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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,302 per month in Dhahran vs $1,482 in Kingston, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,999 per month in Dhahran vs $2,489 in Kingston, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,697 per month in Dhahran vs $3,496 in Kingston, rent included.

Dhahran is about 12% cheaper than Kingston, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Dhahran sits 3% below the global median, while Kingston is 11% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.30 SAR 19.91

$7.46 JMD 1,176

-28.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.06 SAR 150

$61.7 JMD 9,720

-35.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.35 SAR 27.59

$8.58 JMD 1,352

-14.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 SAR 7.57

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 SAR 5.96

Cappuccino

$3.67 SAR 13.79

$4.39 JMD 692

-16.40%

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

$0.70 SAR 2.62

$1.33 JMD 209

-47.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.73

$0.74 JMD 117

-72.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.43 JMD 383

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 JMD 489

Milk (1 liter)

$1.51 SAR 5.68

$4.33 JMD 682

-65.13%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 SAR 4.43

$3.49 JMD 551

-66.19%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.16 SAR 8.10

$1.64 JMD 258

31.71%

Eggs

$2.36 SAR 8.86

$3.61 JMD 568

-34.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.55 SAR 24.61

$11.20 JMD 1,765

-41.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.74 SAR 32.83

$6.45 JMD 1,016

35.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.55 SAR 50.9

$7.82 JMD 1,232

73.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.17 SAR 8.15

$5.99 JMD 945

-63.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.42 SAR 5.34

$2.98 JMD 470

-52.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.94

$4.21 JMD 663

-62.47%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.30 SAR 4.88

$2.90 JMD 457

-55.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.19 SAR 4.47

$2.02 JMD 319

-41.09%

Onion (1kg)

$0.98 SAR 3.66

$2.00 JMD 315

-51.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 SAR 4.01

$3.01 JMD 475

-64.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 SAR 2.15

$1.51 JMD 238

-62.25%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.76 SAR 17.88

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.00 SAR 7.53

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 SAR 5.83

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$9.21 SAR 34.59

$8.61 JMD 1,357

6.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.47 JMD 1,808

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 JMD 438

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 JMD 480

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 SAR 3.91

$0.81 JMD 128

28.40%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.24 SAR 151

$49.18 JMD 7,751

-18.18%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.37 SAR 5.13

$1.09 JMD 171

25.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.36 SAR 8.88

$3.22 JMD 507

-26.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.26 SAR 49.80

$6.34 JMD 999

109.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.39

$1.24 JMD 196

-48.39%

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

$31.8K SAR 119.4K

$43.4K JMD 6.8M

-26.80%

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

$24.4K SAR 91.7K

$34.1K JMD 5.4M

-28.35%

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

$106 SAR 397

$161 JMD 25.3K

-34.28%

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

$36.75 SAR 138

$22.24 JMD 3,504

65.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.3 SAR 271

$52.0 JMD 8,191

39.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$184 SAR 689

$68.9 JMD 10.9K

166.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.54 SAR 133

$15.91 JMD 2,508

123.38%

Cinema Ticket

$12.10 SAR 45.42

$13.38 JMD 2,109

-9.57%

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

$403 SAR 1,515

$222 JMD 35.0K

81.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,692 SAR 36.4K

$2,532 JMD 399.1K

282.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.7 SAR 224

$25.81 JMD 4,068

131.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$74.7 SAR 281

$25.49 JMD 4,017

193.06%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$85.8 SAR 322

$70.8 JMD 11.2K

21.12%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.9 SAR 360

$74.9 JMD 11.8K

27.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$439 SAR 1,650

$880 JMD 138.6K

-50.05%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$381 SAR 1,431

$451 JMD 71.2K

-15.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$840 SAR 3,153

$2,007 JMD 316.2K

-58.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$633 SAR 2,378

$1,188 JMD 187.2K

-46.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,109 SAR 4,165

$2,866 JMD 451.6K

-61.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,053 SAR 3,955

$2,153 JMD 339.4K

-51.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,884 SAR 10.8K

$732 JMD 115.4K

293.92%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Kingston: July 11, 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 294% 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 $62.0 in Kingston. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $351 – 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 14% 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 $1,953 per month in Dhahran and $2,223 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 $1,302 in Dhahran and $1,482 in Kingston. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 22% 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 $1,302, than in Kingston at $1,482. 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.