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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,300 per month in Dhahran vs $1,684 in Kingston, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,659 per month in Dhahran vs $2,889 in Kingston, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,017 per month in Dhahran vs $4,093 in Kingston, rent included.

Dhahran is about 23% cheaper than Kingston, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Dhahran sits 5% below the global median, while Kingston is 23% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.42 SAR 20.34

$15.95 JMD 2,513

-66.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.08 SAR 151

$74.4 JMD 11.7K

-46.11%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.04 SAR 22.70

$8.81 JMD 1,388

-31.44%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 SAR 7.12

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 SAR 6.05

Cappuccino

$3.99 SAR 14.97

$5.22 JMD 823

-23.56%

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

$0.70 SAR 2.62

$1.19 JMD 188

-41.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.75

$0.69 JMD 109

-71.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 JMD 345

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 JMD 486

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 SAR 5.93

$4.06 JMD 639

-61.08%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 SAR 3.54

$3.74 JMD 589

-74.87%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.00 SAR 7.50

$1.66 JMD 261

20.48%

Eggs

$3.90 SAR 14.64

$3.61 JMD 570

8.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.80 SAR 33.05

$11.58 JMD 1,826

-24.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.16 SAR 41.92

$6.19 JMD 975

80.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.73 SAR 51.6

$10.12 JMD 1,595

35.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 SAR 7.91

$6.12 JMD 964

-65.52%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 SAR 5.19

$3.99 JMD 629

-65.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 SAR 6.78

$7.48 JMD 1,179

-75.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.73 SAR 6.50

$3.11 JMD 491

-44.37%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 SAR 5.71

$3.23 JMD 510

-52.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 SAR 3.54

$2.64 JMD 416

-64.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 SAR 7.38

$3.01 JMD 474

-34.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 SAR 3.46

$1.46 JMD 231

-36.99%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.81 SAR 18.05

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 SAR 6.14

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 SAR 8.97

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.64 SAR 21.17

$9.74 JMD 1,534

-42.09%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.32 JMD 1,785

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 JMD 439

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 JMD 625

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 SAR 2.89

$0.81 JMD 128

-4.94%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.60 JMD 6,082

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 SAR 4.91

$1.23 JMD 193

6.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.35 SAR 12.57

$3.14 JMD 496

6.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.45 SAR 35.48

$6.15 JMD 970

53.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.37

$1.36 JMD 215

-53.68%

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

$53.4K SAR 200.5K

$43.7K JMD 6.9M

22.24%

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

$20.4K SAR 76.8K

$32.4K JMD 5.1M

-36.89%

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

$60.2 SAR 226

$172 JMD 27.1K

-64.97%

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

$43.47 SAR 163

$29.66 JMD 4,675

46.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.8 SAR 243

$52.5 JMD 8,278

23.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$195 SAR 731

$62.6 JMD 9,862

210.93%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$91.4 SAR 343

$17.94 JMD 2,827

409.25%

Cinema Ticket

$10.61 SAR 39.82

$13.35 JMD 2,103

-20.52%

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

$65.8 SAR 247

$367 JMD 57.8K

-82.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K SAR 49.5K

$8,302 JMD 1.3M

58.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 SAR 189

$23.88 JMD 3,764

110.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.32 SAR 159

$31.86 JMD 5,020

32.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.0 SAR 285

$79.2 JMD 12.5K

-4.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.7 SAR 333

$102 JMD 16.1K

-13.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 SAR 1,330

$972 JMD 153.2K

-63.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 SAR 1,678

$563 JMD 88.7K

-20.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,117 JMD 333.5K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,434 JMD 226.0K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,902 JMD 457.4K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,054 JMD 323.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,854 SAR 10.7K

$757 JMD 119.3K

276.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

9.45

-52.38%

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

Last update for Dhahran: September 1, 2026

Last update for Kingston: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $354 in Dhahran versus $972 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 277% 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 $74.0 in Kingston. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $384 – 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 30% 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 $1,950 per month in Dhahran and $2,526 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 $1,300 in Dhahran and $1,684 in Kingston. 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 $367 in Kingston. 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 Kingston at $1,684. 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.