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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,362 per month in Jeddah vs $1,050 in Abha, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,108 per month in Jeddah vs $1,749 in Abha, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,855 per month in Jeddah vs $2,448 in Abha, rent included.

Jeddah costs about 30% more than Abha, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Jeddah and Abha are more affordable than the global median – Jeddah 1% lower, Abha 24% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.69 SAR 25.13

$5.23 SAR 19.65

27.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.1 SAR 199

$50.0 SAR 188

6.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.16 SAR 30.63

$7.26 SAR 27.25

12.40%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 SAR 9.42

$1.60 SAR 6.01

56.87%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 SAR 10.14

$1.29 SAR 4.85

109.30%

Cappuccino

$3.54 SAR 13.28

$3.11 SAR 11.67

13.83%

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

$1.00 SAR 3.77

$0.62 SAR 2.35

61.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 SAR 0.89

$0.24 SAR 0.90

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 SAR 6.42

$1.63 SAR 6.11

4.91%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 SAR 3.80

$0.60 SAR 2.25

68.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 SAR 8.27

$1.95 SAR 7.33

12.82%

Eggs

$2.37 SAR 8.91

$3.07 SAR 11.53

-22.80%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.36 SAR 23.86

$4.45 SAR 16.70

42.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.30 SAR 31.17

$7.49 SAR 28.12

10.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.08 SAR 49.12

$18.41 SAR 69.1

-28.95%

Apples (1kg)

$1.95 SAR 7.33

$1.99 SAR 7.49

-2.01%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 SAR 6.25

$1.99 SAR 7.46

-16.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 SAR 5.72

$1.61 SAR 6.05

-5.59%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 SAR 6.23

$1.63 SAR 6.13

1.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 SAR 4.37

$2.19 SAR 8.20

-47.03%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 SAR 4.83

$1.27 SAR 4.75

1.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 SAR 3.98

$0.36 SAR 1.37

194.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 SAR 2.02

$0.51 SAR 1.90

5.88%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.20 SAR 15.78

$4.48 SAR 16.80

-6.25%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 SAR 6.84

$1.16 SAR 4.36

56.90%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 SAR 9.31

$1.45 SAR 5.43

71.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.45 SAR 24.21

$9.47 SAR 35.56

-31.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.11

$0.79 SAR 2.98

37.97%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 SAR 206

$35.84 SAR 135

53.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 SAR 11.80

$2.83 SAR 10.62

10.95%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.75 SAR 6.58

$2.64 SAR 9.90

-33.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.91 SAR 52.2

$13.54 SAR 50.8

2.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.25

$0.60 SAR 2.24

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

$48.0K SAR 180.1K

$46.1K SAR 173.1K

4.04%

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

$21.3K SAR 80.0K

$19.6K SAR 73.5K

8.76%

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

$102 SAR 384

$86.7 SAR 326

17.97%

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

$38.54 SAR 145

$36.59 SAR 137

5.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.6 SAR 254

$76.9 SAR 289

-12.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.1 SAR 327

$89.5 SAR 336

-2.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.18 SAR 155

$44.06 SAR 165

-6.54%

Cinema Ticket

$11.87 SAR 44.56

$15.63 SAR 58.7

-24.06%

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

$728 SAR 2,733

$207 SAR 779

250.93%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K SAR 61.1K

$4,118 SAR 15.5K

295.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.9 SAR 259

$30.92 SAR 116

122.80%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.8 SAR 224

$72.0 SAR 270

-16.97%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.4 SAR 362

$95.1 SAR 357

1.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.4 SAR 366

$67.3 SAR 253

44.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$773 SAR 2,904

$307 SAR 1,153

151.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 SAR 1,994

$249 SAR 933

113.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,464 SAR 5,497

$538 SAR 2,021

171.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$831 SAR 3,121

$566 SAR 2,123

47.00%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,746 SAR 6,555

$913 SAR 3,427

91.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,145 SAR 4,301

$1,346 SAR 5,055

-14.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,664 SAR 6,249

$2,217 SAR 8,325

-24.94%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.39

-10.17%

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

Last update for Jeddah: August 31, 2026

Last update for Abha: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $773 in Jeddah versus $307 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 33% 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 $53.0 in Jeddah versus $50.0 in Abha. Groceries tell a different story – $196 in Jeddah vs $202 in Abha – so Jeddah wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 30% more than Abha, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,043 per month in Jeddah and $1,576 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 3% 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 $53.0 in Jeddah and $50.0 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 $1,050, than in Jeddah at $1,362. 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.