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: $1,172 in Hafar Al Batin versus $1,415 in Al Khobar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,793 in Hafar Al Batin versus $2,187 in Al Khobar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,414 in Hafar Al Batin versus $2,960 in Al Khobar.

Living in Hafar Al Batin costs roughly 17% less than in Al Khobar, driven mainly by Getting Around.

The two cities straddle the global median: Hafar Al Batin is 15% below, Al Khobar is 3% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.38 SAR 23.96

$6.69 SAR 25.13

-4.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$37.50 SAR 141

$59.3 SAR 223

-36.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.96 SAR 29.91

$7.92 SAR 29.73

0.51%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.59 SAR 5.96

$2.59 SAR 9.74

-38.61%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.00 SAR 7.50

$2.70 SAR 10.15

-25.93%

Cappuccino

$3.34 SAR 12.54

$4.32 SAR 16.21

-22.69%

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

$0.85 SAR 3.20

$1.00 SAR 3.74

-15.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 SAR 1.00

$0.38 SAR 1.42

-28.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.94 SAR 7.30

$1.62 SAR 6.08

19.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 SAR 4.54

$1.26 SAR 4.75

-3.97%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.15 SAR 8.06

$2.43 SAR 9.13

-11.52%

Eggs

$2.38 SAR 8.94

$2.40 SAR 9.02

-0.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.60 SAR 28.53

$7.11 SAR 26.72

6.89%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.92 SAR 29.73

$10.25 SAR 38.48

-22.73%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.73 SAR 47.80

$11.75 SAR 44.13

8.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.15 SAR 8.08

$2.78 SAR 10.44

-22.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.70 SAR 6.38

$1.72 SAR 6.45

-1.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.56 SAR 5.87

$1.97 SAR 7.42

-20.81%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 SAR 6.08

$1.83 SAR 6.87

-11.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 SAR 4.23

$1.35 SAR 5.05

-16.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.30 SAR 4.89

$1.63 SAR 6.13

-20.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 SAR 4.47

$1.68 SAR 6.30

-29.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 SAR 2.10

$0.55 SAR 2.05

1.82%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.82 SAR 10.58

$2.60 SAR 9.75

8.46%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.70 SAR 6.38

$1.59 SAR 5.96

6.92%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.07 SAR 7.78

$1.81 SAR 6.79

14.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.58 SAR 24.72

$6.54 SAR 24.56

0.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.99 SAR 3.71

$0.74 SAR 2.79

33.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$32.25 SAR 121

$66.6 SAR 250

-51.55%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.32 SAR 12.47

$3.40 SAR 12.78

-2.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.76 SAR 6.61

$2.62 SAR 9.83

-32.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$14.58 SAR 54.8

$6.75 SAR 25.36

116.00%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.62 SAR 2.33

$0.60 SAR 2.25

3.33%

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

$50.7K SAR 190.4K

$67.2K SAR 252.4K

-24.56%

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

$23.1K SAR 86.6K

$22.3K SAR 83.7K

3.48%

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

$108 SAR 406

$100 SAR 376

7.85%

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

$30.43 SAR 114

$32.10 SAR 121

-5.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$66.9 SAR 251

$68.3 SAR 256

-1.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$77.0 SAR 289

$81.6 SAR 306

-5.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$38.40 SAR 144

$36.00 SAR 135

6.67%

Cinema Ticket

$14.13 SAR 53.1

$15.59 SAR 58.6

-9.36%

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

$392 SAR 1,471

$590 SAR 2,216

-33.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,339 SAR 23.8K

$8,568 SAR 32.2K

-26.01%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.58 SAR 182

$62.4 SAR 234

-22.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$63.4 SAR 238

$83.5 SAR 313

-24.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$106 SAR 397

$95.7 SAR 359

10.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.9 SAR 323

$91.4 SAR 343

-6.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$538 SAR 2,020

$645 SAR 2,423

-16.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$351 SAR 1,318

$496 SAR 1,864

-29.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$891 SAR 3,345

$1,188 SAR 4,463

-25.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$632 SAR 2,372

$876 SAR 3,289

-27.87%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,623 SAR 9,852

$2,382 SAR 8,944

10.15%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,195 SAR 4,488

$1,464 SAR 5,498

-18.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,417 SAR 5,320

$1,812 SAR 6,806

-21.83%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.47

5.88

-6.97%

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

Last update for Hafar Al Batin: September 5, 2026

Last update for Al Khobar: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $538 in Hafar Al Batin and $645 in Al Khobar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Al Khobar pays 28% 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 Hafar Al Batin vs $59.0 in Al Khobar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $203 vs $218 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 21% 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, salaries run 28% lower in Al Khobar. 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: $538 in Hafar Al Batin versus $645 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 106% less than in Al Khobar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $392 in Hafar Al Batin versus $590 in Al Khobar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,172 in Hafar Al Batin versus $1,415 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 21% less than in Al Khobar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.