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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,202 per month in Jeddah vs $1,136 in Abha, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,858 per month in Jeddah vs $1,893 in Abha, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,514 per month in Jeddah vs $2,650 in Abha, rent included.

Jeddah costs about 6% more than Abha, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Jeddah and Abha are more affordable than the global median – Jeddah 10% lower, Abha 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.54 SAR 24.53

$5.27 SAR 19.80

24.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.72 SAR 153

$52.5 SAR 197

-22.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.21 SAR 30.82

$7.55 SAR 28.35

8.74%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 SAR 8.23

$1.74 SAR 6.53

25.86%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 SAR 7.89

$1.43 SAR 5.35

46.85%

Cappuccino

$3.58 SAR 13.44

$3.17 SAR 11.88

12.93%

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

$0.70 SAR 2.64

$0.63 SAR 2.38

11.11%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 SAR 0.94

$0.23 SAR 0.87

8.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 SAR 6.51

$1.89 SAR 7.08

-7.94%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 SAR 3.58

$0.48 SAR 1.79

100.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 SAR 8.61

$2.02 SAR 7.57

13.86%

Eggs

$2.75 SAR 10.34

$2.99 SAR 11.24

-8.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.41 SAR 27.82

$5.80 SAR 21.77

27.76%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.64 SAR 28.69

$8.91 SAR 33.43

-14.25%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.34 SAR 46.33

$16.68 SAR 62.6

-26.02%

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 SAR 8.12

$1.82 SAR 6.83

18.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.90

$1.67 SAR 6.26

-5.99%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 SAR 5.82

$1.47 SAR 5.50

5.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 SAR 5.78

$1.68 SAR 6.30

-8.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 SAR 4.94

$1.43 SAR 5.36

-7.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 SAR 4.54

$1.26 SAR 4.72

-3.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 SAR 3.96

$0.91 SAR 3.43

15.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 SAR 2.23

$0.59 SAR 2.23

1.69%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.08 SAR 15.31

$4.31 SAR 16.17

-5.34%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 SAR 7.33

$1.52 SAR 5.72

28.29%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 SAR 9.32

$1.48 SAR 5.57

67.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.76 SAR 25.36

$9.42 SAR 35.37

-28.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 SAR 5.12

$0.82 SAR 3.06

65.85%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.64 SAR 149

$39.87 SAR 150

-0.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 SAR 12.13

$2.63 SAR 9.86

22.81%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 SAR 7.06

$2.63 SAR 9.87

-28.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.36 SAR 57.7

$13.17 SAR 49.42

16.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.37

$0.61 SAR 2.28

3.28%

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

$26.9K SAR 101.0K

$24.2K SAR 90.9K

11.13%

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

$21.4K SAR 80.4K

$22.2K SAR 83.3K

-3.52%

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

$105 SAR 393

$81.1 SAR 304

29.25%

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

$32.31 SAR 121

$37.40 SAR 140

-13.61%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.1 SAR 263

$55.7 SAR 209

25.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.9 SAR 341

$122 SAR 460

-25.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.17 SAR 170

$27.36 SAR 103

65.10%

Cinema Ticket

$13.12 SAR 49.25

$18.08 SAR 67.9

-27.43%

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

$400 SAR 1,500

$235 SAR 882

70.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,414 SAR 24.1K

$5,411 SAR 20.3K

18.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 SAR 242

$37.52 SAR 141

72.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.1 SAR 218

$66.6 SAR 250

-12.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.5 SAR 347

$181 SAR 679

-48.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.4 SAR 317

$87.2 SAR 327

-3.23%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$501 SAR 1,881

$358 SAR 1,345

39.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 SAR 1,464

$264 SAR 991

47.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$899 SAR 3,374

$577 SAR 2,167

55.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$618 SAR 2,321

$640 SAR 2,402

-3.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 SAR 6,100

$1,072 SAR 4,025

51.55%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,014 SAR 3,805

$609 SAR 2,285

66.53%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,657 SAR 6,218

$2,221 SAR 8,334

-25.39%

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: May 30, 2026

Last update for Abha: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $501 in Jeddah versus $358 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 34% 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 $41.00 in Jeddah versus $53.0 in Abha. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $207 – 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 6% 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 $1,803 per month in Jeddah and $1,704 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 5% 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 $41.00 in Jeddah and $53.0 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 $1,136, than in Jeddah at $1,202. 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.