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: $1,041 in Ha'il versus $1,196 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,491 in Ha'il versus $1,860 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,940 in Ha'il versus $2,524 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Ha'il costs roughly 13% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ha'il 22% lower, Ad Dammam 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.57 SAR 24.68

$7.29 SAR 27.37

-9.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.76 SAR 96.8

$53.7 SAR 202

-52.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.13 SAR 26.76

$8.03 SAR 30.16

-11.21%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.09 SAR 4.09

$1.82 SAR 6.83

-40.11%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 SAR 7.88

$1.90 SAR 7.14

10.53%

Cappuccino

$3.27 SAR 12.26

$3.73 SAR 14.00

-12.33%

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

$1.01 SAR 3.78

$0.92 SAR 3.44

9.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.32 SAR 1.20

$0.35 SAR 1.30

-8.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 SAR 6.56

$1.63 SAR 6.13

7.36%

White Bread (500g)

$0.81 SAR 3.03

$1.46 SAR 5.49

-44.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.91 SAR 7.18

$2.09 SAR 7.86

-8.61%

Eggs

$1.95 SAR 7.31

$2.27 SAR 8.53

-14.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.63 SAR 24.89

$6.12 SAR 22.97

8.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.92 SAR 33.48

$7.25 SAR 27.23

23.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.48 SAR 31.86

$9.70 SAR 36.42

-12.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.55 SAR 5.83

$2.12 SAR 7.95

-26.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 SAR 5.69

$1.49 SAR 5.61

2.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.26 SAR 4.72

$1.40 SAR 5.24

-10.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 SAR 7.60

$1.59 SAR 5.98

27.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 SAR 5.04

$1.28 SAR 4.82

4.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.56 SAR 5.85

$1.32 SAR 4.97

18.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 SAR 3.97

$1.36 SAR 5.12

-22.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 SAR 1.85

$0.59 SAR 2.21

-16.95%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.43 SAR 9.11

$4.13 SAR 15.50

-41.16%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 SAR 6.32

$1.56 SAR 5.85

7.69%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 SAR 7.82

$1.92 SAR 7.22

8.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.02 SAR 26.34

$7.76 SAR 29.13

-9.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.08 SAR 4.07

$0.95 SAR 3.57

13.68%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.94 SAR 150

$39.54 SAR 148

1.01%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 SAR 10.16

$3.38 SAR 12.70

-20.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.82 SAR 6.83

$2.62 SAR 9.86

-30.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.09 SAR 49.14

$13.54 SAR 50.8

-3.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 SAR 2.23

$0.60 SAR 2.25

-1.67%

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

$27.2K SAR 102.0K

$23.0K SAR 86.3K

18.18%

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

$22.7K SAR 85.3K

$21.1K SAR 79.1K

7.84%

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

$54.0 SAR 203

$115 SAR 432

-53.05%

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

$21.59 SAR 81.1

$38.60 SAR 145

-44.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$46.03 SAR 173

$63.5 SAR 239

-27.56%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$66.3 SAR 249

$70.5 SAR 265

-6.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.21 SAR 136

$31.26 SAR 117

15.83%

Cinema Ticket

$14.70 SAR 55.2

$15.06 SAR 56.6

-2.39%

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

$352 SAR 1,320

$415 SAR 1,558

-15.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,085 SAR 26.6K

$8,157 SAR 30.6K

-13.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 SAR 222

$68.6 SAR 258

-13.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.4 SAR 227

$66.7 SAR 250

-9.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 SAR 292

$92.6 SAR 348

-15.87%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.6 SAR 303

$85.7 SAR 322

-5.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$498 SAR 1,871

$447 SAR 1,677

11.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$330 SAR 1,241

$378 SAR 1,421

-12.69%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$440 SAR 1,651

$805 SAR 3,021

-45.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$361 SAR 1,355

$626 SAR 2,350

-42.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,366 SAR 8,885

$1,353 SAR 5,082

74.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,332 SAR 5,001

$816 SAR 3,063

63.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,064 SAR 3,994

$1,510 SAR 5,669

-29.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.42

4.33

2.08%

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

Last update for Ha'il: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $498 in Ha'il and $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ad Dammam pays 42% 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: $26.00 in Ha'il vs $54.0 in Ad Dammam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $180 vs $184 per month, with Ha'il cheaper across the board.

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 15% 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 42% 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: $498 in Ha'il versus $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,041 per month in Ha'il versus $1,196 in Ad Dammam – a 15% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ha'il runs roughly 1% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,041 in Ha'il versus $1,196 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 15% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.