Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Dammam

For one person, living is cheaper in Dammam: $1,226 a month against $1,759 in Athens, rent and utilities included – about $6,400 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Athens, Greece
Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,759
/mo nomad
Dammam
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$1,226
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Athens and in Dammam

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 Dammam actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,759 in Athens versus $1,226 in Dammam.

  • Athens $1,759
  • Dammam $1,226

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,696 in Athens versus $1,857 in Dammam.

  • Athens $2,696
  • Dammam $1,857

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,632 in Athens versus $2,488 in Dammam.

  • Athens $3,632
  • Dammam $2,488

Living in Athens is roughly 44% more expensive than in Dammam, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Athens is 29% above, Dammam is 10% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Dammam
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.05 €15.28
$6.49 SAR 24.35
162.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$65.8 €59.0
$39.23 SAR 147
67.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.96 €9.82
$7.78 SAR 29.20
40.87%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.83 SAR 6.87
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.78 SAR 6.68
-
Cappuccino
$4.10 €3.68
$3.71 SAR 13.94
10.51%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 €2.54
$0.81 SAR 3.02
249.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 €0.53
$0.28 SAR 1.04
110.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.62 €5.04
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.67 €5.08
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Dammam
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.90 €1.70
$1.72 SAR 6.45
10.47%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 €1.31
$1.04 SAR 3.91
40.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.71 €2.42
$2.32 SAR 8.71
16.81%
Eggs
$5.04 €4.52
$2.54 SAR 9.52
98.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.08 €13.51
$6.79 SAR 25.47
122.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.28 €9.21
$7.34 SAR 27.55
40.05%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.40 €17.38
$12.93 SAR 48.50
50.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.12 €1.90
$2.36 SAR 8.85
-10.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.91 €1.71
$1.60 SAR 6.01
19.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.41 €1.26
$1.62 SAR 6.10
-12.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.13 €1.91
$1.63 SAR 6.11
30.67%
Potato (1kg)
$1.04 €0.94
$1.25 SAR 4.67
-16.80%
Onion (1kg)
$1.13 €1.01
$1.32 SAR 4.94
-14.39%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.13 €1.01
$1.35 SAR 5.07
-16.30%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81 €0.73
$0.59 SAR 2.22
37.29%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$2.84 SAR 10.65
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.73 SAR 6.51
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.03 SAR 7.62
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.52 €4.94
$7.26 SAR 27.22
-23.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.99 €8.95
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 €1.83
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 €2.05
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Athens
Dammam
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.31 €1.18
$1.04 SAR 3.90
25.96%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.67 €27.48
$40.52 SAR 152
-24.31%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.37 €3.92
$2.62 SAR 9.83
66.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 €0.92
$1.89 SAR 7.09
-45.50%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.05 €15.28
$13.55 SAR 50.8
25.83%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.34 €2.10
$0.65 SAR 2.42
260.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K €25.3K
$27.1K SAR 101.8K
4.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K €24.0K
$23.4K SAR 87.7K
14.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Dammam
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$200 €179
$105 SAR 395
89.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$25.17 €22.56
$33.70 SAR 126
-25.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.65 €26.57
$72.2 SAR 271
-58.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Dammam
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$50.4 €45.20
$94.5 SAR 354
-46.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.94 €23.24
$36.96 SAR 139
-29.82%
Cinema Ticket
$10.52 €9.43
$14.61 SAR 54.8
-27.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Dammam
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$576 €516
$346 SAR 1,299
66.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.9K €11.6K
$7,665 SAR 28.8K
68.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Dammam
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.7 €80.4
$56.1 SAR 210
59.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.57 €35.46
$62.8 SAR 236
-37.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €94.5
$84.0 SAR 315
25.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$124 €111
$81.3 SAR 305
52.44%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Dammam
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$740 €663
$440 SAR 1,652
68.12%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$643 €576
$384 SAR 1,441
67.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,305 €1,169
$889 SAR 3,336
46.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,121 €1,004
$627 SAR 2,351
78.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,011 €3,595
$1,788 SAR 6,707
124.38%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,284 €2,943
$1,073 SAR 4,024
206.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Dammam
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,224 €1,097
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.48
4.42
1.36%

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

Last update for Athens: October 25, 2026

Last update for Dammam: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Athens
$643
Dammam
$384 40.2% $259
Groceries & Markets
Athens
$312
Dammam
$198 36.6% $114
Eating Out
Athens
$272
Dammam
$124 54.3% $147
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
$255
Dammam
$211 17.1% $43
Clothing & Footwear
Athens
$161
Dammam
$128 20.7% $33
Sport & Entertainment
Athens
$71
Dammam
$124 73% $52
Getting Around
Athens
$45
Dammam
$57 24.9% $11

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $740 in Athens and $440 in Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $66 in Athens vs $39 in Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $312 vs $198 per month, with Dammam cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Athens
🇸🇦 Dammam
🕒 Local time
03:18 3:18 AM
04:18 4:18 AM
1 h ahead of Athens
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,090,508 Capital
903,312
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Saudi Riyal SAR ر.س
Exchange rates and currency converter

SAR, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 0.896 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of October 29, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.267 USD). 1 EUR = 4.18 SAR (1 SAR = 0.239 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Athens Dammam 2,780 km ≈ 4 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Athens
  • 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
Athens vs Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Dammam?
Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 30% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Dammam the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Athens and in Dammam?
You’d need roughly $2,639 in Athens and $1,839 in 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Athens compared to Dammam?
Rent for a central apartment: $740 in Athens versus $440 in Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Athens and in Dammam?
Dining out is cheaper in Dammam – a meal for two runs $39 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 Dammam?
All in, you’ll spend $1,759 per month in Athens versus $1,226 in Dammam – Dammam is about 30% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Athens or in Dammam?
At $1,226 in Dammam versus $1,759 in Athens, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Dammam but tight or insufficient in Athens. The gap between the two cities makes Dammam the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Athens or Dammam?
Both work as nomad bases, but Dammam delivers better value at $1,226 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Dammam hard to pass up.

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