😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,240 in Cascais versus $1,332 in Al Khobar.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,477 in Cascais versus $2,100 in Al Khobar.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,714 in Cascais versus $2,868 in Al Khobar.
🌍Living in Cascais is roughly 68% more expensive than in Al Khobar, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Cascais68% above, Al Khobar0% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cascais
Al Khobar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.84€12.12
$6.82SAR 25.59
102.93%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$46.27€40.52
$54.0SAR 203
-14.38%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.13€8.00
$8.19SAR 30.77
11.48%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.98SAR 7.44
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.70SAR 10.13
-
Cappuccino
$2.91€2.55
$4.26SAR 16.00
-31.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16€1.89
$0.96SAR 3.61
125.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.57€1.38
$0.49SAR 1.83
220.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.25€1.97
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46€3.03
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cascais
Al Khobar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05€0.92
$1.69SAR 6.34
-37.87%
White Bread(500g)
$1.82€1.59
$1.40SAR 5.24
30.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$2.32SAR 8.72
-20.26%
Eggs
$3.15€2.76
$2.88SAR 10.81
9.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.22€9.83
$6.94SAR 26.04
61.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.78€6.82
$9.12SAR 34.26
-14.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.49€12.69
$12.61SAR 47.33
14.91%
Apples(1kg)
$2.49€2.18
$2.54SAR 9.53
-1.97%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64€1.44
$1.72SAR 6.45
-4.65%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.03€1.78
$2.13SAR 8.00
-4.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.87€2.51
$1.57SAR 5.88
82.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.52€1.33
$1.41SAR 5.30
7.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98€1.74
$1.72SAR 6.47
15.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.65€1.45
$1.70SAR 6.38
-2.94%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94€0.82
$0.60SAR 2.24
56.67%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$2.70SAR 10.13
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.46SAR 5.48
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.88SAR 7.04
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.99€5.25
$6.51SAR 24.44
-7.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.96€6.97
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25€1.10
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68€2.35
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Cascais
Al Khobar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.79€2.45
$0.92SAR 3.44
203.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$46.13€40.40
$60.1SAR 225
-23.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.28€3.75
$2.26SAR 8.48
89.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.87€0.76
$1.35SAR 5.06
-35.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$14.45€12.66
$6.60SAR 24.78
118.94%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.92€1.68
$0.65SAR 2.43
195.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.2K€29.9K
$21.4KSAR 80.2K
60.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.6K€34.7K
$22.7KSAR 85.4K
74.05%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cascais
Al Khobar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148€130
$124SAR 466
19.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$21.68€18.99
$34.51SAR 130
-37.18%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$41.69€36.51
$80.7SAR 303
-48.36%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cascais
Al Khobar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$68.8€60.2
$109SAR 410
-37.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.50€10.07
$36.80SAR 138
-68.75%
Cinema Ticket
$8.47€7.42
$17.36SAR 65.2
-51.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cascais
Al Khobar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$608€532
$306SAR 1,147
98.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.9K€13.9K
$7,541SAR 28.3K
110.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cascais
Al Khobar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$86.9€76.1
$63.4SAR 238
37.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.35€33.59
$69.8SAR 262
-45.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$94.1€82.4
$100SAR 376
-6.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.9€79.6
$80.4SAR 302
13.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cascais
Al Khobar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,696€1,485
$433SAR 1,627
291.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,262€1,105
$401SAR 1,505
214.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,736€3,272
$1,059SAR 3,977
252.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,687€2,353
$813SAR 3,054
230.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,915€6,056
$2,442SAR 9,169
183.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,882€4,276
$1,423SAR 5,344
243.07%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cascais
Al Khobar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,308€2,022
$1,856SAR 6,970
24.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.81
3.84
-0.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cascais: July 13, 2026
Last update for Al Khobar: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,696 in Cascais and $433 in Al Khobar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cascais pays 24% 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: $46.00 in Cascais vs $54.0 in Al Khobar. Groceries flip the comparison at $264 vs $217, with Al Khobar 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
Cascais vs Al Khobar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cascais or Al Khobar?
Al Khobar wins on cost – living expenses run 68% lower than in Cascais. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Al Khobar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Cascais or in Al Khobar?
Average pay runs 24% higher in Cascais, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Cascais compared to Al Khobar?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,696 in Cascais versus $433 in Al Khobar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Cascais compared to Al Khobar?
A monthly transit pass in Al Khobar runs roughly 30% less than in Cascais. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Cascais and in Al Khobar?
Childcare runs $608 in Cascais versus $306 in Al Khobar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Cascais or in Al Khobar?
At $1,332 in Al Khobar versus $2,240 in Cascais, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Al Khobar but tight or insufficient in Cascais. The gap between the two cities makes Al Khobar the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Cascais or Al Khobar?
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 Cascais compared to Al Khobar?
Safety-wise, Cascais and Al Khobar are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Al Khobar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 68% less than in Cascais. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.