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: $1,302 in Dhahran versus $1,211 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,999 in Dhahran versus $1,857 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,697 in Dhahran versus $2,503 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Dhahran is roughly 8% more expensive than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhahran 3% lower, Ad Dammam 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.30 SAR 19.91

$7.45 SAR 27.99

-28.86%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.06 SAR 150

$53.0 SAR 199

-24.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.35 SAR 27.59

$7.92 SAR 29.73

-7.20%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 SAR 7.57

$1.88 SAR 7.07

6.91%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 SAR 5.96

$1.85 SAR 6.95

-14.05%

Cappuccino

$3.67 SAR 13.79

$3.55 SAR 13.33

3.38%

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

$0.70 SAR 2.62

$0.92 SAR 3.44

-23.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.73

$0.38 SAR 1.42

-47.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 SAR 5.68

$1.64 SAR 6.15

-7.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 SAR 4.43

$1.42 SAR 5.32

-16.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 SAR 8.10

$2.12 SAR 7.96

1.89%

Eggs

$2.36 SAR 8.86

$2.31 SAR 8.68

2.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.55 SAR 24.61

$5.99 SAR 22.48

9.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.74 SAR 32.83

$7.32 SAR 27.49

19.40%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.55 SAR 50.9

$10.07 SAR 37.81

34.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.17 SAR 8.15

$2.09 SAR 7.85

3.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 SAR 5.34

$1.55 SAR 5.82

-8.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.94

$1.39 SAR 5.23

13.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.30 SAR 4.88

$1.65 SAR 6.20

-21.21%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 SAR 4.47

$1.28 SAR 4.79

-7.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 SAR 3.66

$1.37 SAR 5.15

-28.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 SAR 4.01

$1.29 SAR 4.86

-17.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 SAR 2.15

$0.55 SAR 2.08

3.64%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.76 SAR 17.88

$4.12 SAR 15.47

15.53%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 SAR 7.53

$1.61 SAR 6.05

24.22%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 SAR 5.83

$1.99 SAR 7.47

-22.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.21 SAR 34.59

$7.76 SAR 29.14

18.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 SAR 3.91

$0.94 SAR 3.51

10.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.24 SAR 151

$39.30 SAR 148

2.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.37 SAR 5.13

$3.31 SAR 12.42

-58.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.36 SAR 8.88

$2.73 SAR 10.26

-13.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.26 SAR 49.79

$13.58 SAR 51.0

-2.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.39

$0.61 SAR 2.29

4.92%

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

$31.8K SAR 119.4K

$22.2K SAR 83.5K

43.10%

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

$24.4K SAR 91.7K

$20.9K SAR 78.3K

17.14%

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

$106 SAR 397

$118 SAR 444

-10.71%

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

$36.75 SAR 138

$38.60 SAR 145

-4.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.3 SAR 271

$63.4 SAR 238

13.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$184 SAR 689

$70.7 SAR 266

159.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.54 SAR 133

$30.89 SAR 116

15.05%

Cinema Ticket

$12.10 SAR 45.42

$15.30 SAR 57.5

-20.92%

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

$403 SAR 1,515

$427 SAR 1,602

-5.45%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,692 SAR 36.4K

$8,216 SAR 30.9K

17.97%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 SAR 224

$68.0 SAR 255

-12.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.7 SAR 281

$67.8 SAR 255

10.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 SAR 322

$90.5 SAR 340

-5.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.9 SAR 360

$86.1 SAR 323

11.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 SAR 1,650

$452 SAR 1,697

-2.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$381 SAR 1,431

$376 SAR 1,413

1.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$840 SAR 3,153

$792 SAR 2,976

5.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 SAR 2,378

$636 SAR 2,388

-0.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,109 SAR 4,165

$1,320 SAR 4,956

-15.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,053 SAR 3,955

$812 SAR 3,051

29.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,884 SAR 10.8K

$1,502 SAR 5,640

92.04%

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 Dhahran: July 11, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $439 in Dhahran and $452 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dhahran pays 92% 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 $53.0 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $198 vs $185, 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

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

Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 8% 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 92% 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: $439 in Dhahran versus $452 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,302 per month in Dhahran versus $1,211 in Ad Dammam – a 8% 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 Dhahran. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,211 in Ad Dammam versus $1,302 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 8% less than in Dhahran. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.