Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ar-rass and Ad Dammam

For one person, living costs are similar in Ar-rass and in Ad Dammam: $1,154 and $1,198 a month, rent and utilities included.

Ar-rass
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$1,154
/mo nomad
Ad Dammam
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$1,198
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ar-rass and in Ad Dammam

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ar-rass and in Ad Dammam actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,154 in Ar-rass versus $1,198 in Ad Dammam.

  • Ar-rass $1,154
  • Ad Dammam $1,198

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,690 in Ar-rass versus $1,835 in Ad Dammam.

  • Ar-rass $1,690
  • Ad Dammam $1,835

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,226 in Ar-rass versus $2,471 in Ad Dammam.

  • Ar-rass $2,226
  • Ad Dammam $2,471

Living in Ar-rass costs roughly 4% less than in Ad Dammam, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in leisure.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ar-rass 15% lower, Ad Dammam 11% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ar-rass
Ad Dammam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16 SAR 23.12
$7.24 SAR 27.17
-14.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.47 SAR 141
$35.15 SAR 132
6.60%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.90 SAR 29.65
$6.63 SAR 24.89
19.16%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.89 SAR 7.07
$1.82 SAR 6.84
3.85%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29 SAR 8.58
$2.32 SAR 8.70
-1.29%
Cappuccino
$3.25 SAR 12.18
$3.06 SAR 11.48
6.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 SAR 3.41
$0.70 SAR 2.64
30.00%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 SAR 0.98
$0.19 SAR 0.72
36.84%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ar-rass
Ad Dammam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.81 SAR 6.81
$1.82 SAR 6.82
-0.55%
White Bread (500g)
$0.39 SAR 1.45
$1.33 SAR 5.00
-70.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.92 SAR 7.19
$1.93 SAR 7.26
-0.52%
Eggs
$3.60 SAR 13.52
$2.16 SAR 8.12
66.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.00 SAR 26.28
$7.52 SAR 28.21
-6.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.05 SAR 30.20
$8.07 SAR 30.28
-0.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.79 SAR 47.99
$12.76 SAR 47.89
0.24%
Apples (1kg)
$2.24 SAR 8.41
$2.20 SAR 8.27
1.82%
Banana (1kg)
$1.76 SAR 6.60
$1.66 SAR 6.23
6.02%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.57 SAR 5.91
$1.65 SAR 6.18
-4.85%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.57 SAR 5.89
$1.60 SAR 6.01
-1.88%
Potato (1kg)
$1.16 SAR 4.37
$1.09 SAR 4.08
6.42%
Onion (1kg)
$1.36 SAR 5.11
$1.19 SAR 4.48
14.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.28 SAR 4.79
$1.28 SAR 4.80
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 SAR 2.14
$0.57 SAR 2.14
-
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$3.26 SAR 12.24
$4.07 SAR 15.26
-19.90%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 SAR 7.46
$1.50 SAR 5.61
32.67%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 SAR 8.49
$2.16 SAR 8.12
4.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$7.53 SAR 28.27
$7.54 SAR 28.30
-0.13%
🚌 Getting Around
Ar-rass
Ad Dammam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.98 SAR 3.69
$0.92 SAR 3.44
6.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$34.39 SAR 129
$35.31 SAR 132
-2.61%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.59 SAR 9.72
$2.59 SAR 9.73
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.87 SAR 7.02
$2.63 SAR 9.86
-28.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$11.84 SAR 44.42
$13.24 SAR 49.69
-10.57%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.65 SAR 2.44
$0.60 SAR 2.24
8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.1K SAR 161.7K
$65.8K SAR 247.1K
-34.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.9K SAR 78.3K
$21.0K SAR 78.8K
-0.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ar-rass
Ad Dammam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$110 SAR 414
$130 SAR 486
-14.93%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$23.87 SAR 89.6
$33.20 SAR 125
-28.10%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.0 SAR 221
$62.2 SAR 233
-5.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ar-rass
Ad Dammam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.88 SAR 168
$77.1 SAR 289
-41.80%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$27.97 SAR 105
-
Cinema Ticket
$13.43 SAR 50.4
$13.47 SAR 50.5
-0.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ar-rass
Ad Dammam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$425 SAR 1,595
$414 SAR 1,555
2.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,688 SAR 32.6K
$7,796 SAR 29.3K
11.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ar-rass
Ad Dammam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.84 SAR 161
$41.50 SAR 156
3.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.4 SAR 234
$48.82 SAR 183
27.84%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.1 SAR 360
$94.6 SAR 355
1.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$87.6 SAR 329
$91.4 SAR 343
-4.18%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ar-rass
Ad Dammam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$579 SAR 2,174
$580 SAR 2,176
-0.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$394 SAR 1,480
$370 SAR 1,388
6.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$388 SAR 1,456
$1,002 SAR 3,760
-61.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$563 SAR 2,111
$677 SAR 2,539
-16.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,625 SAR 9,851
$1,405 SAR 5,271
86.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,188 SAR 4,460
$604 SAR 2,268
96.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ar-rass
Ad Dammam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,765 SAR 6,622
$1,487 SAR 5,581
18.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.54
5.9
-6.10%

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

Last update for Ar-rass: October 12, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ar-rass
$394
Ad Dammam
$370 6.2% $24
Groceries & Markets
Ar-rass
$198
Ad Dammam
$202 2.3% $4.5
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ar-rass
$193
Ad Dammam
$225 16.5% $32
Clothing & Footwear
Ar-rass
$130
Ad Dammam
$124 4.3% $5.7
Eating Out
Ar-rass
$117
Ad Dammam
$118 1.3% $1.5
Sport & Entertainment
Ar-rass
$72
Ad Dammam
$104 45% $32
Getting Around
Ar-rass
$50
Ad Dammam
$55 8.9% $4.5

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $579 in Ar-rass and $580 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ar-rass pays 19% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $37.00 in Ar-rass vs $35.00 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $198 vs $202, with Ar-rass cheaper for home cooking.

Good to know
🇸🇦 Ar-rass
🇸🇦 Ad Dammam
🕒 Local time
13:24 1:24 PM
13:24 1:24 PM
Same time as Ar-rass
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
121,359
903,312
💱 Currency
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to SAR – Saudi Riyal Converter

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.266 USD). 1 EUR = 4.22 SAR (1 SAR = 0.237 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ar-rass Ad Dammam 660 km ≈ 1 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Ar-rass
  • Ad Dammam

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 in Ad Dammam?
Average pay runs 19% higher in Ar-rass, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Ar-rass compared to Ad Dammam?
Rent for a central apartment: $579 in Ar-rass versus $580 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 $1,154 per month in Ar-rass versus $1,198 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 compared to Ad Dammam?
A monthly transit pass in Ar-rass runs roughly 3% 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 in Ad Dammam?
At $1,154 in Ar-rass versus $1,198 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.

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