula versus $1,110 in Riyadh. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $44.00 in Al-Ula versus $54.0 in Riyadh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $195 vs $225 – making Al-Ula the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Riyadh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,194 in Al-Ula, $1,758 in Riyadh – roughly 47% apart. Riyadh costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,791 per month in Al-Ula and $2,637 in Riyadh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $354 per month in Al-Ula and $465 in Riyadh. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Riyadh, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Al-Ula, where all-in costs run around $1,194, than in Riyadh at $1,758. In Al-Ula 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 $1,194 in Al-Ula to $1,758 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-Ula. 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.