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: $1,198 in Buraydah versus $1,237 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,959 in Buraydah versus $1,905 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,720 in Buraydah versus $2,574 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Buraydah costs roughly 3% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Buraydah 11% lower, Ad Dammam 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$12.74 SAR 47.77

$7.31 SAR 27.41

74.28%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.99 SAR 150

$53.9 SAR 202

-25.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 SAR 27.00

$8.13 SAR 30.50

-11.44%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.63 SAR 6.13

$1.86 SAR 6.97

-12.37%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.50 SAR 5.62

$1.84 SAR 6.91

-18.48%

Cappuccino

$3.52 SAR 13.20

$3.67 SAR 13.78

-4.09%

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

$0.75 SAR 2.80

$0.84 SAR 3.15

-10.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 SAR 0.97

$0.37 SAR 1.39

-29.73%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 SAR 6.16

$1.72 SAR 6.45

-4.65%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 SAR 3.96

$1.47 SAR 5.50

-27.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.46 SAR 9.23

$2.11 SAR 7.91

16.59%

Eggs

$2.60 SAR 9.74

$2.29 SAR 8.58

13.54%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.37 SAR 31.39

$6.28 SAR 23.54

33.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.85 SAR 25.67

$7.43 SAR 27.85

-7.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.81 SAR 51.8

$10.11 SAR 37.91

36.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.57 SAR 9.63

$2.21 SAR 8.27

16.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.80 SAR 6.73

$1.48 SAR 5.57

21.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.40 SAR 5.23

$1.45 SAR 5.43

-3.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.74 SAR 6.52

$1.67 SAR 6.25

4.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.46 SAR 5.48

$1.28 SAR 4.82

14.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.55 SAR 5.81

$1.33 SAR 4.98

16.54%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.12 SAR 4.20

$1.30 SAR 4.88

-13.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 SAR 2.59

$0.59 SAR 2.22

16.95%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.86 SAR 6.97

$4.24 SAR 15.88

-56.13%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.49 SAR 5.58

$1.57 SAR 5.87

-5.10%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.61 SAR 9.77

$2.02 SAR 7.56

29.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.53 SAR 24.49

$8.04 SAR 30.17

-18.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.08

$0.89 SAR 3.33

22.47%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.29 SAR 151

$39.57 SAR 148

1.82%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.64 SAR 9.88

$3.31 SAR 12.42

-20.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 SAR 7.05

$2.73 SAR 10.22

-31.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.40 SAR 61.5

$13.14 SAR 49.27

24.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.26

$0.64 SAR 2.40

-6.25%

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

$26.7K SAR 100.0K

$22.7K SAR 85.3K

17.21%

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

$24.1K SAR 90.5K

$20.9K SAR 78.2K

15.77%

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

$76.6 SAR 287

$117 SAR 438

-34.50%

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

$30.20 SAR 113

$38.51 SAR 144

-21.58%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.6 SAR 261

$63.3 SAR 237

9.97%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$100 SAR 376

$69.6 SAR 261

44.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.17 SAR 136

$30.63 SAR 115

18.09%

Cinema Ticket

$16.06 SAR 60.2

$15.02 SAR 56.3

6.92%

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

$267 SAR 1,002

$425 SAR 1,592

-37.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,766 SAR 14.1K

$8,339 SAR 31.3K

-54.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$52.5 SAR 197

$67.0 SAR 251

-21.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$73.3 SAR 275

$66.0 SAR 248

11.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.3 SAR 301

$92.6 SAR 347

-13.29%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.7 SAR 265

$87.2 SAR 327

-18.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$635 SAR 2,383

$445 SAR 1,670

42.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$334 SAR 1,253

$377 SAR 1,414

-11.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$757 SAR 2,839

$799 SAR 2,997

-5.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$790 SAR 2,961

$640 SAR 2,398

23.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,379 SAR 8,921

$894 SAR 3,352

166.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,334 SAR 5,002

$778 SAR 2,917

71.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,846 SAR 10.7K

$1,974 SAR 7,403

44.15%

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $635 in Buraydah and $445 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Buraydah pays 44% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $40.00 in Buraydah vs $54.0 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $189, 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

Buraydah wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Buraydah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Buraydah pays 44% more on average, 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: $635 in Buraydah versus $445 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,198 per month in Buraydah versus $1,237 in Ad Dammam – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Buraydah runs roughly 2% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,198 in Buraydah versus $1,237 in Ad Dammam, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Buraydah but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Buraydah 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 Buraydah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.