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: $1,218 in Jeddah versus $1,211 in Ad Dammam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,846 in Jeddah versus $1,857 in Ad Dammam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,474 in Jeddah versus $2,503 in Ad Dammam.

Living in Jeddah is roughly 1% more expensive than in Ad Dammam, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jeddah 9% lower, Ad Dammam 9% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.51 SAR 24.46

$7.45 SAR 27.99

-12.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.65 SAR 149

$53.0 SAR 199

-25.23%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.80 SAR 29.29

$7.92 SAR 29.72

-1.52%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 SAR 8.10

$1.88 SAR 7.07

14.89%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 SAR 7.90

$1.85 SAR 6.95

13.51%

Cappuccino

$3.78 SAR 14.20

$3.55 SAR 13.33

6.48%

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

$0.70 SAR 2.64

$0.92 SAR 3.44

-23.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 SAR 0.94

$0.38 SAR 1.42

-34.21%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.68 SAR 6.32

$1.64 SAR 6.15

2.44%

White Bread (500g)

$0.94 SAR 3.53

$1.42 SAR 5.32

-33.80%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.23 SAR 8.38

$2.12 SAR 7.96

5.19%

Eggs

$2.63 SAR 9.88

$2.31 SAR 8.68

13.85%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.42 SAR 27.86

$5.99 SAR 22.48

23.87%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.77 SAR 29.19

$7.32 SAR 27.49

6.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.38 SAR 46.50

$10.07 SAR 37.80

22.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.18 SAR 8.19

$2.09 SAR 7.85

4.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 SAR 5.89

$1.55 SAR 5.82

1.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.54 SAR 5.80

$1.39 SAR 5.23

10.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 SAR 5.94

$1.65 SAR 6.20

-4.24%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 SAR 4.98

$1.28 SAR 4.79

3.91%

Onion (1kg)

$1.25 SAR 4.68

$1.37 SAR 5.15

-8.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.10 SAR 4.15

$1.29 SAR 4.86

-14.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 SAR 2.07

$0.55 SAR 2.08

Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine (Mid-Range)

$4.21 SAR 15.79

$4.12 SAR 15.47

2.18%

Local Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.89 SAR 7.11

$1.61 SAR 6.05

17.39%

Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 SAR 9.36

$1.99 SAR 7.47

25.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.79 SAR 25.51

$7.76 SAR 29.14

-12.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.30 SAR 4.87

$0.94 SAR 3.51

38.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.89 SAR 150

$39.30 SAR 148

1.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$3.17 SAR 11.89

$3.31 SAR 12.42

-4.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.85 SAR 6.94

$2.73 SAR 10.26

-32.23%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$15.04 SAR 56.5

$13.58 SAR 51.0

10.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 SAR 2.24

$0.61 SAR 2.29

-1.64%

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

$26.4K SAR 99.2K

$22.2K SAR 83.5K

18.89%

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

$21.3K SAR 80.0K

$20.9K SAR 78.3K

2.17%

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

$108 SAR 406

$118 SAR 444

-8.67%

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

$32.30 SAR 121

$38.60 SAR 145

-16.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$69.6 SAR 261

$63.4 SAR 238

9.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$91.1 SAR 342

$70.7 SAR 266

28.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$45.14 SAR 170

$30.89 SAR 116

46.13%

Cinema Ticket

$13.21 SAR 49.62

$15.30 SAR 57.5

-13.66%

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

$407 SAR 1,527

$427 SAR 1,602

-4.68%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,378 SAR 24.0K

$8,216 SAR 30.8K

-22.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.7 SAR 235

$68.0 SAR 255

-7.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$57.9 SAR 217

$67.8 SAR 255

-14.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$94.9 SAR 356

$90.5 SAR 340

4.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 SAR 315

$86.1 SAR 323

-2.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$507 SAR 1,903

$452 SAR 1,697

12.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$384 SAR 1,442

$376 SAR 1,413

2.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$904 SAR 3,395

$792 SAR 2,975

14.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$601 SAR 2,256

$636 SAR 2,387

-5.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,646 SAR 6,179

$1,320 SAR 4,956

24.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,015 SAR 3,812

$812 SAR 3,051

24.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,660 SAR 6,233

$1,502 SAR 5,639

10.52%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Ad Dammam: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $507 in Jeddah and $452 in Ad Dammam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jeddah pays 11% 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: $40.00 in Jeddah vs $53.0 in Ad Dammam. Groceries flip the comparison at $196 vs $185, 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

Ad Dammam wins on cost – living expenses run 1% 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 11% 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: $507 in Jeddah versus $452 in Ad Dammam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,218 per month in Jeddah versus $1,211 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 Ad Dammam runs roughly 2% less than in Jeddah. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $1,211 in Ad Dammam versus $1,218 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 1% less than in Jeddah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.