Cost of Living Comparison Between Hafar Al Batin and Al Khobar Cost of Living Comparison Between Hafar Al Batin and Al Khobar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,225 in Hafar Al Batin versus $1,341 in Al Khobar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,809 in Hafar Al Batin versus $2,136 in Al Khobar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,392 in Hafar Al Batin versus $2,931 in Al Khobar.

Living in Hafar Al Batin costs roughly 9% less than in Al Khobar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Hafar Al Batin is 9% below, Al Khobar is 0% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.42 SAR 20.33

$6.80 SAR 25.51

-20.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.40 SAR 99.0

$52.4 SAR 196

-49.61%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.38 SAR 23.91

$7.81 SAR 29.27

-18.31%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.58 SAR 5.92

$2.03 SAR 7.63

-22.17%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.75 SAR 6.57

$2.73 SAR 10.23

-35.90%

Cappuccino

$3.44 SAR 12.91

$4.23 SAR 15.84

-18.68%

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

$0.70 SAR 2.63

$1.02 SAR 3.84

-31.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 SAR 0.90

$0.49 SAR 1.83

-51.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.02 SAR 7.59

$1.77 SAR 6.63

14.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 SAR 3.75

$1.34 SAR 5.02

-25.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.34 SAR 8.79

$2.40 SAR 9.01

-2.50%

Eggs

$2.45 SAR 9.17

$2.82 SAR 10.57

-13.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.82 SAR 25.58

$6.88 SAR 25.80

-0.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.58 SAR 28.41

$9.05 SAR 33.93

-16.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.02 SAR 48.83

$12.37 SAR 46.39

5.25%

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 SAR 8.52

$2.43 SAR 9.11

-6.58%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.92

$1.73 SAR 6.47

-8.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.69 SAR 6.32

$2.21 SAR 8.29

-23.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 SAR 5.87

$1.62 SAR 6.08

-3.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 SAR 4.85

$1.43 SAR 5.36

-9.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 SAR 5.01

$1.72 SAR 6.46

-22.09%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 SAR 4.45

$1.71 SAR 6.40

-30.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.21

$0.59 SAR 2.23

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.77 SAR 10.40

$2.72 SAR 10.21

1.84%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 SAR 6.31

$1.47 SAR 5.50

14.29%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.08 SAR 7.81

$1.87 SAR 7.02

11.23%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$7.06 SAR 26.46

$6.59 SAR 24.71

7.13%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 SAR 3.90

$0.91 SAR 3.40

14.29%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.53 SAR 152

$59.5 SAR 223

-31.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 SAR 10.12

$2.21 SAR 8.29

22.17%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.86 SAR 6.97

$1.31 SAR 4.90

41.98%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.52 SAR 50.7

$6.69 SAR 25.08

102.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.66 SAR 2.47

$0.63 SAR 2.38

4.76%

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

$26.8K SAR 100.5K

$21.0K SAR 78.7K

27.70%

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

$22.7K SAR 85.0K

$23.1K SAR 86.5K

-1.72%

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

$106 SAR 396

$123 SAR 461

-14.00%

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

$33.36 SAR 125

$34.30 SAR 129

-2.74%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$71.8 SAR 269

$80.9 SAR 303

-11.26%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$88.4 SAR 331

$109 SAR 409

-19.00%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$36.16 SAR 136

$36.07 SAR 135

0.25%

Cinema Ticket

$15.46 SAR 58.0

$17.15 SAR 64.3

-9.85%

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

$346 SAR 1,298

$306 SAR 1,147

13.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,857 SAR 25.7K

$7,552 SAR 28.3K

-9.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 SAR 225

$62.9 SAR 236

-4.58%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.9 SAR 225

$68.8 SAR 258

-12.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.7 SAR 299

$99.1 SAR 372

-19.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.1 SAR 304

$79.1 SAR 297

2.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$432 SAR 1,620

$437 SAR 1,639

-1.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$385 SAR 1,445

$394 SAR 1,479

-2.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$835 SAR 3,132

$1,054 SAR 3,952

-20.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$616 SAR 2,308

$788 SAR 2,955

-21.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,329 SAR 8,734

$2,411 SAR 9,040

-3.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,345 SAR 5,043

$1,432 SAR 5,370

-6.09%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,425 SAR 5,342

$1,942 SAR 7,283

-26.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.42

3.84

15.10%

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

Last update for Hafar Al Batin: April 28, 2026

Last update for Al Khobar: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $432 in Hafar Al Batin and $437 in Al Khobar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Khobar pays 36% 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 Hafar Al Batin vs $52.0 in Al Khobar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $201 vs $216 per month, with Hafar Al Batin 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

Hafar Al Batin vs Al Khobar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Hafar Al Batin wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Al Khobar. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Hafar Al Batin the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Al Khobar earns 36% less. 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: $432 in Hafar Al Batin versus $437 in Al Khobar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Hafar Al Batin runs roughly 47% less than in Al Khobar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $346 in Hafar Al Batin versus $306 in Al Khobar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,225 in Hafar Al Batin versus $1,341 in Al Khobar, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Hafar Al Batin but tight or insufficient in Al Khobar. The gap between the two cities makes Hafar Al Batin 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, Hafar Al Batin and Al Khobar 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 Hafar Al Batin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.