Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Athens and Tabuk

For one person, living is cheaper in Tabuk: $1,178 a month against $1,779 in Athens, rent and utilities included – about $7,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Athens, Greece
Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
Athens
🇬🇷 Greece
$1,779
/mo nomad
Tabuk
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
$1,178
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Athens and in Tabuk

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,779 in Athens versus $1,178 in Tabuk.

  • Athens $1,779
  • Tabuk $1,178

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,721 in Athens versus $1,766 in Tabuk.

  • Athens $2,721
  • Tabuk $1,766

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,663 in Athens versus $2,354 in Tabuk.

  • Athens $3,663
  • Tabuk $2,354

Living in Athens is roughly 51% more expensive than in Tabuk, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Athens is 32% above, Tabuk is 13% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Athens
Tabuk
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.83 €14.99
$7.33 SAR 27.50
129.60%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.0 €58.8
$31.31 SAR 118
110.80%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.21 €9.99
$7.55 SAR 28.34
48.48%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.35 SAR 5.05
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.60 SAR 6.01
-
Cappuccino
$4.08 €3.64
$3.13 SAR 11.76
30.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 €2.47
$0.73 SAR 2.73
279.45%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.54 €0.48
$0.26 SAR 0.97
107.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.70 €5.08
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.26 €5.58
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Athens
Tabuk
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.84 €1.64
$1.89 SAR 7.11
-2.65%
White Bread (500g)
$1.43 €1.27
$0.91 SAR 3.40
57.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.67 €2.38
$2.68 SAR 10.05
-0.37%
Eggs
$4.95 €4.41
$2.95 SAR 11.06
67.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.09 €13.45
$12.63 SAR 47.41
19.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.99 €9.79
$6.74 SAR 25.29
63.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.77 €17.61
$12.74 SAR 47.81
55.18%
Apples (1kg)
$2.12 €1.89
$1.95 SAR 7.31
8.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.98 €1.76
$1.67 SAR 6.28
18.56%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.33 €1.19
$1.81 SAR 6.78
-26.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.16 €1.92
$2.14 SAR 8.04
0.93%
Potato (1kg)
$1.06 €0.94
$1.69 SAR 6.36
-37.28%
Onion (1kg)
$1.15 €1.02
$2.09 SAR 7.86
-44.98%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 €0.97
$1.89 SAR 7.09
-42.86%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.85 €0.75
$0.60 SAR 2.24
41.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)
-
$2.86 SAR 10.72
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.83 SAR 6.86
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.08 SAR 7.80
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.46 €4.86
$6.62 SAR 24.86
-17.52%
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
Tabuk
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.35 €1.20
$1.05 SAR 3.94
28.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$30.52 €27.19
$36.23 SAR 136
-15.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.81 €3.39
$2.70 SAR 10.14
41.11%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.03 €0.92
$1.69 SAR 6.34
-39.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.49 €14.68
$14.98 SAR 56.2
10.08%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$2.34 €2.09
$0.65 SAR 2.44
260.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8K €24.7K
$27.0K SAR 101.5K
2.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6K €23.7K
$20.4K SAR 76.6K
30.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
Tabuk
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$202 €180
$104 SAR 392
93.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.81 €23.88
$36.05 SAR 135
-25.63%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.49 €27.16
$75.8 SAR 284
-59.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Athens
Tabuk
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$54.1 €48.17
$79.5 SAR 298
-31.97%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.40 €24.41
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$10.44 €9.30
$13.35 SAR 50.1
-21.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Athens
Tabuk
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$568 €506
$428 SAR 1,605
32.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.2K €13.5K
$8,508 SAR 31.9K
78.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Athens
Tabuk
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$90.7 €80.8
$40.00 SAR 150
126.63%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.32 €35.03
$47.44 SAR 178
-17.12%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 €93.7
$90.1 SAR 338
16.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$129 €115
$91.1 SAR 342
41.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Athens
Tabuk
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$742 €661
$309 SAR 1,159
140.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$648 €578
$338 SAR 1,270
91.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,271 €1,132
$556 SAR 2,087
128.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,122 €999
$567 SAR 2,128
97.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,999 €3,562
$1,966 SAR 7,379
103.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,281 €2,923
$1,192 SAR 4,474
175.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Athens
Tabuk
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,245 €1,109
$1,716 SAR 6,442
-27.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.44
5.54
-19.86%

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

Last update for Athens: October 31, 2026

Last update for Tabuk: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Athens
$648
Tabuk
$338 47.8% $310
Groceries & Markets
Athens
$316
Tabuk
$222 29.8% $94
Eating Out
Athens
$272
Tabuk
$123 54.8% $149
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Athens
$260
Tabuk
$216 16.7% $43
Clothing & Footwear
Athens
$164
Tabuk
$121 26.2% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Athens
$75
Tabuk
$106 41.7% $31
Getting Around
Athens
$45
Tabuk
$52 15% $6.7

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $742 in Athens and $309 in Tabuk. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Tabuk pays 38% 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 $31 in Tabuk for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $316 vs $222 per month, with Tabuk cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇬🇷 Athens
🇸🇦 Tabuk
🕒 Local time
01:47 1:47 AM
02:47 2:47 AM
1 h ahead of Athens
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,090,508 Capital
512,629
💱 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 5, 2026: 1 USD = 0.891 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Saudi Riyal exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 3.75 SAR (1 SAR = 0.266 USD). 1 EUR = 4.21 SAR (1 SAR = 0.237 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Athens Tabuk 1,600 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Athens
  • Tabuk

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 Tabuk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Athens or Tabuk?
Tabuk wins on cost – living expenses run 34% lower than in Athens. Housing and daily spending are where you’ll feel the difference most, making Tabuk the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Athens or in Tabuk?
On paper, salaries run 27% 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 Tabuk?
Rent for a central apartment: $742 in Athens versus $309 in Tabuk. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Athens and in Tabuk?
Dining out is cheaper in Tabuk – a meal for two runs $31 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 Tabuk?
All in, you’ll spend $1,779 per month in Athens versus $1,178 in Tabuk – Tabuk is about 34% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Athens or in Tabuk?
At $1,178 in Tabuk versus $1,779 in Athens, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Tabuk but tight or insufficient in Athens. The gap between the two cities makes Tabuk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Athens or Tabuk?
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 Athens compared to Tabuk?
Safety-wise, Athens and Tabuk are both considered safe, so it’s unlikely to be the deciding factor between them.

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