Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhahran and Jonesboro, AR Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhahran and Jonesboro, AR

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,332 per month in Dhahran vs $1,895 in Jonesboro, AR, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,029 per month in Dhahran vs $3,182 in Jonesboro, AR, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,725 per month in Dhahran vs $4,469 in Jonesboro, AR, rent included.

Dhahran is about 30% cheaper than Jonesboro, AR, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Dhahran sits 1% below the global median, while Jonesboro, AR is 41% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.23 SAR 19.64

$15.02 $15.02

-65.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.50 SAR 152

$49.23 $49.23

-17.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.14 SAR 26.79

$8.31 $8.31

-14.08%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.05 SAR 7.68

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 SAR 6.06

Cappuccino

$3.77 SAR 14.14

$4.28 $4.28

-11.92%

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

$0.74 SAR 2.78

$2.29 $2.29

-67.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 SAR 0.63

$1.80 $1.80

-90.56%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.90 $3.90

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.02 $6.02

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 SAR 5.60

$0.98 $0.98

52.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.17 SAR 4.39

$2.86 $2.86

-59.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 SAR 8.18

$2.11 $2.11

3.32%

Eggs

$2.39 SAR 8.98

$3.30 $3.30

-27.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.83 SAR 25.63

$4.37 $4.37

56.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.84 SAR 33.18

$5.42 $5.42

63.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.50 SAR 50.7

$7.88 $7.88

71.32%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 SAR 8.41

$4.46 $4.46

-49.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 SAR 5.20

$1.22 $1.22

13.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 SAR 6.11

$2.16 $2.16

-24.54%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 SAR 5.13

$3.58 $3.58

-61.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 SAR 4.63

$1.66 $1.66

-25.90%

Onion (1kg)

$0.89 SAR 3.34

$2.14 $2.14

-58.41%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 SAR 4.14

$1.96 $1.96

-43.88%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 SAR 2.15

$1.94 $1.94

-70.62%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.84 SAR 18.16

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.98 SAR 7.43

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.56 SAR 5.86

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.52 SAR 35.72

$6.89 $6.89

38.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.77 $11.77

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 $1.68

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 $3.56

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 SAR 3.93

$1.02 $1.02

2.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.72 SAR 153

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 SAR 5.08

$3.07 $3.07

-56.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.45 SAR 9.18

$1.49 $1.49

64.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.53 SAR 50.8

$35.55 $35.55

-61.94%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 SAR 2.43

$0.72 $0.72

-9.72%

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

$32.4K SAR 121.8K

$29.7K $29.7K

9.18%

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

$24.3K SAR 91.1K

$26.7K $26.7K

-9.01%

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

$104 SAR 391

$219 $219

-52.50%

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

$36.18 SAR 136

$66.8 $66.8

-45.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.6 SAR 276

$73.6 $73.6

0.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$183 SAR 688

$36.70 $36.70

399.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.00 SAR 135

Cinema Ticket

$11.90 SAR 44.66

$12.01 $12.01

-0.92%

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

$414 SAR 1,553

$779 $779

-46.88%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,909 SAR 37.2K

$23.6K $23.6K

-58.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.4 SAR 223

$52.7 $52.7

12.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.7 SAR 288

$33.48 $33.48

129.21%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.4 SAR 317

$69.9 $69.9

20.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.8 SAR 367

$98.1 $98.1

-0.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 SAR 1,648

$1,212 $1,212

-63.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 SAR 1,436

$891 $891

-57.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$836 SAR 3,138

$1,312 $1,312

-36.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$615 SAR 2,308

$2,196 $2,196

-71.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,110 SAR 4,166

$1,557 $1,557

-28.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,066 SAR 4,000

$1,540 $1,540

-30.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,893 SAR 10.9K

$3,402 $3,402

-14.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.42

6.45

-31.47%

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

Last update for Dhahran: May 31, 2026

Last update for Jonesboro, AR: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $439 in Dhahran versus $1,212 in Jonesboro, AR. 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 18% higher in Jonesboro, AR, 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 $49.00 in Jonesboro, AR. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $200 vs $260 – making Dhahran the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Jonesboro, AR: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jonesboro, AR costs about 42% 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 $1,998 per month in Dhahran and $2,843 in Jonesboro, AR. 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 $1,332 in Dhahran and $1,895 in Jonesboro, AR. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $414 per month in Dhahran and $779 in Jonesboro, AR. 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 $1,332, than in Jonesboro, AR at $1,895. In Dhahran it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jonesboro, AR 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, Jonesboro, AR makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.