Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Buraydah

For one person, living is cheaper in Buraydah: $1,227 a month against $1,779 in Athens, rent and utilities included – about $6,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Athens, Greece
Buraydah, Saudi Arabia
Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,779
/mo nomad
Buraydah
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$1,227
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Athens and in Buraydah

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,779 in Athens versus $1,227 in Buraydah.

  • Athens $1,779
  • Buraydah $1,227

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,721 in Athens versus $2,034 in Buraydah.

  • Athens $2,721
  • Buraydah $2,034

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,663 in Athens versus $2,841 in Buraydah.

  • Athens $3,663
  • Buraydah $2,841

Living in Athens is roughly 45% more expensive than in Buraydah, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Athens is 32% above, Buraydah is 9% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Buraydah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.83 €14.99
$13.31 SAR 49.94
26.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.0 €58.8
$40.19 SAR 151
64.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.21 €9.98
$8.21 SAR 30.81
36.54%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.85 SAR 6.94
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.30 SAR 4.87
-
Cappuccino
$4.08 €3.64
$3.66 SAR 13.74
11.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 €2.47
$0.75 SAR 2.81
269.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 €0.48
$0.28 SAR 1.06
92.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.70 €5.07
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.26 €5.58
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Buraydah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.84 €1.64
$1.59 SAR 5.98
15.72%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 €1.27
$1.16 SAR 4.35
23.28%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.67 €2.38
$2.49 SAR 9.35
7.23%
Eggs
$4.95 €4.41
$2.88 SAR 10.82
71.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.09 €13.44
$8.58 SAR 32.20
75.87%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.99 €9.79
$6.72 SAR 25.23
63.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.77 €17.60
$13.52 SAR 50.7
46.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.12 €1.89
$2.33 SAR 8.73
-9.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 €1.76
$1.76 SAR 6.61
12.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.33 €1.18
$1.71 SAR 6.43
-22.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 €1.92
$1.67 SAR 6.26
29.34%
Potato (1kg)
$1.06 €0.94
$1.40 SAR 5.27
-24.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 €1.02
$1.35 SAR 5.06
-14.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 €0.96
$1.06 SAR 3.97
1.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.75
$0.63 SAR 2.35
34.92%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$1.89 SAR 7.11
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.49 SAR 5.58
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.58 SAR 9.70
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46 €4.86
$6.55 SAR 24.59
-16.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.03 €8.93
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 €1.82
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 €2.12
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Buraydah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.35 €1.20
$1.08 SAR 4.07
25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.52 €27.18
$37.24 SAR 140
-18.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.81 €3.39
$2.63 SAR 9.86
44.87%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 €0.92
$1.77 SAR 6.66
-41.81%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.49 €14.68
$16.92 SAR 63.5
-2.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.34 €2.09
$0.63 SAR 2.37
271.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K €24.7K
$41.2K SAR 154.7K
-32.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K €23.7K
$23.2K SAR 87.1K
14.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Buraydah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$202 €180
$69.5 SAR 261
190.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81 €23.87
$30.93 SAR 116
-13.32%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.49 €27.14
$70.1 SAR 263
-56.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Buraydah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 €48.14
$135 SAR 507
-59.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.40 €24.40
$34.72 SAR 130
-21.08%
Cinema Ticket
$10.44 €9.30
$15.10 SAR 56.7
-30.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Buraydah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$568 €505
$263 SAR 989
115.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.2K €13.5K
$3,657 SAR 13.7K
315.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Buraydah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.7 €80.7
$50.6 SAR 190
79.19%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.32 €35.01
$54.0 SAR 203
-27.19%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €93.7
$80.4 SAR 302
30.84%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 €115
$71.5 SAR 268
80.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Buraydah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$742 €661
$677 SAR 2,541
9.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$648 €577
$339 SAR 1,271
91.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,271 €1,132
$874 SAR 3,280
45.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,122 €999
$831 SAR 3,119
34.96%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,999 €3,561
$1,974 SAR 7,409
102.59%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,281 €2,921
$1,189 SAR 4,463
175.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Buraydah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,245 €1,109
$2,427 SAR 9,110
-48.70%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.44
3.98
11.56%

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

Last update for Athens: October 31, 2026

Last update for Buraydah: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Athens
$648
Buraydah
$339 47.8% $310
Groceries & Markets
Athens
$316
Buraydah
$205 35.2% $111
Eating Out
Athens
$272
Buraydah
$179 34% $92
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
$260
Buraydah
$171 34.3% $89
Clothing & Footwear
Athens
$164
Buraydah
$115 29.6% $48
Sport & Entertainment
Athens
$75
Buraydah
$165 121% $90
Getting Around
Athens
$45
Buraydah
$53 18.2% $8.2

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $742 in Athens and $677 in Buraydah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Buraydah pays 95% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $66 in Athens vs $40 in Buraydah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $316 vs $205 per month, with Buraydah cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Athens
🇸🇦 Buraydah
🕒 Local time
15:12 3:12 PM
16:12 4:12 PM
1 h ahead of Athens
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,090,508 Capital
467,410
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Exchange rates and currency converter

SAR, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 0.89 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of November 6, 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
  • Athens Buraydah 2,300 km ≈ 3 h 15 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Athens
  • Buraydah

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
Athens vs Buraydah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Buraydah?
Buraydah wins on cost – living expenses run 31% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Buraydah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Athens or in Buraydah?
On paper, salaries run 49% lower in Athens. 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 Athens compared to Buraydah?
Rent for a central apartment: $742 in Athens versus $677 in Buraydah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Athens and in Buraydah?
Dining out is cheaper in Buraydah – a meal for two runs $40 versus $66 in Athens. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Athens compared to Buraydah?
All in, you’ll spend $1,779 per month in Athens versus $1,227 in Buraydah – Buraydah is about 31% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Athens or in Buraydah?
Both cities are expensive relative to $1,000. Buraydah is the more realistic option, but even there you’ll need to be disciplined with housing, food, and fun money.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Athens or Buraydah?
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.

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