Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeddah and Abha Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeddah and Abha

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,218 per month in Jeddah vs $1,132 in Abha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,846 per month in Jeddah vs $1,887 in Abha, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,474 per month in Jeddah vs $2,643 in Abha, rent included.

Jeddah costs about 8% more than Abha, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Jeddah and Abha are more affordable than the global median – Jeddah 9% lower, Abha 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.51 SAR 24.46

$5.42 SAR 20.37

20.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.65 SAR 149

$53.8 SAR 202

-26.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.80 SAR 29.29

$7.56 SAR 28.39

3.17%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 SAR 8.10

$1.68 SAR 6.31

28.57%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 SAR 7.90

$1.44 SAR 5.39

45.83%

Cappuccino

$3.78 SAR 14.20

$3.16 SAR 11.88

19.62%

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

$0.70 SAR 2.64

$0.58 SAR 2.19

20.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 SAR 0.94

$0.23 SAR 0.86

8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 SAR 6.32

$1.88 SAR 7.07

-10.64%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 SAR 3.53

$0.51 SAR 1.93

84.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 SAR 8.38

$1.97 SAR 7.38

13.20%

Eggs

$2.63 SAR 9.88

$2.85 SAR 10.69

-7.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 SAR 27.86

$5.84 SAR 21.95

27.05%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.77 SAR 29.19

$8.57 SAR 32.19

-9.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.38 SAR 46.50

$16.77 SAR 63.0

-26.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 SAR 8.19

$1.89 SAR 7.10

15.34%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.89

$1.60 SAR 6.02

-1.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 SAR 5.80

$1.46 SAR 5.49

5.48%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.94

$1.72 SAR 6.47

-8.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 SAR 4.98

$1.37 SAR 5.14

-2.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 SAR 4.68

$1.22 SAR 4.57

2.46%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 SAR 4.15

$0.90 SAR 3.36

22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 SAR 2.07

$0.58 SAR 2.19

-5.17%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.21 SAR 15.79

$4.27 SAR 16.02

-1.41%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 SAR 7.11

$1.59 SAR 5.97

18.87%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 SAR 9.36

$1.49 SAR 5.59

67.11%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.79 SAR 25.51

$9.61 SAR 36.07

-29.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.30 SAR 4.87

$0.84 SAR 3.17

54.76%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.89 SAR 150

$39.42 SAR 148

1.19%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 SAR 11.89

$2.60 SAR 9.76

21.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 SAR 6.94

$2.73 SAR 10.27

-32.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.04 SAR 56.5

$13.10 SAR 49.18

14.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.24

$0.59 SAR 2.22

1.69%

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

$26.4K SAR 99.2K

$24.7K SAR 92.8K

6.97%

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

$21.3K SAR 80.0K

$22.6K SAR 85.0K

-5.90%

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

$108 SAR 406

$81.3 SAR 305

32.94%

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

$32.30 SAR 121

$36.96 SAR 139

-12.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.6 SAR 261

$54.7 SAR 205

27.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$91.1 SAR 342

$122 SAR 456

-25.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.14 SAR 170

$27.45 SAR 103

64.44%

Cinema Ticket

$13.21 SAR 49.62

$17.86 SAR 67.0

-26.04%

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

$407 SAR 1,527

$241 SAR 906

68.43%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,378 SAR 24.0K

$5,294 SAR 19.9K

20.49%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 SAR 235

$38.27 SAR 144

63.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.9 SAR 217

$65.9 SAR 247

-12.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.9 SAR 356

$178 SAR 667

-46.61%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 SAR 315

$88.1 SAR 331

-4.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$507 SAR 1,903

$361 SAR 1,355

40.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 SAR 1,442

$264 SAR 990

45.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$904 SAR 3,395

$557 SAR 2,091

62.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$601 SAR 2,256

$622 SAR 2,334

-3.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,646 SAR 6,179

$2,364 SAR 8,876

-30.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,015 SAR 3,812

$1,328 SAR 4,986

-23.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,660 SAR 6,233

$2,190 SAR 8,222

-24.19%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

5.67

-20.63%

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

Last update for Jeddah: July 13, 2026

Last update for Abha: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $507 in Jeddah versus $361 in Abha. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 32% higher in Abha, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Jeddah versus $54.0 in Abha. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $205 – making Jeddah the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Jeddah vs Abha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jeddah costs about 8% more than Abha, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,827 per month in Jeddah and $1,698 in Abha. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Abha, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 4% cheaper in Jeddah – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Jeddah and $54.0 in Abha. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Abha, where all-in costs run around $1,132, than in Jeddah at $1,218. In Abha it covers expenses comfortably, while in Jeddah it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Abha – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Abha. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jeddah makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.