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 $1,197 per month in Al-Ula vs $1,739 in Riyadh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,832 per month in Al-Ula vs $2,521 in Riyadh, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,467 per month in Al-Ula vs $3,304 in Riyadh, rent included.

Al-Ula is about 31% cheaper than Riyadh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Al-Ula sits 11% below the global median, while Riyadh is 30% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.71 SAR 25.18

$8.21 SAR 30.82

-18.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.97 SAR 169

$53.0 SAR 199

-15.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.82 SAR 29.34

$8.11 SAR 30.45

-3.58%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.77 SAR 6.66

$1.71 SAR 6.41

3.51%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 SAR 6.84

$2.23 SAR 8.37

-18.39%

Cappuccino

$3.74 SAR 14.02

$4.09 SAR 15.34

-8.56%

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

$0.80 SAR 3.02

$0.71 SAR 2.66

12.68%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 SAR 1.07

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 SAR 6.31

$1.68 SAR 6.30

White Bread (500g)

$0.95 SAR 3.56

$1.28 SAR 4.79

-25.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.31 SAR 8.69

$2.35 SAR 8.83

-1.70%

Eggs

$2.40 SAR 9.01

$2.73 SAR 10.23

-12.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.67 SAR 25.02

$8.64 SAR 32.44

-22.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.71 SAR 28.94

$10.02 SAR 37.62

-23.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.05 SAR 48.97

$14.57 SAR 54.7

-10.43%

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 SAR 8.52

$2.35 SAR 8.82

-3.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 SAR 5.95

$1.75 SAR 6.56

-9.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.68 SAR 6.30

$1.85 SAR 6.93

-9.19%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 SAR 5.85

$1.53 SAR 5.73

1.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 SAR 4.66

$1.29 SAR 4.82

-3.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 SAR 4.75

$1.47 SAR 5.50

-13.61%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 SAR 4.63

$1.45 SAR 5.44

-15.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 SAR 2.24

$0.53 SAR 1.99

13.21%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.87 SAR 10.78

$8.16 SAR 30.61

-64.83%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 SAR 6.65

$1.71 SAR 6.42

3.51%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.06 SAR 7.74

$2.38 SAR 8.94

-13.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.19 SAR 26.98

$7.54 SAR 28.29

-4.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 SAR 4.12

$1.09 SAR 4.09

0.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.67 SAR 153

$36.73 SAR 138

10.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.62 SAR 9.82

$3.28 SAR 12.29

-20.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.89 SAR 7.10

$1.85 SAR 6.95

2.16%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.57 SAR 50.9

$13.49 SAR 50.6

0.59%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 SAR 2.29

$0.63 SAR 2.36

-3.17%

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

$26.9K SAR 101.1K

$34.1K SAR 128.0K

-21.03%

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

$22.7K SAR 85.3K

$23.4K SAR 87.9K

-2.97%

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

$103 SAR 388

$104 SAR 391

-0.73%

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

$33.67 SAR 126

$34.25 SAR 129

-1.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.7 SAR 269

$77.0 SAR 289

-6.82%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$86.9 SAR 326

$105 SAR 394

-17.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.90 SAR 135

$58.3 SAR 219

-38.41%

Cinema Ticket

$15.87 SAR 59.5

$16.17 SAR 60.7

-1.86%

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

$354 SAR 1,330

$457 SAR 1,716

-22.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,940 SAR 26.0K

$9,739 SAR 36.6K

-28.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.2 SAR 226

$59.5 SAR 223

1.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.2 SAR 222

$64.1 SAR 241

-7.60%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.7 SAR 295

$107 SAR 400

-26.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.3 SAR 313

$100 SAR 376

-16.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$444 SAR 1,667

$1,072 SAR 4,023

-58.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 SAR 1,405

$841 SAR 3,158

-55.51%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$863 SAR 3,238

$2,027 SAR 7,608

-57.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$615 SAR 2,309

$1,090 SAR 4,092

-43.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,395 SAR 8,988

$3,075 SAR 11.5K

-22.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,347 SAR 5,057

$1,931 SAR 7,246

-30.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,252 SAR 8,452

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Riyadh: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $444 in Al-Ula versus $1,072 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 $45.00 in Al-Ula versus $53.0 in Riyadh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $226 – 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: $1,197 in Al-Ula, $1,739 in Riyadh – roughly 45% apart. Riyadh costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,796 per month in Al-Ula and $2,608 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 $457 in Riyadh. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 15% 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 $1,197, than in Riyadh at $1,739. 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 $1,197 in Al-Ula to $1,739 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.