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: $1,362 in Jeddah versus $1,198 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,108 in Jeddah versus $1,825 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,855 in Jeddah versus $2,452 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Jeddah is roughly 14% more expensive than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jeddah 1% lower, Ad Dammam 13% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.69 SAR 25.13

$8.09 SAR 30.38

-17.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$53.1 SAR 199

$37.23 SAR 140

42.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.16 SAR 30.63

$6.79 SAR 25.50

20.18%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 SAR 9.42

$1.80 SAR 6.76

39.44%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 SAR 10.14

$2.06 SAR 7.73

31.07%

Cappuccino

$3.54 SAR 13.28

$3.04 SAR 11.42

16.45%

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

$1.00 SAR 3.77

$0.77 SAR 2.88

29.87%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 SAR 0.89

$0.17 SAR 0.62

41.18%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.71 SAR 6.42

$1.77 SAR 6.66

-3.39%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 SAR 3.80

$1.33 SAR 5.00

-24.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.20 SAR 8.27

$1.93 SAR 7.25

13.99%

Eggs

$2.37 SAR 8.91

$2.10 SAR 7.89

12.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.36 SAR 23.86

$7.34 SAR 27.57

-13.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$8.30 SAR 31.17

$7.76 SAR 29.13

6.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.08 SAR 49.12

$12.48 SAR 46.85

4.81%

Apples (1kg)

$1.95 SAR 7.33

$2.18 SAR 8.20

-10.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 SAR 6.25

$1.71 SAR 6.44

-2.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 SAR 5.71

$1.64 SAR 6.15

-7.32%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 SAR 6.23

$1.63 SAR 6.13

1.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.16 SAR 4.37

$1.08 SAR 4.04

7.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 SAR 4.83

$1.19 SAR 4.46

8.40%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 SAR 3.98

$1.32 SAR 4.96

-19.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 SAR 2.02

$0.56 SAR 2.12

-3.57%

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.20 SAR 15.78

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.82 SAR 6.84

$1.49 SAR 5.59

22.15%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 SAR 9.31

$2.23 SAR 8.39

11.21%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.45 SAR 24.21

$7.51 SAR 28.19

-14.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.09 SAR 4.11

$0.90 SAR 3.37

21.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$54.9 SAR 206

$35.24 SAR 132

55.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 SAR 11.79

$2.67 SAR 10.03

17.60%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.75 SAR 6.58

$2.62 SAR 9.82

-33.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$13.91 SAR 52.2

$13.43 SAR 50.4

3.57%

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

$66.9K SAR 251.2K

-28.31%

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

$21.3K SAR 80.0K

$20.9K SAR 78.4K

2.00%

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

$102 SAR 384

$126 SAR 472

-18.68%

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

$38.54 SAR 145

$33.14 SAR 124

16.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$67.6 SAR 254

$62.7 SAR 235

7.75%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$87.1 SAR 327

$76.1 SAR 286

14.42%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$41.18 SAR 155

$27.76 SAR 104

48.34%

Cinema Ticket

$11.87 SAR 44.56

$13.49 SAR 50.7

-12.01%

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

$728 SAR 2,733

$414 SAR 1,554

75.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$16.3K SAR 61.1K

$7,996 SAR 30.0K

103.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.9 SAR 259

$41.25 SAR 155

67.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.8 SAR 224

$48.67 SAR 183

22.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$96.4 SAR 362

$97.3 SAR 365

-1.01%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$97.4 SAR 366

$91.8 SAR 345

6.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$773 SAR 2,904

$566 SAR 2,126

36.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$531 SAR 1,994

$376 SAR 1,410

41.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,464 SAR 5,496

$988 SAR 3,708

48.21%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$831 SAR 3,121

$672 SAR 2,523

23.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,746 SAR 6,554

$1,376 SAR 5,166

26.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,145 SAR 4,301

$597 SAR 2,240

92.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,664 SAR 6,248

$1,528 SAR 5,736

8.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

5.39

5.9

-8.64%

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

Last update for Jeddah: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $773 in Jeddah and $566 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jeddah pays 9% 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: $53.0 in Jeddah vs $37.00 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $196 vs $199, with Jeddah 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

Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Jeddah. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ad Dammam the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 9% higher in Jeddah, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $773 in Jeddah versus $566 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,362 per month in Jeddah versus $1,198 in Ad Dammam – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ad Dammam runs roughly 56% less than in Jeddah. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,198 in Ad Dammam versus $1,362 in Jeddah, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ad Dammam but tight or insufficient in Jeddah. The gap between the two cities makes Ad Dammam 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 Ad Dammam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Jeddah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.