😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,015 in Germany versus $1,172 in Saudi Arabia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,051 in Germany versus $1,801 in Saudi Arabia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,087 in Germany versus $2,430 in Saudi Arabia.
🌍Living in Germany is roughly 72% more expensive than in Saudi Arabia on average.
📊Germany (51% above) and Saudi Arabia (12% below) straddle the global median.
📏Internal cost variation is higher in Germany: monthly costs span $1,339 to $2,885, compared to $923–$1,753 in Saudi Arabia. City choice carries more weight in Germany.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Germany
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.44€15.21
$6.86SAR 25.75
154.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$75.5€65.8
$39.62SAR 149
90.43%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.75€10.24
$8.11SAR 30.44
44.88%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
-
$1.85SAR 6.94
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$1.84SAR 6.90
-
Cappuccino
$4.04€3.53
$3.58SAR 13.45
12.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.38€2.95
$0.72SAR 2.71
369.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06€2.67
$0.27SAR 1.02
1033.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.11€4.46
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.54€3.95
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Germany
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.24€1.08
$1.68SAR 6.30
-26.19%
White Bread(500g)
$2.19€1.90
$1.01SAR 3.80
116.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.37€2.94
$2.24SAR 8.40
50.45%
Eggs
$3.80€3.32
$2.49SAR 9.35
52.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.75€12.86
$7.25SAR 27.24
103.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$14.17€12.35
$8.21SAR 30.83
72.59%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$19.58€17.07
$13.03SAR 48.91
50.27%
Apples(1kg)
$3.24€2.82
$2.18SAR 8.20
48.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.85€1.62
$1.65SAR 6.21
12.12%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.30€2.01
$1.70SAR 6.40
35.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$4.79€4.17
$1.57SAR 5.88
205.10%
Potato(1kg)
$1.59€1.38
$1.29SAR 4.85
23.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.57€1.37
$1.36SAR 5.12
15.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.93€1.68
$1.25SAR 4.70
54.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.07€0.94
$0.58SAR 2.17
84.48%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
-
$4.28SAR 16.06
-
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
-
$1.75SAR 6.59
-
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
-
$2.12SAR 7.96
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.53€8.31
$7.44SAR 27.95
28.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$5.60€4.89
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11€0.96
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.69€1.47
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Germany
Saudi Arabia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$3.65€3.18
$1.05SAR 3.93
247.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$66.3€57.8
$36.57SAR 137
81.41%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$5.70€4.97
$2.59SAR 9.74
120.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.32€2.02
$2.68SAR 10.07
-13.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$38.40€33.48
$13.06SAR 49.02
194.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.97€1.72
$0.63SAR 2.38
212.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K€26.9K
$25.0KSAR 94.0K
23.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$37.8K€33.0K
$22.3KSAR 83.8K
69.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Germany
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$348€304
$106SAR 397
229.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$27.70€24.15
$33.16SAR 125
-16.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$52.2€45.52
$70.4SAR 264
-25.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Germany
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.90€34.79
$92.2SAR 346
-56.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.62€21.46
$41.69SAR 157
-40.95%
Cinema Ticket
$14.02€12.22
$15.82SAR 59.4
-11.38%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Germany
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$459€400
$351SAR 1,316
31.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$15.2K€13.2K
$7,210SAR 27.1K
110.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Germany
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$92.1€80.3
$51.5SAR 194
78.66%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.40€38.71
$58.7SAR 220
-24.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101€87.8
$93.9SAR 353
7.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$133€116
$84.8SAR 318
57.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Germany
Saudi Arabia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,007€878
$489SAR 1,837
105.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$768€670
$407SAR 1,528
88.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,932€1,684
$891SAR 3,344
116.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,427€1,244
$635SAR 2,384
124.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$6,101€5,318
$2,304SAR 8,650
164.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$4,028€3,512
$1,339SAR 5,028
200.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Germany
Saudi Arabia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,305€2,881
$1,882SAR 7,065
75.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.98
4.65
-14.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Germany: July 26, 2026
Last update for Saudi Arabia: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $846 in Germany, $420 in Saudi Arabia. Capital cities: $1,424 in Berlin vs $1,092 in Riyadh.
💰National salary averages: $3,136 in Germany, $1,952 in Saudi Arabia. Higher pay doesn't always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 101% higher in Germany.
⭐Dining out costs 80% more in Germany.
⭐Public transport is 55% more expensive in Germany.
⭐Salaries are 61% higher in Germany, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Saudi Arabia.
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
Germany vs Saudi Arabia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which country is more expensive to live in: Germany or Saudi Arabia?
At $2,112 per month in Germany and $1,338 in Saudi Arabia, there's a 58% gap. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Germany or Saudi Arabia?
Day-to-day life is simply cheaper in Saudi Arabia: lower food prices, cheaper commutes, smaller household bills. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
How do rents compare between Germany and Saudi Arabia?
Rent in Germany is consistently higher than in Saudi Arabia across the board, especially in major cities. Housing is usually the single biggest driver of the overall cost difference between the two countries.
How far does $2,000 go in Germany compared to Saudi Arabia?
In Saudi Arabia, $2,000 covers most cities easily; in Germany it stretches only to regional areas and falls short in the capital – you'll need to make trade-offs on housing or lifestyle.
How do I choose between living in Germany and in Saudi Arabia?
It depends on what you're after: Saudi Arabia wins on affordability; Germany may offer higher salaries, better infrastructure, and different cultural perks. Both attract large expat communities for different reasons.