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: $1,213 in Hafar Al Batin versus $1,323 in Al Khobar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,780 in Hafar Al Batin versus $2,104 in Al Khobar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,348 in Hafar Al Batin versus $2,885 in Al Khobar.

Living in Hafar Al Batin costs roughly 8% less than in Al Khobar, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Hafar Al Batin 9% lower, Al Khobar 1% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.37 SAR 20.17

$6.47 SAR 24.31

-17.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.16 SAR 98.2

$53.2 SAR 200

-50.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.40 SAR 24.04

$7.78 SAR 29.20

-17.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.57 SAR 5.88

$2.02 SAR 7.60

-22.28%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.76 SAR 6.62

$2.64 SAR 9.92

-33.33%

Cappuccino

$3.54 SAR 13.28

$4.38 SAR 16.45

-19.18%

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

$0.64 SAR 2.40

$1.02 SAR 3.84

-37.25%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 SAR 0.91

$0.51 SAR 1.92

-52.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.96 SAR 7.34

$1.75 SAR 6.57

12.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.99 SAR 3.72

$1.39 SAR 5.22

-28.78%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.38 SAR 8.95

$2.40 SAR 9.01

-0.83%

Eggs

$2.46 SAR 9.23

$2.83 SAR 10.62

-13.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.04 SAR 26.42

$6.64 SAR 24.92

6.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.48 SAR 28.08

$8.95 SAR 33.59

-16.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.23 SAR 49.68

$12.73 SAR 47.81

3.93%

Apples (1kg)

$2.27 SAR 8.51

$2.54 SAR 9.52

-10.63%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 SAR 6.14

$1.74 SAR 6.51

-5.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 SAR 6.48

$2.15 SAR 8.09

-19.53%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.60 SAR 6.01

$1.57 SAR 5.90

1.91%

Potato (1kg)

$1.29 SAR 4.83

$1.42 SAR 5.33

-9.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.28 SAR 4.79

$1.66 SAR 6.24

-22.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.23 SAR 4.61

$1.71 SAR 6.43

-28.07%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 SAR 2.23

$0.58 SAR 2.19

1.72%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$2.89 SAR 10.84

$2.61 SAR 9.81

10.73%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 SAR 6.68

$1.42 SAR 5.33

25.35%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.01 SAR 7.54

$1.98 SAR 7.42

1.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.93 SAR 26.01

$6.62 SAR 24.85

4.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.04 SAR 3.91

$0.96 SAR 3.60

8.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.05 SAR 150

$61.6 SAR 231

-34.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 SAR 10.25

$2.23 SAR 8.38

22.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.93 SAR 7.23

$1.31 SAR 4.93

47.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.15 SAR 49.36

$6.79 SAR 25.48

93.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.67 SAR 2.51

$0.65 SAR 2.43

3.08%

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

$26.5K SAR 99.3K

$21.2K SAR 79.8K

24.56%

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

$22.0K SAR 82.6K

$23.0K SAR 86.2K

-4.21%

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

$105 SAR 394

$122 SAR 457

-13.89%

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

$33.09 SAR 124

$34.21 SAR 128

-3.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$72.5 SAR 272

$81.4 SAR 305

-10.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$88.2 SAR 331

$106 SAR 400

-17.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$35.45 SAR 133

$36.66 SAR 138

-3.30%

Cinema Ticket

$15.51 SAR 58.2

$17.12 SAR 64.3

-9.40%

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

$347 SAR 1,302

$301 SAR 1,128

15.35%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,004 SAR 26.3K

$7,632 SAR 28.7K

-8.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.3 SAR 223

$63.6 SAR 239

-6.73%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$60.1 SAR 225

$69.1 SAR 259

-13.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.6 SAR 295

$100.0 SAR 375

-21.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.8 SAR 307

$78.0 SAR 293

4.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$441 SAR 1,657

$430 SAR 1,615

2.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 SAR 1,411

$394 SAR 1,478

-4.56%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 SAR 3,188

$1,049 SAR 3,937

-19.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$617 SAR 2,315

$800 SAR 3,003

-22.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,667 SAR 10.0K

$2,385 SAR 8,953

11.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,386 SAR 5,203

$1,459 SAR 5,478

-5.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,422 SAR 5,340

$1,822 SAR 6,841

-21.95%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Al Khobar: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $441 in Hafar Al Batin and $430 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: $26.00 in Hafar Al Batin vs $53.0 in Al Khobar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 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, 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: $441 in Hafar Al Batin versus $430 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 54% less than in Al Khobar. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $347 in Hafar Al Batin versus $301 in Al Khobar. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $1,213 in Hafar Al Batin versus $1,323 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.