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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,300 per month in Dhahran vs $1,362 in Jeddah, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,659 per month in Dhahran vs $2,108 in Jeddah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,017 per month in Dhahran vs $2,855 in Jeddah, rent included.

Dhahran is about 5% cheaper than Jeddah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Dhahran and Jeddah are more affordable than the global median – Dhahran 5% lower, Jeddah 1% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.42 SAR 20.34

$6.69 SAR 25.13

-18.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.08 SAR 151

$53.1 SAR 199

-24.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.04 SAR 22.70

$8.16 SAR 30.64

-25.98%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 SAR 7.12

$2.51 SAR 9.42

-24.30%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 SAR 6.05

$2.70 SAR 10.14

-40.37%

Cappuccino

$3.99 SAR 14.97

$3.54 SAR 13.28

12.71%

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

$0.70 SAR 2.62

$1.00 SAR 3.77

-30.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.75

$0.24 SAR 0.89

-16.67%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 SAR 5.93

$1.71 SAR 6.42

-7.60%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 SAR 3.54

$1.01 SAR 3.80

-6.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.00 SAR 7.50

$2.20 SAR 8.27

-9.09%

Eggs

$3.90 SAR 14.64

$2.37 SAR 8.91

64.56%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.80 SAR 33.05

$6.36 SAR 23.86

38.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.16 SAR 41.92

$8.30 SAR 31.17

34.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.73 SAR 51.6

$13.08 SAR 49.13

4.97%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 SAR 7.91

$1.95 SAR 7.33

8.21%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 SAR 5.19

$1.66 SAR 6.25

-16.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 SAR 6.78

$1.52 SAR 5.72

19.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.73 SAR 6.50

$1.66 SAR 6.23

4.22%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 SAR 5.71

$1.16 SAR 4.37

31.03%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 SAR 3.54

$1.29 SAR 4.83

-27.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 SAR 7.38

$1.06 SAR 3.98

85.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 SAR 3.46

$0.54 SAR 2.02

70.37%

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

$1.82 SAR 6.84

-9.89%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 SAR 8.97

$2.48 SAR 9.32

-3.63%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.64 SAR 21.17

$6.45 SAR 24.21

-12.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 SAR 2.89

$1.09 SAR 4.11

-29.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 SAR 206

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 SAR 4.91

$3.14 SAR 11.80

-58.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.35 SAR 12.57

$1.75 SAR 6.58

91.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.45 SAR 35.48

$13.91 SAR 52.2

-32.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.37

$0.60 SAR 2.25

5.00%

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

$53.4K SAR 200.5K

$48.0K SAR 180.1K

11.34%

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

$20.4K SAR 76.8K

$21.3K SAR 80.0K

-3.99%

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

$60.2 SAR 226

$102 SAR 384

-41.14%

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

$43.47 SAR 163

$38.54 SAR 145

12.79%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.8 SAR 243

$67.6 SAR 254

-4.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$195 SAR 731

$87.1 SAR 327

123.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$91.4 SAR 343

$41.18 SAR 155

121.86%

Cinema Ticket

$10.61 SAR 39.82

$11.87 SAR 44.56

-10.61%

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

$65.8 SAR 247

$728 SAR 2,733

-90.97%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K SAR 49.5K

$16.3K SAR 61.1K

-18.88%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 SAR 189

$68.9 SAR 259

-26.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.32 SAR 159

$59.8 SAR 224

-29.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.0 SAR 285

$96.4 SAR 362

-21.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.7 SAR 333

$97.4 SAR 366

-8.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 SAR 1,330

$773 SAR 2,904

-54.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 SAR 1,678

$531 SAR 1,994

-15.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,464 SAR 5,497

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$831 SAR 3,121

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,746 SAR 6,555

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,145 SAR 4,301

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,854 SAR 10.7K

$1,664 SAR 6,249

71.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

5.39

-16.51%

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

Last update for Dhahran: September 1, 2026

Last update for Jeddah: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $354 in Dhahran versus $773 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 71% higher in Dhahran, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Dhahran versus $53.0 in Jeddah. Groceries tell a different story – $232 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

Jeddah costs about 5% more than Dhahran, 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 $1,950 per month in Dhahran and $2,043 in Jeddah. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Dhahran, 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 $1,300 in Dhahran and $1,362 in Jeddah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $65.8 per month in Dhahran and $728 in Jeddah. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dhahran, where all-in costs run around $1,300, than in Jeddah at $1,362. In Dhahran it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jeddah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Dhahran – 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 Dhahran. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jeddah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.