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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,332 per month in Dhahran vs $1,202 in Jeddah, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,029 per month in Dhahran vs $1,858 in Jeddah, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,725 per month in Dhahran vs $2,514 in Jeddah, rent included.

Dhahran costs about 11% more than Jeddah, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Dhahran and Jeddah are more affordable than the global median – Dhahran 1% lower, Jeddah 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.23 SAR 19.64

$6.54 SAR 24.53

-20.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.50 SAR 152

$40.72 SAR 153

-0.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.14 SAR 26.78

$8.21 SAR 30.82

-13.03%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 SAR 7.68

$2.19 SAR 8.23

-6.39%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 SAR 6.06

$2.10 SAR 7.89

-23.33%

Cappuccino

$3.77 SAR 14.14

$3.58 SAR 13.44

5.31%

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

$0.74 SAR 2.78

$0.70 SAR 2.64

5.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 SAR 0.63

$0.25 SAR 0.94

-32.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 SAR 5.60

$1.74 SAR 6.51

-14.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.17 SAR 4.39

$0.96 SAR 3.58

21.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 SAR 8.18

$2.30 SAR 8.61

-5.22%

Eggs

$2.39 SAR 8.98

$2.75 SAR 10.34

-13.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.83 SAR 25.62

$7.41 SAR 27.82

-7.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.84 SAR 33.18

$7.64 SAR 28.69

15.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.50 SAR 50.7

$12.34 SAR 46.33

9.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 SAR 8.41

$2.16 SAR 8.12

3.70%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 SAR 5.20

$1.57 SAR 5.90

-12.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 SAR 6.11

$1.55 SAR 5.82

5.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 SAR 5.13

$1.54 SAR 5.78

-11.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 SAR 4.63

$1.32 SAR 4.94

-6.82%

Onion (1kg)

$0.89 SAR 3.34

$1.21 SAR 4.54

-26.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 SAR 4.14

$1.05 SAR 3.96

4.76%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 SAR 2.15

$0.60 SAR 2.23

-5.00%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.84 SAR 18.16

$4.08 SAR 15.31

18.63%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 SAR 7.43

$1.95 SAR 7.33

1.54%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 SAR 5.86

$2.48 SAR 9.32

-37.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.52 SAR 35.72

$6.76 SAR 25.36

40.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 SAR 3.93

$1.36 SAR 5.12

-22.79%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.72 SAR 153

$39.64 SAR 149

2.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 SAR 5.08

$3.23 SAR 12.13

-58.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.45 SAR 9.18

$1.88 SAR 7.06

30.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.53 SAR 50.8

$15.36 SAR 57.7

-11.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 SAR 2.43

$0.63 SAR 2.37

3.17%

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

$32.4K SAR 121.8K

$26.9K SAR 101.0K

20.55%

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

$24.3K SAR 91.1K

$21.4K SAR 80.4K

13.29%

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

$104 SAR 391

$105 SAR 393

-0.66%

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

$36.18 SAR 136

$32.31 SAR 121

11.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.6 SAR 276

$70.1 SAR 263

5.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$183 SAR 688

$90.9 SAR 341

101.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.00 SAR 135

$45.17 SAR 170

-20.30%

Cinema Ticket

$11.90 SAR 44.66

$13.12 SAR 49.25

-9.30%

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

$414 SAR 1,553

$400 SAR 1,500

3.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,909 SAR 37.2K

$6,414 SAR 24.1K

54.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.4 SAR 223

$64.6 SAR 242

-8.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.7 SAR 288

$58.1 SAR 218

32.17%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.4 SAR 317

$92.5 SAR 347

-8.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.8 SAR 367

$84.4 SAR 317

15.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 SAR 1,648

$501 SAR 1,881

-12.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 SAR 1,436

$390 SAR 1,464

-1.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$836 SAR 3,138

$899 SAR 3,374

-7.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$615 SAR 2,308

$618 SAR 2,321

-0.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,110 SAR 4,166

$1,625 SAR 6,100

-31.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,066 SAR 3,999

$1,014 SAR 3,805

5.11%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,893 SAR 10.9K

$1,657 SAR 6,218

74.63%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Jeddah: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $439 in Dhahran versus $501 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 75% 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 $41.00 in Dhahran versus $41.00 in Jeddah. Groceries tell a different story – $200 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 11% 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 $1,998 per month in Dhahran and $1,803 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 $1,332 in Dhahran and $1,202 in Jeddah. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 3% 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 $1,202, than in Dhahran at $1,332. 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.