Cost of Living Comparison Between Arar and Ad Dammam Cost of Living Comparison Between Arar and Ad Dammam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,168 in Arar versus $1,215 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,788 in Arar versus $1,866 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,407 in Arar versus $2,516 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Arar costs roughly 4% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Arar 15% lower, Ad Dammam 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.10 SAR 26.68

$8.09 SAR 30.39

-12.24%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.60 SAR 134

$34.39 SAR 129

3.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.47 SAR 31.81

$6.57 SAR 24.69

28.92%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.87 SAR 7.04

$1.91 SAR 7.17

-2.09%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.84 SAR 6.92

$2.23 SAR 8.37

-17.49%

Cappuccino

$3.46 SAR 12.99

$3.10 SAR 11.65

11.61%

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

$0.95 SAR 3.58

$0.79 SAR 2.95

20.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 SAR 1.01

$0.20 SAR 0.75

35.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 SAR 5.59

$1.82 SAR 6.84

-18.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 SAR 4.13

$1.33 SAR 5.01

-17.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.22 SAR 8.34

$1.92 SAR 7.21

15.63%

Eggs

$2.69 SAR 10.08

$2.13 SAR 7.98

26.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.50 SAR 24.41

$7.39 SAR 27.77

-12.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.19 SAR 27.01

$7.82 SAR 29.36

-8.06%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.11 SAR 53.0

$12.72 SAR 47.79

10.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 SAR 8.82

$2.18 SAR 8.17

7.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.78 SAR 6.70

$1.63 SAR 6.11

9.20%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 SAR 5.12

$1.59 SAR 5.96

-14.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.77 SAR 6.66

$1.62 SAR 6.09

9.26%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 SAR 3.84

$1.07 SAR 4.02

-4.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 SAR 5.20

$1.20 SAR 4.52

15.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.22 SAR 4.60

$1.28 SAR 4.80

-4.69%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 SAR 1.85

$0.58 SAR 2.18

-15.52%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.89 SAR 10.86

$4.09 SAR 15.37

-29.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 SAR 6.04

$1.45 SAR 5.46

11.03%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 SAR 8.13

$2.17 SAR 8.14

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.16 SAR 26.89

$7.80 SAR 29.30

-8.21%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 SAR 3.69

$0.97 SAR 3.63

1.03%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.62 SAR 145

$35.89 SAR 135

7.61%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.51 SAR 9.42

$2.60 SAR 9.75

-3.46%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 SAR 7.18

$2.60 SAR 9.78

-26.54%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$12.16 SAR 45.65

$13.41 SAR 50.4

-9.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.40

$0.64 SAR 2.42

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

$51.2K SAR 192.2K

$67.7K SAR 254.2K

-24.39%

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

$19.5K SAR 73.3K

$21.3K SAR 79.9K

-8.29%

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

$115 SAR 432

$128 SAR 482

-10.27%

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

$30.25 SAR 114

$33.46 SAR 126

-9.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$75.5 SAR 284

$62.1 SAR 233

21.58%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$94.3 SAR 354

$77.8 SAR 292

21.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$37.93 SAR 142

$28.85 SAR 108

31.47%

Cinema Ticket

$11.89 SAR 44.67

$13.40 SAR 50.3

-11.27%

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

$304 SAR 1,140

$417 SAR 1,566

-27.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,917 SAR 22.2K

$7,868 SAR 29.5K

-24.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.2 SAR 192

$41.40 SAR 155

23.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.9 SAR 217

$49.15 SAR 185

17.70%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$82.1 SAR 308

$95.8 SAR 360

-14.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 SAR 379

$90.5 SAR 340

11.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$608 SAR 2,283

$567 SAR 2,128

7.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$314 SAR 1,181

$369 SAR 1,388

-14.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$791 SAR 2,972

$1,007 SAR 3,781

-21.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$591 SAR 2,220

$663 SAR 2,490

-10.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,125 SAR 7,979

$1,379 SAR 5,179

54.06%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,306 SAR 4,905

$595 SAR 2,235

119.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,532 SAR 5,754

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.47

5.9

-7.29%

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

Last update for Arar: September 6, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $608 in Arar and $567 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $36.00 in Arar vs $34.00 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $197 vs $200, with Arar 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

Arar vs Ad Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Arar 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 Arar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $1,752 in Arar and $1,823 in Ad Dammam to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $608 in Arar versus $567 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,168 per month in Arar versus $1,215 in Ad Dammam – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Arar runs roughly 8% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,168 in Arar versus $1,215 in Ad Dammam, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Arar but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Arar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Arar 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.

Expats usually find Arar 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.