Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhahran and Kingston Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhahran and Kingston

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,332 per month in Dhahran vs $1,451 in Kingston, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,029 per month in Dhahran vs $2,475 in Kingston, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,725 per month in Dhahran vs $3,498 in Kingston, rent included.

Dhahran is about 8% cheaper than Kingston, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Dhahran sits 1% below the global median, while Kingston is 8% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.23 SAR 19.64

$7.61 JMD 1,192

-31.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.50 SAR 152

$62.0 JMD 9,707

-34.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.14 SAR 26.78

$8.80 JMD 1,379

-18.86%

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

$4.36 JMD 682

-13.53%

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

$0.74 SAR 2.78

$1.32 JMD 207

-43.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.17 SAR 0.63

$0.74 JMD 117

-77.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.57 JMD 403

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 501

Milk (1 liter)

$1.49 SAR 5.60

$4.36 JMD 684

-65.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.17 SAR 4.39

$3.66 JMD 573

-68.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.18 SAR 8.18

$1.57 JMD 246

38.85%

Eggs

$2.39 SAR 8.98

$3.47 JMD 543

-31.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.83 SAR 25.62

$11.19 JMD 1,754

-38.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.84 SAR 33.18

$6.42 JMD 1,007

37.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.50 SAR 50.7

$7.82 JMD 1,225

72.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 SAR 8.41

$5.96 JMD 933

-62.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 SAR 5.20

$3.13 JMD 491

-55.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 SAR 6.11

$4.30 JMD 673

-62.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 SAR 5.13

$2.96 JMD 464

-53.72%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 SAR 4.63

$2.03 JMD 317

-39.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.89 SAR 3.34

$2.01 JMD 315

-55.72%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 SAR 4.14

$3.12 JMD 489

-64.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 SAR 2.15

$1.45 JMD 227

-60.69%

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

$8.89 JMD 1,393

7.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.29 JMD 1,769

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.90 JMD 454

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 JMD 502

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 SAR 3.93

$0.89 JMD 140

17.98%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.72 SAR 153

$48.53 JMD 7,604

-16.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 SAR 5.08

$1.12 JMD 176

20.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.45 SAR 9.18

$3.15 JMD 494

-22.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.53 SAR 50.8

$6.19 JMD 971

118.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.65 SAR 2.43

$1.28 JMD 201

-49.22%

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

$32.4K SAR 121.8K

$43.2K JMD 6.8M

-24.87%

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

$24.3K SAR 91.1K

$33.8K JMD 5.3M

-28.14%

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

$104 SAR 391

$163 JMD 25.5K

-36.05%

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

$36.18 SAR 136

$22.49 JMD 3,523

60.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$73.6 SAR 276

$50.7 JMD 7,942

45.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$183 SAR 688

$69.4 JMD 10.9K

163.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.00 SAR 135

$15.50 JMD 2,428

132.26%

Cinema Ticket

$11.90 SAR 44.66

$12.92 JMD 2,024

-7.89%

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

$414 SAR 1,553

$222 JMD 34.8K

86.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,909 SAR 37.2K

$2,451 JMD 384.0K

304.32%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.4 SAR 223

$25.73 JMD 4,032

130.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$76.7 SAR 288

$25.24 JMD 3,955

204.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.4 SAR 317

$72.4 JMD 11.3K

16.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.8 SAR 367

$75.6 JMD 11.8K

29.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 SAR 1,648

$880 JMD 137.9K

-50.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$383 SAR 1,436

$451 JMD 70.7K

-15.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$836 SAR 3,138

$2,021 JMD 316.7K

-58.64%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$615 SAR 2,308

$1,204 JMD 188.7K

-48.93%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,110 SAR 4,166

$2,863 JMD 448.5K

-61.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,066 SAR 3,999

$2,192 JMD 343.5K

-51.40%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,893 SAR 10.9K

$732 JMD 114.7K

295.18%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.42

9.15

-51.69%

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

Last update for Dhahran: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kingston: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $439 in Dhahran versus $880 in Kingston. 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 295% 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 $41.00 in Dhahran versus $62.0 in Kingston. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $200 vs $353 – 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 Kingston: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Kingston costs about 9% more than Dhahran, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,177 in Kingston. 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 $1,451 in Kingston. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 19% less in Dhahran. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Dhahran, where all-in costs run around $1,332, than in Kingston at $1,451. In Dhahran it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kingston 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, Kingston makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.