Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhahran and Jeddah Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhahran and Jeddah

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,302 per month in Dhahran vs $1,218 in Jeddah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,999 per month in Dhahran vs $1,846 in Jeddah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,697 per month in Dhahran vs $2,474 in Jeddah, rent included.

Dhahran costs about 7% more than Jeddah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Dhahran and Jeddah are more affordable than the global median – Dhahran 3% lower, Jeddah 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.30 SAR 19.91

$6.51 SAR 24.46

-18.59%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.06 SAR 150

$39.65 SAR 149

1.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.35 SAR 27.59

$7.80 SAR 29.29

-5.77%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 SAR 7.57

$2.16 SAR 8.10

-6.94%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 SAR 5.96

$2.10 SAR 7.90

-24.29%

Cappuccino

$3.67 SAR 13.79

$3.78 SAR 14.20

-2.91%

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

$0.70 SAR 2.62

$0.70 SAR 2.64

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.73

$0.25 SAR 0.94

-20.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 SAR 5.68

$1.68 SAR 6.32

-10.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 SAR 4.43

$0.94 SAR 3.53

25.53%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 SAR 8.10

$2.23 SAR 8.38

-3.14%

Eggs

$2.36 SAR 8.86

$2.63 SAR 9.88

-10.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.55 SAR 24.61

$7.42 SAR 27.86

-11.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.74 SAR 32.83

$7.77 SAR 29.19

12.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.55 SAR 50.9

$12.38 SAR 46.51

9.45%

Apples (1kg)

$2.17 SAR 8.15

$2.18 SAR 8.19

-0.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 SAR 5.34

$1.57 SAR 5.89

-9.55%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.94

$1.54 SAR 5.80

2.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.30 SAR 4.88

$1.58 SAR 5.94

-17.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 SAR 4.47

$1.33 SAR 4.98

-10.53%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 SAR 3.66

$1.25 SAR 4.68

-21.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 SAR 4.01

$1.10 SAR 4.15

-2.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 SAR 2.15

$0.55 SAR 2.07

3.64%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.76 SAR 17.88

$4.21 SAR 15.79

13.06%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 SAR 7.53

$1.89 SAR 7.11

5.82%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 SAR 5.83

$2.49 SAR 9.36

-37.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.21 SAR 34.59

$6.79 SAR 25.51

35.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 SAR 3.91

$1.30 SAR 4.87

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.24 SAR 151

$39.89 SAR 150

0.88%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.37 SAR 5.13

$3.17 SAR 11.90

-56.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.36 SAR 8.88

$1.85 SAR 6.94

27.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.26 SAR 49.79

$15.04 SAR 56.5

-11.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.39

$0.60 SAR 2.24

6.67%

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

$31.8K SAR 119.4K

$26.4K SAR 99.2K

20.36%

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

$24.4K SAR 91.7K

$21.3K SAR 80.0K

14.66%

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

$106 SAR 397

$108 SAR 406

-2.23%

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

$36.75 SAR 138

$32.30 SAR 121

13.78%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.3 SAR 271

$69.6 SAR 261

3.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$184 SAR 689

$91.1 SAR 342

101.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.54 SAR 133

$45.14 SAR 170

-21.27%

Cinema Ticket

$12.10 SAR 45.42

$13.21 SAR 49.62

-8.40%

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

$403 SAR 1,515

$407 SAR 1,527

-0.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,692 SAR 36.4K

$6,378 SAR 24.0K

51.94%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 SAR 224

$62.7 SAR 236

-4.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.7 SAR 281

$57.9 SAR 217

29.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 SAR 322

$94.9 SAR 356

-9.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.9 SAR 360

$83.8 SAR 315

14.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 SAR 1,650

$507 SAR 1,903

-13.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$381 SAR 1,431

$384 SAR 1,442

-0.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$840 SAR 3,153

$904 SAR 3,395

-7.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 SAR 2,378

$601 SAR 2,256

5.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,109 SAR 4,165

$1,646 SAR 6,179

-32.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,053 SAR 3,955

$1,015 SAR 3,813

3.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,884 SAR 10.8K

$1,660 SAR 6,233

73.76%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.42

4.5

-1.78%

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

Last update for Dhahran: July 11, 2026

Last update for Jeddah: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $439 in Dhahran versus $507 in Jeddah. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 74% higher in Dhahran, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Dhahran versus $40.00 in Jeddah. Groceries tell a different story – $198 in Dhahran vs $196 in Jeddah – so Jeddah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Jeddah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Dhahran costs about 7% more than Jeddah, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,953 per month in Dhahran and $1,827 in Jeddah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Jeddah, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,302 in Dhahran and $1,218 in Jeddah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 1% less in Jeddah. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Jeddah, where all-in costs run around $1,218, than in Dhahran at $1,302. In Jeddah it covers expenses comfortably, while in Dhahran it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Jeddah – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Jeddah. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Dhahran makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.