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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,212 in Buraydah versus $1,196 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,961 in Buraydah versus $1,860 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,711 in Buraydah versus $2,524 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Buraydah is roughly 1% more expensive than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Buraydah 9% lower, Ad Dammam 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.70 SAR 47.68

$7.29 SAR 27.36

74.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.24 SAR 147

$53.7 SAR 202

-26.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.22 SAR 27.11

$8.03 SAR 30.15

-10.09%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.63 SAR 6.10

$1.82 SAR 6.83

-10.44%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.45 SAR 5.44

$1.90 SAR 7.14

-23.68%

Cappuccino

$3.68 SAR 13.80

$3.73 SAR 14.00

-1.34%

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

$0.74 SAR 2.76

$0.92 SAR 3.44

-19.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 SAR 1.06

$0.35 SAR 1.30

-20.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 SAR 6.15

$1.63 SAR 6.13

0.61%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 SAR 3.92

$1.46 SAR 5.49

-28.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.45 SAR 9.20

$2.09 SAR 7.86

17.22%

Eggs

$2.51 SAR 9.44

$2.27 SAR 8.53

10.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.53 SAR 32.02

$6.12 SAR 22.97

39.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.63 SAR 24.89

$7.25 SAR 27.22

-8.55%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.90 SAR 52.2

$9.70 SAR 36.41

43.30%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 SAR 9.66

$2.12 SAR 7.95

21.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 SAR 6.84

$1.49 SAR 5.60

22.15%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 SAR 5.26

$1.40 SAR 5.24

Tomato (1kg)

$1.74 SAR 6.52

$1.59 SAR 5.98

9.43%

Potato (1kg)

$1.42 SAR 5.31

$1.28 SAR 4.82

10.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 SAR 5.79

$1.32 SAR 4.97

16.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 SAR 4.36

$1.36 SAR 5.12

-14.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.70 SAR 2.61

$0.59 SAR 2.21

18.64%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.92 SAR 7.22

$4.13 SAR 15.50

-53.51%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.48 SAR 5.57

$1.56 SAR 5.84

-5.13%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 SAR 9.40

$1.92 SAR 7.22

30.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.26 SAR 23.50

$7.76 SAR 29.12

-19.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 SAR 4.11

$0.95 SAR 3.57

15.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.27 SAR 147

$39.54 SAR 148

-0.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.67 SAR 10.04

$3.38 SAR 12.70

-21.01%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 SAR 7.19

$2.62 SAR 9.85

-27.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.48 SAR 61.9

$13.54 SAR 50.8

21.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.37

$0.60 SAR 2.25

5.00%

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

$26.5K SAR 99.5K

$23.0K SAR 86.3K

15.24%

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

$24.2K SAR 90.7K

$21.1K SAR 79.1K

14.65%

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

$77.9 SAR 293

$115 SAR 432

-32.24%

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

$30.14 SAR 113

$38.60 SAR 145

-21.92%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.6 SAR 269

$63.5 SAR 239

12.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$101 SAR 380

$70.5 SAR 265

43.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.35 SAR 136

$31.26 SAR 117

16.28%

Cinema Ticket

$15.67 SAR 58.9

$15.06 SAR 56.5

4.05%

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

$267 SAR 1,003

$415 SAR 1,558

-35.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,749 SAR 14.1K

$8,157 SAR 30.6K

-54.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.0 SAR 195

$68.6 SAR 258

-24.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$72.8 SAR 273

$66.7 SAR 250

9.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.5 SAR 302

$92.6 SAR 347

-12.98%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.8 SAR 266

$85.7 SAR 322

-17.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$637 SAR 2,392

$447 SAR 1,677

42.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$343 SAR 1,289

$378 SAR 1,421

-9.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$751 SAR 2,818

$805 SAR 3,021

-6.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$786 SAR 2,952

$626 SAR 2,349

25.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,399 SAR 9,007

$1,353 SAR 5,080

77.28%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,357 SAR 5,094

$816 SAR 3,062

66.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,555 SAR 9,591

$1,510 SAR 5,667

69.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.42

4.33

2.08%

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

Last update for Buraydah: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $637 in Buraydah and $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Buraydah pays 69% 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: $39.00 in Buraydah vs $54.0 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $184, with Ad Dammam 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

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

Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Buraydah. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ad Dammam the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 69% higher in Buraydah, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $637 in Buraydah versus $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,212 per month in Buraydah versus $1,196 in Ad Dammam – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 1% less than in Buraydah. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,196 in Ad Dammam versus $1,212 in Buraydah, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ad Dammam but tight or insufficient in Buraydah. The gap between the two cities makes Ad Dammam 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, Buraydah 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 Ad Dammam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Buraydah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.