🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,169 in Ar-rass versus $1,210 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,770 in Ar-rass versus $1,872 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,372 in Ar-rass versus $2,533 in Ad Dammam.
🙂Living in Ar-rass costs roughly 3% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ar-rass13% lower, Ad Dammam10% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ar-rass
Ad Dammam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.55SAR 24.58
$7.31SAR 27.42
-10.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.10SAR 166
$53.6SAR 201
-17.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.87SAR 29.52
$7.98SAR 29.94
-1.38%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.70SAR 6.38
$1.83SAR 6.86
-7.10%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83SAR 6.87
$1.82SAR 6.82
0.55%
Cappuccino
$3.62SAR 13.57
$3.70SAR 13.89
-2.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76SAR 2.84
$0.92SAR 3.43
-17.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29SAR 1.08
$0.35SAR 1.30
-17.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ar-rass
Ad Dammam
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.39SAR 8.97
$1.71SAR 6.43
39.77%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01SAR 3.79
$1.45SAR 5.43
-30.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.55SAR 5.82
$2.09SAR 7.85
-25.84%
Eggs
$3.61SAR 13.56
$2.24SAR 8.42
61.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.77SAR 25.40
$6.06SAR 22.73
11.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.45SAR 27.96
$7.15SAR 26.85
4.20%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.04SAR 48.93
$9.62SAR 36.12
35.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.23SAR 8.38
$2.11SAR 7.93
5.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64SAR 6.16
$1.50SAR 5.62
9.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75SAR 6.56
$1.38SAR 5.20
26.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56SAR 5.87
$1.66SAR 6.24
-6.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28SAR 4.81
$1.28SAR 4.80
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.31SAR 4.92
$1.33SAR 4.99
-1.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19SAR 4.46
$1.35SAR 5.06
-11.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59SAR 2.20
$0.55SAR 2.07
7.27%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$2.80SAR 10.51
$4.19SAR 15.73
-33.17%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74SAR 6.53
$1.60SAR 6.01
8.75%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.08SAR 7.82
$1.98SAR 7.44
5.05%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.29SAR 23.61
$7.92SAR 29.73
-20.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Ar-rass
Ad Dammam
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.09SAR 4.08
$0.89SAR 3.36
22.47%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.20SAR 147
$40.16SAR 151
-2.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.61SAR 9.78
$3.29SAR 12.35
-20.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92SAR 7.22
$2.65SAR 9.96
-27.55%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$13.48SAR 50.6
$13.28SAR 49.85
1.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.59SAR 2.21
$0.64SAR 2.42
-7.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0KSAR 101.4K
$23.1KSAR 86.6K
17.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6KSAR 84.8K
$21.3KSAR 79.8K
6.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ar-rass
Ad Dammam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104SAR 390
$117SAR 438
-10.83%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.90SAR 127
$38.34SAR 144
-11.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$72.7SAR 273
$63.5SAR 238
14.55%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ar-rass
Ad Dammam
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$43.87SAR 165
$70.9SAR 266
-38.15%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$35.18SAR 132
$30.51SAR 114
15.31%
Cinema Ticket
$15.52SAR 58.3
$15.54SAR 58.3
-0.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ar-rass
Ad Dammam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$349SAR 1,310
$415SAR 1,559
-15.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,909SAR 25.9K
$8,170SAR 30.7K
-15.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ar-rass
Ad Dammam
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.12SAR 79.3
$66.9SAR 251
-68.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.3SAR 230
$68.2SAR 256
-10.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.5SAR 298
$90.8SAR 341
-12.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.4SAR 309
$85.5SAR 321
-3.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ar-rass
Ad Dammam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$445SAR 1,669
$447SAR 1,678
-0.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$382SAR 1,434
$375SAR 1,408
1.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$388SAR 1,455
$800SAR 3,002
-51.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$614SAR 2,303
$641SAR 2,407
-4.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,559SAR 9,604
$1,309SAR 4,914
95.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,508SAR 5,658
$805SAR 3,020
87.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ar-rass
Ad Dammam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,728SAR 6,485
$1,895SAR 7,110
-8.79%
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 Ar-rass: June 2, 2026
Last update for Ad Dammam: May 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $445 in Ar-rass and $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ad Dammam pays 10% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $44.00 in Ar-rass vs $54.0 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $205 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
Ar-rass vs Ad Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Ar-rass or Ad Dammam?
Ar-rass wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ar-rass the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Ar-rass or Ad Dammam?
On paper, Ad Dammam earns 10% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ar-rass vs Ad Dammam?
Rent for a central apartment: $445 in Ar-rass versus $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Ar-rass compared to Ad Dammam?
All in, you'll spend $1,169 per month in Ar-rass versus $1,210 in Ad Dammam – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Ar-rass vs Ad Dammam?
A monthly transit pass in Ar-rass runs roughly 2% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Ar-rass or Ad Dammam?
At $1,169 in Ar-rass versus $1,210 in Ad Dammam, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ar-rass but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Ar-rass the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Ar-rass or Ad Dammam?
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.
How safe is Ar-rass compared to Ad Dammam?
Safety-wise, Ar-rass 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Ar-rass gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.