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 $1,169 per month in Al-Ula vs $1,736 in Riyadh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,767 per month in Al-Ula vs $2,592 in Riyadh, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,365 per month in Al-Ula vs $3,447 in Riyadh, rent included.

Al-Ula is about 33% cheaper than Riyadh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Al-Ula sits 15% below the global median, while Riyadh is 26% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.84 SAR 25.69

$7.72 SAR 28.99

-11.40%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$36.74 SAR 138

$64.3 SAR 241

-42.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.02 SAR 30.10

$8.39 SAR 31.49

-4.41%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.61 SAR 6.05

$1.81 SAR 6.79

-11.05%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.98 SAR 7.44

$2.84 SAR 10.67

-30.28%

Cappuccino

$3.39 SAR 12.74

$4.38 SAR 16.44

-22.60%

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

$0.88 SAR 3.30

$0.86 SAR 3.23

2.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 SAR 0.90

$0.34 SAR 1.28

-29.41%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.66 SAR 6.23

$1.70 SAR 6.40

-2.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 SAR 3.84

$1.32 SAR 4.95

-22.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.22 SAR 8.33

$2.42 SAR 9.07

-8.26%

Eggs

$2.35 SAR 8.81

$3.27 SAR 12.29

-28.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.41 SAR 27.82

$9.55 SAR 35.87

-22.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.80 SAR 29.28

$9.80 SAR 36.81

-20.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.87 SAR 48.33

$15.00 SAR 56.3

-14.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.15 SAR 8.08

$2.70 SAR 10.13

-20.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 SAR 6.32

$1.90 SAR 7.14

-11.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 SAR 5.98

$2.32 SAR 8.72

-31.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.67 SAR 6.25

$1.72 SAR 6.44

-2.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 SAR 4.30

$1.11 SAR 4.16

3.60%

Onion (1kg)

$1.31 SAR 4.92

$1.39 SAR 5.21

-5.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 SAR 4.28

$1.71 SAR 6.41

-33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.20

$0.59 SAR 2.22

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.86 SAR 10.73

$8.02 SAR 30.12

-64.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 SAR 6.34

$1.80 SAR 6.77

-6.11%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 SAR 7.89

$2.46 SAR 9.24

-14.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.60 SAR 24.78

$7.29 SAR 27.38

-9.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.07 SAR 4.02

$1.05 SAR 3.94

1.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.60 SAR 137

$37.11 SAR 139

-1.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.01 SAR 11.29

$3.26 SAR 12.25

-7.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 SAR 6.94

$1.84 SAR 6.89

0.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.27 SAR 49.84

$13.30 SAR 49.94

-0.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.24

$0.59 SAR 2.20

1.69%

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

$45.6K SAR 171.3K

$35.4K SAR 133.0K

28.82%

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

$21.4K SAR 80.2K

$22.3K SAR 83.8K

-4.31%

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

$102 SAR 382

$95.6 SAR 359

6.46%

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

$32.80 SAR 123

$31.83 SAR 120

3.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 SAR 251

$70.0 SAR 263

-4.50%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$83.1 SAR 312

$91.6 SAR 344

-9.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.63 SAR 138

$54.8 SAR 206

-33.17%

Cinema Ticket

$13.43 SAR 50.4

$13.76 SAR 51.7

-2.40%

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

$342 SAR 1,284

$539 SAR 2,023

-36.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,621 SAR 24.9K

$11.1K SAR 41.8K

-40.58%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.8 SAR 191

$59.9 SAR 225

-15.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.3 SAR 223

$58.4 SAR 219

1.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.4 SAR 362

$111 SAR 415

-12.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.7 SAR 333

$104 SAR 391

-14.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$571 SAR 2,142

$1,189 SAR 4,464

-52.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$346 SAR 1,300

$851 SAR 3,195

-59.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$872 SAR 3,273

$2,177 SAR 8,174

-59.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$553 SAR 2,077

$1,274 SAR 4,782

-56.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,347 SAR 8,812

$2,947 SAR 11.1K

-20.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,379 SAR 5,179

$1,891 SAR 7,100

-27.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,104 SAR 7,902

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.47

5.54

-1.26%

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

Last update for Al-Ula: August 29, 2026

Last update for Riyadh: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $571 in Al-Ula 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Al-Ula versus $64.0 in Riyadh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $238 – 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: $1,169 in Al-Ula, $1,736 in Riyadh – roughly 49% apart. Riyadh costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,753 per month in Al-Ula 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-Ula, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $342 per month in Al-Ula and $539 in Riyadh. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 20% 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 $1,169, than in Riyadh at $1,736. 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 $1,169 in Al-Ula 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-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.