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: $1,332 in Dhahran versus $1,210 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,029 in Dhahran versus $1,872 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,725 in Dhahran versus $2,533 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Dhahran is roughly 10% more expensive than Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Dhahran 1% lower, Ad Dammam 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.23 SAR 19.64

$7.31 SAR 27.42

-28.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.50 SAR 152

$53.6 SAR 201

-24.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.14 SAR 26.78

$7.98 SAR 29.94

-10.53%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 SAR 7.68

$1.83 SAR 6.86

12.02%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 SAR 6.06

$1.82 SAR 6.82

-11.54%

Cappuccino

$3.77 SAR 14.14

$3.70 SAR 13.89

1.89%

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

$0.74 SAR 2.78

$0.92 SAR 3.43

-19.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 SAR 0.63

$0.35 SAR 1.30

-51.43%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 SAR 5.60

$1.71 SAR 6.43

-12.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.17 SAR 4.39

$1.45 SAR 5.43

-19.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 SAR 8.18

$2.09 SAR 7.85

4.31%

Eggs

$2.39 SAR 8.98

$2.24 SAR 8.42

6.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.83 SAR 25.62

$6.06 SAR 22.73

12.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.84 SAR 33.18

$7.15 SAR 26.85

23.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.50 SAR 50.7

$9.62 SAR 36.12

40.33%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 SAR 8.41

$2.11 SAR 7.93

6.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 SAR 5.20

$1.50 SAR 5.62

-8.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 SAR 6.11

$1.38 SAR 5.20

18.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 SAR 5.13

$1.66 SAR 6.24

-17.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 SAR 4.63

$1.28 SAR 4.80

-3.91%

Onion (1kg)

$0.89 SAR 3.34

$1.33 SAR 4.99

-33.08%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 SAR 4.14

$1.35 SAR 5.06

-18.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 SAR 2.15

$0.55 SAR 2.07

3.64%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.84 SAR 18.16

$4.19 SAR 15.73

15.51%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 SAR 7.43

$1.60 SAR 6.01

23.75%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 SAR 5.86

$1.98 SAR 7.44

-21.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.52 SAR 35.72

$7.92 SAR 29.73

20.20%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 SAR 3.93

$0.89 SAR 3.36

17.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.72 SAR 153

$40.16 SAR 151

1.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 SAR 5.08

$3.29 SAR 12.35

-58.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.45 SAR 9.18

$2.65 SAR 9.96

-7.55%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.53 SAR 50.8

$13.28 SAR 49.85

1.88%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 SAR 2.43

$0.64 SAR 2.42

1.56%

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

$32.4K SAR 121.8K

$23.1K SAR 86.6K

40.68%

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

$24.3K SAR 91.1K

$21.3K SAR 79.8K

14.16%

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

$104 SAR 391

$117 SAR 438

-10.74%

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

$36.18 SAR 136

$38.34 SAR 144

-5.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.6 SAR 276

$63.5 SAR 238

15.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$183 SAR 688

$70.9 SAR 266

158.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.00 SAR 135

$30.51 SAR 114

17.99%

Cinema Ticket

$11.90 SAR 44.66

$15.54 SAR 58.3

-23.42%

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

$414 SAR 1,553

$415 SAR 1,559

-0.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,909 SAR 37.2K

$8,170 SAR 30.7K

21.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.4 SAR 223

$66.9 SAR 251

-11.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.7 SAR 288

$68.2 SAR 256

12.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.4 SAR 317

$90.8 SAR 341

-7.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.8 SAR 367

$85.5 SAR 321

14.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 SAR 1,648

$447 SAR 1,678

-1.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 SAR 1,436

$375 SAR 1,408

2.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$836 SAR 3,138

$800 SAR 3,002

4.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$615 SAR 2,308

$641 SAR 2,407

-4.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,110 SAR 4,166

$1,309 SAR 4,914

-15.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,066 SAR 3,999

$805 SAR 3,020

32.45%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,893 SAR 10.9K

$1,895 SAR 7,110

52.72%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $439 in Dhahran and $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dhahran pays 53% 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: $41.00 in Dhahran vs $54.0 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $200 vs $184, 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 10% 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.

Dhahran pays 53% 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: $439 in Dhahran versus $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,332 per month in Dhahran versus $1,210 in Ad Dammam – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 1% less than in Dhahran. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,210 in Ad Dammam versus $1,332 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 10% less than in Dhahran. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.