🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,207 in Jeddah versus $1,233 in Al-hawiyah.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,851 in Jeddah versus $1,887 in Al-hawiyah.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,494 in Jeddah versus $2,541 in Al-hawiyah.
🙂Living in Jeddah costs roughly 2% less than in Al-hawiyah, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Jeddah10% lower, Al-hawiyah8% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jeddah
Al-hawiyah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.65SAR 24.92
$6.74SAR 25.29
-1.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.22SAR 147
$44.68SAR 168
-12.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.15SAR 30.56
$8.14SAR 30.51
0.12%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.08SAR 7.79
$1.70SAR 6.38
22.35%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17SAR 8.15
$1.83SAR 6.87
18.58%
Cappuccino
$3.59SAR 13.47
$3.72SAR 13.95
-3.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.71SAR 2.68
$0.78SAR 2.94
-8.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25SAR 0.94
$0.29SAR 1.08
-13.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jeddah
Al-hawiyah
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74SAR 6.53
$1.63SAR 6.11
6.75%
White Bread(500g)
$0.91SAR 3.42
$0.96SAR 3.59
-5.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.22SAR 8.33
$2.37SAR 8.89
-6.33%
Eggs
$2.74SAR 10.27
$2.51SAR 9.39
9.16%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.08SAR 26.54
$6.90SAR 25.89
2.61%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.73SAR 28.98
$7.37SAR 27.64
4.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.42SAR 46.57
$13.22SAR 49.59
-6.05%
Apples(1kg)
$2.09SAR 7.85
$2.19SAR 8.23
-4.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58SAR 5.91
$1.64SAR 6.16
-3.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.62SAR 6.07
$1.72SAR 6.47
-5.81%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60SAR 5.99
$1.62SAR 6.06
-1.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.26SAR 4.74
$1.27SAR 4.78
-0.79%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27SAR 4.75
$1.26SAR 4.74
0.79%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07SAR 4.00
$1.23SAR 4.62
-13.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58SAR 2.19
$0.55SAR 2.05
5.45%
Bottle of Non-Alcoholic Wine(Mid-Range)
$4.27SAR 16.00
$3.21SAR 12.05
33.02%
Local Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.98SAR 7.41
$1.71SAR 6.42
15.79%
Imported Non-Alcoholic Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49SAR 9.35
$2.09SAR 7.83
19.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$6.72SAR 25.20
$6.98SAR 26.19
-3.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Jeddah
Al-hawiyah
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.34SAR 5.04
$1.05SAR 3.95
27.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.19SAR 147
$40.59SAR 152
-3.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.17SAR 11.87
$2.69SAR 10.07
17.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90SAR 7.13
$1.89SAR 7.08
0.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$15.03SAR 56.4
$13.06SAR 48.98
15.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.64SAR 2.40
$0.65SAR 2.43
-1.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$26.1KSAR 97.9K
$26.8KSAR 100.6K
-2.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.6KSAR 81.1K
$21.9KSAR 82.1K
-1.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jeddah
Al-hawiyah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$106SAR 396
$107SAR 401
-1.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$31.41SAR 118
$34.15SAR 128
-8.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$69.3SAR 260
$73.9SAR 277
-6.15%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jeddah
Al-hawiyah
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$90.3SAR 339
$86.6SAR 325
4.26%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$45.51SAR 171
$35.74SAR 134
27.34%
Cinema Ticket
$13.07SAR 49.01
$15.46SAR 58.0
-15.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jeddah
Al-hawiyah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$411SAR 1,540
$354SAR 1,328
15.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,461SAR 24.2K
$7,084SAR 26.6K
-8.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jeddah
Al-hawiyah
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3SAR 241
$59.5SAR 223
8.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.2SAR 215
$61.3SAR 230
-6.69%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$95.4SAR 358
$78.8SAR 296
21.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.8SAR 318
$81.4SAR 305
4.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jeddah
Al-hawiyah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$492SAR 1,846
$434SAR 1,626
13.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$382SAR 1,434
$383SAR 1,438
-0.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$927SAR 3,475
$857SAR 3,215
8.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$605SAR 2,269
$614SAR 2,302
-1.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,585SAR 5,942
$2,659SAR 9,970
-40.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,015SAR 3,807
$1,489SAR 5,585
-31.84%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jeddah
Al-hawiyah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$2,024SAR 7,588
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.5
4.42
1.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jeddah: April 25, 2026
Last update for Al-hawiyah: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $492 in Jeddah and $434 in Al-hawiyah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Jeddah vs $45.00 in Al-hawiyah for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $195 vs $196 per month, with Jeddah cheaper across the board.
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 Al-hawiyah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Jeddah and Al-hawiyah?
Jeddah and Al-hawiyah differ by about 2% in total monthly costs ($1,207 vs $1,233 including rent). Jeddah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Jeddah compared to Al-hawiyah?
You'd need roughly $1,811 in Jeddah and $1,849 in Al-hawiyah to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Jeddah and Al-hawiyah?
Rent for a central apartment: $492 in Jeddah versus $434 in Al-hawiyah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Jeddah – a meal for two runs $39.00 versus $45.00 in Al-hawiyah. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Jeddah or Al-hawiyah?
All in, you'll spend $1,207 per month in Jeddah versus $1,233 in Al-hawiyah – a 2% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,207 in Jeddah versus $1,233 in Al-hawiyah, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Jeddah but tight or insufficient in Al-hawiyah. The gap between the two cities makes Jeddah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Jeddah and Al-hawiyah?
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.
Is Jeddah or Al-hawiyah safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Jeddah and Al-hawiyah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Jeddah or Al-hawiyah?
Expats usually find Jeddah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 2% less than in Al-hawiyah. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.