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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,300 in Dhahran versus $1,198 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,659 in Dhahran versus $1,825 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,017 in Dhahran versus $2,452 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Dhahran is roughly 9% more expensive than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhahran 5% lower, Ad Dammam 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.42 SAR 20.34

$8.09 SAR 30.38

-33.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.08 SAR 151

$37.23 SAR 140

7.66%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.04 SAR 22.70

$6.79 SAR 25.50

-11.05%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 SAR 7.12

$1.80 SAR 6.76

5.56%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 SAR 6.05

$2.06 SAR 7.73

-21.84%

Cappuccino

$3.99 SAR 14.97

$3.04 SAR 11.42

31.25%

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

$0.70 SAR 2.62

$0.77 SAR 2.88

-9.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.75

$0.17 SAR 0.62

17.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 SAR 5.93

$1.77 SAR 6.66

-10.73%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 SAR 3.54

$1.33 SAR 5.00

-29.32%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.00 SAR 7.50

$1.93 SAR 7.25

3.63%

Eggs

$3.90 SAR 14.64

$2.10 SAR 7.89

85.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.80 SAR 33.05

$7.34 SAR 27.57

19.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.16 SAR 41.92

$7.76 SAR 29.13

43.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.73 SAR 51.6

$12.48 SAR 46.86

10.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 SAR 7.91

$2.18 SAR 8.20

-3.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 SAR 5.19

$1.71 SAR 6.44

-19.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 SAR 6.78

$1.64 SAR 6.15

10.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.73 SAR 6.50

$1.63 SAR 6.13

6.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 SAR 5.71

$1.08 SAR 4.04

40.74%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 SAR 3.54

$1.19 SAR 4.46

-21.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 SAR 7.38

$1.32 SAR 4.96

49.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 SAR 3.46

$0.56 SAR 2.12

64.29%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.81 SAR 18.05

$4.20 SAR 15.78

14.52%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 SAR 6.14

$1.49 SAR 5.59

10.07%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 SAR 8.97

$2.23 SAR 8.39

7.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.64 SAR 21.17

$7.51 SAR 28.19

-24.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 SAR 2.89

$0.90 SAR 3.37

-14.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.24 SAR 132

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 SAR 4.91

$2.67 SAR 10.03

-50.94%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.35 SAR 12.57

$2.62 SAR 9.83

27.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.45 SAR 35.48

$13.43 SAR 50.4

-29.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.37

$0.60 SAR 2.24

5.00%

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

$53.4K SAR 200.5K

$66.9K SAR 251.2K

-20.18%

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

$20.4K SAR 76.8K

$20.9K SAR 78.4K

-2.07%

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

$60.2 SAR 226

$126 SAR 472

-52.13%

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

$43.47 SAR 163

$33.14 SAR 124

31.17%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.8 SAR 243

$62.7 SAR 235

3.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$195 SAR 731

$76.1 SAR 286

155.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$91.4 SAR 343

$27.76 SAR 104

229.11%

Cinema Ticket

$10.61 SAR 39.82

$13.49 SAR 50.7

-21.35%

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

$65.8 SAR 247

$414 SAR 1,554

-84.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K SAR 49.5K

$7,996 SAR 30.0K

65.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 SAR 189

$41.25 SAR 155

22.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.32 SAR 159

$48.67 SAR 183

-13.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.0 SAR 285

$97.3 SAR 365

-21.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.7 SAR 333

$91.8 SAR 345

-3.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 SAR 1,330

$566 SAR 2,126

-37.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 SAR 1,678

$376 SAR 1,410

18.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$988 SAR 3,709

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$672 SAR 2,523

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,376 SAR 5,167

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$597 SAR 2,240

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,854 SAR 10.7K

$1,528 SAR 5,737

86.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

5.9

-23.73%

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

Last update for Dhahran: September 1, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $354 in Dhahran and $566 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dhahran pays 87% 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 Dhahran vs $37.00 in Ad Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $232 vs $199 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

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

Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Dhahran. 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 87% higher in Dhahran, 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: $354 in Dhahran versus $566 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 17% higher in Dhahran. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,300 per month in Dhahran versus $1,198 in Ad Dammam – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,198 in Ad Dammam versus $1,300 in Dhahran, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ad Dammam but tight or insufficient in Dhahran. 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, Dhahran 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 9% less than in Dhahran. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.