Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhahran and Riyadh Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhahran and Riyadh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,300 per month in Dhahran vs $1,736 in Riyadh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,659 per month in Dhahran vs $2,592 in Riyadh, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,017 per month in Dhahran vs $3,447 in Riyadh, rent included.

Dhahran is about 25% cheaper than Riyadh, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Dhahran sits 5% below the global median, while Riyadh is 26% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.42 SAR 20.34

$7.72 SAR 28.99

-29.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.08 SAR 151

$64.3 SAR 241

-37.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.04 SAR 22.70

$8.39 SAR 31.49

-28.01%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.90 SAR 7.12

$1.81 SAR 6.79

4.97%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.61 SAR 6.05

$2.84 SAR 10.67

-43.31%

Cappuccino

$3.99 SAR 14.97

$4.38 SAR 16.44

-8.90%

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

$0.70 SAR 2.62

$0.86 SAR 3.23

-18.60%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.20 SAR 0.75

$0.34 SAR 1.28

-41.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.58 SAR 5.93

$1.70 SAR 6.40

-7.06%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 SAR 3.54

$1.32 SAR 4.95

-28.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.00 SAR 7.50

$2.42 SAR 9.07

-17.36%

Eggs

$3.90 SAR 14.64

$3.27 SAR 12.29

19.27%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.80 SAR 33.05

$9.55 SAR 35.87

-7.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.16 SAR 41.92

$9.80 SAR 36.81

13.88%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.73 SAR 51.6

$15.00 SAR 56.3

-8.47%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 SAR 7.91

$2.70 SAR 10.13

-21.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 SAR 5.19

$1.90 SAR 7.14

-27.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 SAR 6.78

$2.32 SAR 8.72

-21.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.73 SAR 6.50

$1.72 SAR 6.44

0.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 SAR 5.71

$1.11 SAR 4.16

36.94%

Onion (1kg)

$0.94 SAR 3.54

$1.39 SAR 5.21

-32.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.97 SAR 7.38

$1.71 SAR 6.41

15.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 SAR 3.46

$0.59 SAR 2.22

55.93%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.81 SAR 18.05

$8.02 SAR 30.12

-40.02%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 SAR 6.14

$1.80 SAR 6.77

-8.89%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 SAR 8.97

$2.46 SAR 9.24

-2.85%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.64 SAR 21.17

$7.29 SAR 27.38

-22.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 SAR 2.89

$1.05 SAR 3.94

-26.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.11 SAR 139

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 SAR 4.91

$3.26 SAR 12.25

-59.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.35 SAR 12.57

$1.84 SAR 6.89

82.07%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.45 SAR 35.48

$13.30 SAR 49.94

-28.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.37

$0.59 SAR 2.20

6.78%

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

$53.4K SAR 200.5K

$35.4K SAR 133.0K

50.81%

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

$20.4K SAR 76.8K

$22.3K SAR 83.8K

-8.37%

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

$60.2 SAR 226

$95.6 SAR 359

-37.03%

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

$43.47 SAR 163

$31.83 SAR 120

36.57%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$64.8 SAR 243

$70.0 SAR 263

-7.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$195 SAR 731

$91.6 SAR 344

112.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$91.4 SAR 343

$54.8 SAR 206

66.68%

Cinema Ticket

$10.61 SAR 39.82

$13.76 SAR 51.7

-22.89%

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

$65.8 SAR 247

$539 SAR 2,023

-87.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K SAR 49.5K

$11.1K SAR 41.8K

18.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.3 SAR 189

$59.9 SAR 225

-15.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.32 SAR 159

$58.4 SAR 219

-27.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.0 SAR 285

$111 SAR 415

-31.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.7 SAR 333

$104 SAR 391

-14.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$354 SAR 1,330

$1,189 SAR 4,464

-70.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$447 SAR 1,678

$851 SAR 3,195

-47.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,177 SAR 8,174

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,274 SAR 4,782

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,947 SAR 11.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,891 SAR 7,100

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,854 SAR 10.7K

$2,104 SAR 7,902

35.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

5.54

-18.77%

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

Last update for Dhahran: September 1, 2026

Last update for Riyadh: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $354 in Dhahran versus $1,189 in Riyadh. 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 36% 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 $64.0 in Riyadh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $238 – 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 Riyadh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Riyadh costs about 34% 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 $1,950 per month in Dhahran and $2,604 in Riyadh. 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 $1,736 in Riyadh. 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 $539 in Riyadh. 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 Riyadh at $1,736. In Dhahran it covers expenses comfortably, while in Riyadh it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Dhahran costs $1,300 versus $1,736 in Riyadh. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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, Riyadh makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.