Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhahran and Taipei Cost of Living Comparison Between Dhahran and Taipei

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,303 per month in Dhahran vs $1,376 in Taipei, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,663 per month in Dhahran vs $2,242 in Taipei, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,024 per month in Dhahran vs $3,109 in Taipei, rent included.

Dhahran is about 5% cheaper than Taipei, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Dhahran sits 6% below the global median, while Taipei is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.39 SAR 20.22

$4.70 NT$149

14.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.25 SAR 147

$47.97 NT$1,517

-18.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.37 SAR 23.92

$6.11 NT$193

4.26%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.83 SAR 6.88

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.57 SAR 5.89

Cappuccino

$3.95 SAR 14.84

$3.57 NT$113

10.64%

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

$0.73 SAR 2.75

$0.98 NT$30.94

-25.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.15 SAR 0.58

$0.66 NT$21.02

-77.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.94 NT$92.9

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.84 NT$121

Milk (1 liter)

$1.64 SAR 6.17

$3.07 NT$97.0

-46.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.02 SAR 3.82

$1.98 NT$62.5

-48.48%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.93 SAR 7.26

$3.09 NT$97.9

-37.54%

Eggs

$3.81 SAR 14.30

$2.68 NT$84.8

42.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.58 SAR 32.21

$19.85 NT$628

-56.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$11.12 SAR 41.77

$9.74 NT$308

14.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.59 SAR 51.1

$21.62 NT$684

-37.14%

Apples (1kg)

$2.09 SAR 7.86

$4.96 NT$157

-57.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.41 SAR 5.28

$3.39 NT$107

-58.41%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 SAR 6.85

$3.02 NT$95.6

-39.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.75 SAR 6.58

$4.44 NT$140

-60.59%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 SAR 5.84

$2.72 NT$85.9

-43.01%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 SAR 3.56

$2.36 NT$74.8

-59.75%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.94 SAR 7.27

$1.71 NT$54.2

13.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.92 SAR 3.47

$1.19 NT$37.64

-22.69%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.67 SAR 17.55

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.63 SAR 6.14

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.43 SAR 9.12

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.71 SAR 21.43

$3.86 NT$122

47.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.31 NT$453

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 NT$54.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 NT$70.5

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.83 SAR 3.13

$0.69 NT$21.97

20.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$37.58 NT$1,189

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.35 SAR 5.07

$2.64 NT$83.4

-48.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.41 SAR 12.80

$0.78 NT$24.51

337.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.35 SAR 35.12

$9.49 NT$300

-1.48%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.64 SAR 2.41

$1.07 NT$33.82

-40.19%

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

$51.9K SAR 194.9K

$34.1K NT$1.1M

52.08%

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

$20.8K SAR 78.0K

$24.9K NT$787.2K

-16.60%

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

$59.7 SAR 224

$85.4 NT$2,700

-30.05%

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

$42.29 SAR 159

$18.13 NT$573

133.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.7 SAR 251

$28.34 NT$896

135.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$197 SAR 741

$42.47 NT$1,343

364.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$91.5 SAR 344

$15.90 NT$503

475.66%

Cinema Ticket

$10.51 SAR 39.48

$9.35 NT$296

12.41%

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

$67.6 SAR 254

$623 NT$19.7K

-89.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.5K SAR 50.9K

$16.6K NT$525.5K

-18.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.5 SAR 190

$63.6 NT$2,010

-20.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$43.25 SAR 162

$40.26 NT$1,273

7.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.1 SAR 282

$85.1 NT$2,692

-11.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.0 SAR 338

$107 NT$3,374

-15.64%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$361 SAR 1,357

$907 NT$28.7K

-60.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$460 SAR 1,728

$492 NT$15.6K

-6.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,568 NT$49.6K

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$970 NT$30.7K

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$12.5K NT$394.6K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$7,787 NT$246.3K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$2,813 SAR 10.6K

$1,786 NT$56.5K

57.46%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

2.4

87.50%

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

Last update for Dhahran: September 5, 2026

Last update for Taipei: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $361 in Dhahran versus $907 in Taipei. 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 57% 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 $39.00 in Dhahran versus $48.00 in Taipei. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $232 vs $402 – 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 Taipei: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Taipei costs about 6% 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 $1,954 per month in Dhahran and $2,065 in Taipei. 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 $1,303 in Dhahran and $1,376 in Taipei. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $67.6 per month in Dhahran and $623 in Taipei. 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 $1,303, than in Taipei at $1,376. In Dhahran it covers expenses comfortably, while in Taipei 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, Taipei makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.