Cost of Living Comparison Between Ha'il and Ad Dammam Cost of Living Comparison Between Ha'il and Ad Dammam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,011 in Ha'il versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,581 in Ha'il versus $1,828 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,152 in Ha'il versus $2,450 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Ha'il costs roughly 16% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ha'il 26% lower, Ad Dammam 12% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.21 SAR 19.57

$7.90 SAR 29.66

-34.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.78 SAR 142

$35.27 SAR 132

7.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.12 SAR 22.98

$6.78 SAR 25.47

-9.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.18 SAR 4.44

$1.92 SAR 7.22

-38.54%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 SAR 7.52

$2.22 SAR 8.33

-9.91%

Cappuccino

$2.63 SAR 9.87

$2.98 SAR 11.18

-11.74%

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

$0.61 SAR 2.29

$0.77 SAR 2.89

-20.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 SAR 0.89

$0.20 SAR 0.77

20.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.72 SAR 6.45

$1.80 SAR 6.77

-4.44%

White Bread (500g)

$0.84 SAR 3.16

$1.27 SAR 4.78

-33.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.89 SAR 7.10

$1.87 SAR 7.02

1.07%

Eggs

$1.94 SAR 7.27

$2.18 SAR 8.19

-11.01%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.82 SAR 25.63

$7.26 SAR 27.26

-6.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.52 SAR 32.01

$7.74 SAR 29.06

10.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.27 SAR 31.06

$12.95 SAR 48.62

-36.14%

Apples (1kg)

$1.54 SAR 5.79

$2.19 SAR 8.22

-29.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.90

$1.66 SAR 6.24

-5.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.25 SAR 4.68

$1.58 SAR 5.92

-20.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.04 SAR 7.68

$1.56 SAR 5.84

30.77%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 SAR 4.94

$1.11 SAR 4.18

18.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.61 SAR 6.05

$1.16 SAR 4.37

38.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.14 SAR 4.29

$1.27 SAR 4.75

-10.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 SAR 1.82

$0.58 SAR 2.19

-17.24%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.74 SAR 10.29

$4.20 SAR 15.76

-34.76%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.69 SAR 6.34

$1.52 SAR 5.70

11.18%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 SAR 8.07

$2.21 SAR 8.31

-2.71%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.47 SAR 24.29

$7.58 SAR 28.45

-14.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.10 SAR 4.14

$0.98 SAR 3.69

12.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$36.42 SAR 137

$35.71 SAR 134

1.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.87 SAR 10.77

$2.74 SAR 10.28

4.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 SAR 6.82

$2.62 SAR 9.82

-30.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.42 SAR 50.4

$13.54 SAR 50.8

-0.89%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 SAR 2.27

$0.60 SAR 2.27

1.67%

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

$45.0K SAR 169.0K

$66.7K SAR 250.4K

-32.49%

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

$21.6K SAR 81.3K

$21.0K SAR 79.0K

2.87%

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

$54.2 SAR 204

$127 SAR 478

-57.36%

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

$21.14 SAR 79.4

$32.69 SAR 123

-35.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.43 SAR 174

$64.4 SAR 242

-27.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.4 SAR 249

$77.7 SAR 292

-14.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.77 SAR 138

$28.77 SAR 108

27.81%

Cinema Ticket

$14.92 SAR 56.0

$13.58 SAR 51.0

9.87%

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

$349 SAR 1,311

$419 SAR 1,574

-16.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,537 SAR 24.5K

$7,803 SAR 29.3K

-16.23%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.8 SAR 191

$42.01 SAR 158

20.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 SAR 221

$49.62 SAR 186

18.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$97.2 SAR 365

$97.9 SAR 368

-0.79%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$89.9 SAR 337

$91.6 SAR 344

-1.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$243 SAR 912

$584 SAR 2,193

-58.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 SAR 1,292

$369 SAR 1,385

-6.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$366 SAR 1,374

$985 SAR 3,700

-62.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$540 SAR 2,030

$673 SAR 2,529

-19.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,363 SAR 8,874

$1,416 SAR 5,318

66.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,352 SAR 5,076

$600 SAR 2,253

125.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,084 SAR 4,070

$1,520 SAR 5,707

-28.69%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.47

5.9

-7.29%

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

Last update for Ha'il: September 13, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $243 in Ha'il and $584 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ad Dammam pays 40% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $38.00 in Ha'il vs $35.00 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $179 vs $199, with Ha'il cheaper for home cooking.

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

Ha'il vs Ad Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ha'il wins on cost – living expenses run 19% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ha'il the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 40% lower in Ad Dammam. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $243 in Ha'il versus $584 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,011 per month in Ha'il versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam – a 19% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ha'il runs roughly 2% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,011 in Ha'il versus $1,205 in Ad Dammam, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ha'il but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Ha'il the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Ha'il and Ad Dammam are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ha'il gentler on the wallet – expenses run 19% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.