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: $1,235 in Buraydah versus $1,215 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,064 in Buraydah versus $1,866 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,893 in Buraydah versus $2,516 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Buraydah is roughly 2% more expensive than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Buraydah 10% lower, Ad Dammam 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$13.38 SAR 50.3

$8.09 SAR 30.39

65.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.45 SAR 152

$34.39 SAR 129

17.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.22 SAR 30.87

$6.57 SAR 24.69

25.11%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 SAR 7.13

$1.91 SAR 7.17

-0.52%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 SAR 5.10

$2.23 SAR 8.37

-39.01%

Cappuccino

$3.58 SAR 13.45

$3.10 SAR 11.65

15.48%

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

$0.76 SAR 2.85

$0.79 SAR 2.95

-3.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 SAR 0.96

$0.20 SAR 0.75

30.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 SAR 6.17

$1.82 SAR 6.84

-9.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 SAR 4.30

$1.33 SAR 5.01

-13.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.47 SAR 9.27

$1.92 SAR 7.21

28.65%

Eggs

$2.91 SAR 10.92

$2.13 SAR 7.98

36.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.54 SAR 32.07

$7.39 SAR 27.77

15.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.61 SAR 24.83

$7.82 SAR 29.36

-15.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.49 SAR 50.7

$12.72 SAR 47.79

6.05%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 SAR 8.69

$2.18 SAR 8.17

5.96%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 SAR 6.89

$1.63 SAR 6.11

12.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 SAR 6.48

$1.59 SAR 5.96

8.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 SAR 6.20

$1.62 SAR 6.09

1.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 SAR 5.27

$1.07 SAR 4.02

30.84%

Onion (1kg)

$1.37 SAR 5.14

$1.20 SAR 4.52

14.17%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 SAR 4.10

$1.28 SAR 4.80

-14.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.61 SAR 2.29

$0.58 SAR 2.18

5.17%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$1.88 SAR 7.06

$4.09 SAR 15.37

-54.03%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.53 SAR 5.76

$1.45 SAR 5.46

5.52%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.59 SAR 9.72

$2.17 SAR 8.14

19.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.52 SAR 24.49

$7.80 SAR 29.30

-16.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 SAR 3.95

$0.97 SAR 3.63

8.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.26 SAR 132

$35.89 SAR 135

-1.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 SAR 10.17

$2.60 SAR 9.75

4.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.69 SAR 10.10

$2.60 SAR 9.78

3.46%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$16.88 SAR 63.4

$13.41 SAR 50.4

25.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 SAR 2.22

$0.64 SAR 2.42

-7.81%

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

$41.4K SAR 155.6K

$67.7K SAR 254.2K

-38.78%

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

$23.2K SAR 87.2K

$21.3K SAR 79.9K

9.07%

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

$71.7 SAR 269

$128 SAR 482

-44.12%

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

$32.13 SAR 121

$33.46 SAR 126

-3.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.0 SAR 266

$62.1 SAR 233

14.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$133 SAR 500

$77.8 SAR 292

71.04%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.59 SAR 137

$28.85 SAR 108

26.83%

Cinema Ticket

$15.33 SAR 57.6

$13.40 SAR 50.3

14.40%

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

$266 SAR 999

$417 SAR 1,566

-36.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,788 SAR 14.2K

$7,868 SAR 29.5K

-51.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.5 SAR 193

$41.40 SAR 155

24.37%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.1 SAR 218

$49.15 SAR 185

18.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 SAR 299

$95.8 SAR 360

-16.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.1 SAR 263

$90.5 SAR 340

-22.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$694 SAR 2,607

$567 SAR 2,128

22.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$331 SAR 1,244

$369 SAR 1,388

-10.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$886 SAR 3,328

$1,007 SAR 3,781

-11.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$820 SAR 3,081

$663 SAR 2,490

23.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,400 SAR 9,012

$1,379 SAR 5,179

74.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,394 SAR 5,236

$595 SAR 2,235

134.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,506 SAR 9,410

$1,532 SAR 5,754

63.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.98

5.9

-32.54%

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

Last update for Buraydah: September 7, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $694 in Buraydah and $567 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Buraydah pays 64% 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: $40.00 in Buraydah vs $34.00 in Ad Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $200 per month, with Ad Dammam cheaper across the board.

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 2% 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 64% 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: $694 in Buraydah versus $567 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,235 per month in Buraydah versus $1,215 in Ad Dammam – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

At $1,215 in Ad Dammam versus $1,235 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 2% less than in Buraydah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.