Cost of Living Comparison Between Ar-rass and Jeddah Cost of Living Comparison Between Ar-rass and Jeddah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,166 in Ar-rass versus $1,207 in Jeddah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,758 in Ar-rass versus $1,851 in Jeddah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,350 in Ar-rass versus $2,494 in Jeddah.

Living in Ar-rass costs roughly 3% less than in Jeddah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ar-rass 13% lower, Jeddah 10% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ar-rass
Jeddah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.60 SAR 24.75
$6.65 SAR 24.92
-0.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.21 SAR 166
$39.22 SAR 147
12.72%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.18 SAR 30.67
$8.15 SAR 30.56
0.37%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.68 SAR 6.30
$2.08 SAR 7.79
-19.23%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.83 SAR 6.84
$2.17 SAR 8.15
-15.67%
Cappuccino
$3.71 SAR 13.93
$3.59 SAR 13.47
3.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 SAR 2.93
$0.71 SAR 2.68
9.86%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.31 SAR 1.17
$0.25 SAR 0.94
24.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ar-rass
Jeddah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.36 SAR 8.84
$1.74 SAR 6.53
35.63%
White Bread (500g)
$1.00 SAR 3.75
$0.91 SAR 3.42
9.89%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.50 SAR 5.61
$2.22 SAR 8.33
-32.43%
Eggs
$3.69 SAR 13.85
$2.74 SAR 10.27
34.67%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.75 SAR 25.30
$7.08 SAR 26.54
-4.66%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.50 SAR 28.13
$7.73 SAR 28.98
-2.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.87 SAR 48.28
$12.42 SAR 46.57
3.62%
Apples (1kg)
$2.18 SAR 8.16
$2.09 SAR 7.85
4.31%
Banana (1kg)
$1.59 SAR 5.96
$1.58 SAR 5.91
0.63%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.72 SAR 6.45
$1.62 SAR 6.07
6.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.62 SAR 6.07
$1.60 SAR 5.99
1.25%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 SAR 4.83
$1.26 SAR 4.74
2.38%
Onion (1kg)
$1.27 SAR 4.76
$1.27 SAR 4.75
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.24 SAR 4.63
$1.07 SAR 4.00
15.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 SAR 2.06
$0.58 SAR 2.19
-5.17%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
$2.44 SAR 9.16
$4.27 SAR 16.00
-42.86%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 SAR 6.58
$1.98 SAR 7.41
-11.62%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.02 SAR 7.59
$2.49 SAR 9.35
-18.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.41 SAR 24.03
$6.72 SAR 25.20
-4.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Ar-rass
Jeddah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.09 SAR 4.09
$1.34 SAR 5.04
-18.66%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.57 SAR 148
$39.19 SAR 147
0.97%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.63 SAR 9.87
$3.17 SAR 11.87
-17.03%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.92 SAR 7.18
$1.90 SAR 7.13
1.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.15 SAR 49.30
$15.03 SAR 56.4
-12.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.58 SAR 2.18
$0.64 SAR 2.40
-9.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.9K SAR 101.0K
$26.1K SAR 97.9K
3.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.6K SAR 84.6K
$21.6K SAR 81.1K
4.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ar-rass
Jeddah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$107 SAR 402
$106 SAR 396
1.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$33.09 SAR 124
$31.41 SAR 118
5.35%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.0 SAR 274
$69.3 SAR 260
5.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ar-rass
Jeddah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.27 SAR 166
$90.3 SAR 339
-50.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$36.20 SAR 136
$45.51 SAR 171
-20.46%
Cinema Ticket
$15.94 SAR 59.8
$13.07 SAR 49.01
21.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ar-rass
Jeddah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$354 SAR 1,327
$411 SAR 1,540
-13.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,915 SAR 25.9K
$6,461 SAR 24.2K
7.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ar-rass
Jeddah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.12 SAR 79.2
$64.3 SAR 241
-67.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$61.1 SAR 229
$57.2 SAR 215
6.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.2 SAR 293
$95.4 SAR 358
-18.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.6 SAR 310
$84.8 SAR 318
-2.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ar-rass
Jeddah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$435 SAR 1,631
$492 SAR 1,846
-11.66%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$382 SAR 1,431
$382 SAR 1,434
-0.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$385 SAR 1,444
$927 SAR 3,475
-58.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$634 SAR 2,377
$605 SAR 2,269
4.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,374 SAR 8,901
$1,585 SAR 5,942
49.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,509 SAR 5,661
$1,015 SAR 3,807
48.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ar-rass
Jeddah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,724 SAR 6,465
$2,024 SAR 7,588
-14.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.42
4.5
-1.78%

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

Last update for Ar-rass: April 27, 2026

Last update for Jeddah: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $435 in Ar-rass and $492 in Jeddah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jeddah pays 17% 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 $39.00 in Jeddah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $204 vs $195 per month, with Jeddah cheaper across the board.

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 Jeddah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Ar-rass and Jeddah?
Ar-rass and Jeddah differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($1,166 vs $1,207 including rent). Ar-rass is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Jeddah earns 17% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Ar-rass and Jeddah?
Rent for a central apartment: $435 in Ar-rass versus $492 in Jeddah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ar-rass and Jeddah?
Childcare runs $354 in Ar-rass versus $411 in Jeddah. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Jeddah pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,166 in Ar-rass versus $1,207 in Jeddah, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Ar-rass but tight or insufficient in Jeddah. The gap between the two cities makes Ar-rass the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Ar-rass and Jeddah?
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.
Is Ar-rass or Jeddah safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ar-rass and Jeddah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Ar-rass or Jeddah?
Expats usually find Ar-rass gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Jeddah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Ar-rass vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities