Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeddah and Ad Dammam Cost of Living Comparison Between Jeddah and Ad Dammam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,202 in Jeddah versus $1,210 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,858 in Jeddah versus $1,872 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,514 in Jeddah versus $2,533 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Jeddah costs roughly 1% less than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jeddah 10% lower, Ad Dammam 10% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.54 SAR 24.53

$7.31 SAR 27.42

-10.53%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.72 SAR 153

$53.6 SAR 201

-24.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.21 SAR 30.82

$7.98 SAR 29.94

2.88%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.19 SAR 8.23

$1.83 SAR 6.86

19.67%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 SAR 7.89

$1.82 SAR 6.82

15.38%

Cappuccino

$3.58 SAR 13.45

$3.70 SAR 13.89

-3.24%

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

$0.70 SAR 2.64

$0.92 SAR 3.43

-23.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 SAR 0.94

$0.35 SAR 1.30

-28.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 SAR 6.51

$1.71 SAR 6.43

1.75%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 SAR 3.58

$1.45 SAR 5.43

-33.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.30 SAR 8.61

$2.09 SAR 7.85

10.05%

Eggs

$2.75 SAR 10.34

$2.24 SAR 8.42

22.77%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.41 SAR 27.83

$6.06 SAR 22.73

22.28%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.64 SAR 28.69

$7.15 SAR 26.85

6.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.34 SAR 46.33

$9.62 SAR 36.12

28.27%

Apples (1kg)

$2.16 SAR 8.13

$2.11 SAR 7.93

2.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.90

$1.50 SAR 5.62

4.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 SAR 5.82

$1.38 SAR 5.20

12.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.54 SAR 5.78

$1.66 SAR 6.24

-7.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 SAR 4.94

$1.28 SAR 4.80

3.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 SAR 4.54

$1.33 SAR 4.99

-9.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 SAR 3.96

$1.35 SAR 5.06

-22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.60 SAR 2.23

$0.55 SAR 2.07

9.09%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.08 SAR 15.31

$4.19 SAR 15.73

-2.63%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.95 SAR 7.33

$1.60 SAR 6.01

21.87%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 SAR 9.32

$1.98 SAR 7.44

25.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.76 SAR 25.37

$7.92 SAR 29.73

-14.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.36 SAR 5.12

$0.89 SAR 3.36

52.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.64 SAR 149

$40.16 SAR 151

-1.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.23 SAR 12.13

$3.29 SAR 12.35

-1.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 SAR 7.07

$2.65 SAR 9.96

-29.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.36 SAR 57.7

$13.28 SAR 49.86

15.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.63 SAR 2.37

$0.64 SAR 2.42

-1.56%

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

$26.9K SAR 101.0K

$23.1K SAR 86.6K

16.70%

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

$21.4K SAR 80.4K

$21.3K SAR 79.8K

0.76%

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

$105 SAR 393

$117 SAR 438

-10.15%

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

$32.31 SAR 121

$38.34 SAR 144

-15.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$70.1 SAR 263

$63.5 SAR 238

10.35%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.9 SAR 341

$70.9 SAR 266

28.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.17 SAR 170

$30.51 SAR 115

48.05%

Cinema Ticket

$13.12 SAR 49.26

$15.54 SAR 58.3

-15.57%

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

$400 SAR 1,500

$415 SAR 1,559

-3.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,414 SAR 24.1K

$8,170 SAR 30.7K

-21.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.6 SAR 242

$66.9 SAR 251

-3.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$58.1 SAR 218

$68.2 SAR 256

-14.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$92.5 SAR 347

$90.8 SAR 341

1.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$84.4 SAR 317

$85.5 SAR 321

-1.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$501 SAR 1,881

$447 SAR 1,678

12.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$390 SAR 1,464

$375 SAR 1,408

4.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$899 SAR 3,375

$800 SAR 3,002

12.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$618 SAR 2,321

$641 SAR 2,407

-3.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,625 SAR 6,100

$1,309 SAR 4,915

24.13%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,014 SAR 3,805

$805 SAR 3,020

26.01%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,657 SAR 6,219

$1,895 SAR 7,111

-12.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

4.33

3.93%

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

Last update for Jeddah: May 30, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $501 in Jeddah and $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ad Dammam pays 14% 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: $41.00 in Jeddah vs $54.0 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $196 vs $184, with Ad Dammam cheaper for home cooking.

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 Ad Dammam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jeddah wins on cost – living expenses run 1% lower than in Ad Dammam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Jeddah the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Ad Dammam earns 14% less. 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: $501 in Jeddah versus $447 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,202 per month in Jeddah versus $1,210 in Ad Dammam – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Jeddah runs roughly 1% less than in Ad Dammam. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,202 in Jeddah versus $1,210 in Ad Dammam, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Jeddah but tight or insufficient in Ad Dammam. The gap between the two cities makes Jeddah 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, Jeddah and Ad Dammam 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 Jeddah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Ad Dammam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.